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October 14er: Grays Peak revisited

Published October 1, 2016

You’d think after last weekend’s super long trek to Russia, I’d be kicking back/lying low for a few weeks. Not true, blame Ash. Texted a high-altitude pic last week – snow, alpine lakes, Aspens popping yellow. Autumn in Colorado. Wanna/hafta/gotta 14er hike before the snow blows…usually that’s September, so this hiker’s on borrowed time.

430am start. Backpack, pup, treats – packed, all ready to go. 2 hours west on Colorado’s East-West highway (I-70). Bakerville exit, 8 miles shy of Eisenhower tunnel, east of the Divide. Mountain road weathered by the long summer hike season – 5 miles of dirt & massive potholes. Road wash-out 1.2 miles from the trailhead. Today’s 14er destination: Grays Peak 14,270ft.

My third trip to Grays – first summited September 2012, returned last August (2015). Good day for a hike. Summer lightning season’s passed, day’s seasonal snow squall not forecasted ‘til 3pm.

Chilly start; kept Ro leashed thru the first 2 miles of willow thicket. Easily distracted by ground critters.

Shed layers before the first switchback, crossing & climbing the open Colorado steppe. Glacier remnants on the peaks, blunted tundra colour, nipping wind, tree line disappears just before 12,000ft. Mountain heaven.

Left to Grays, slight right to Torreys. Stopped & took in the landscape.

Not a lotta down time today…Ro was a climbing machine. Stop, stare, wait for me – then hastily UP UP UP. Dog on a mission. Crampon-free day, not enough snow to warrant the trouble.

Summit SUCCESS! Wind stilled. Took advantage & soaked in the magic.

Peaks all 4 corners, expansive Lake Dillon to the west. Ash ice fished there 2 winters back. Appears I missed leaf peeping by at least 2 weeks. Would have to slow-lane the ride home to see any remaining Aspen colour (lower elevation along the highway).

Hike day did not disappoint. WOW. Just WOW! LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.

Ro update: car ride snooze, followed by his favourite spot on the bed – out ‘til morning. Heck yeah I’m jealous. HA!

: chilly trailhead start

: willow thicket, open steppe, then UP UP — high above glacier snow

: blunted tundra colour, nipping wind — mountain heaven

: dog on a mission

: impossible not to SMILE

: westward: Lake Dillon

: N S E & W, peaks all 4 corners

: my 3rd SUMMIT of Grays (2012, ’15, ’16)

: LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!

: car ride snooze, followed by his favourite spot on the bed

Grays Peak 14,270ft

Posted in 14ers/13ers | Tagged glaciers, hiking | 3 Comments

Run the Year 2016 (Sept edition)

Published September 30, 2016

Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016

September 2016 update: HUGE travel month – 3 marathons, travelled from the deserts of Utah to Moscow’s Red Square. Cancer schmancer. Good days, bad days…but overall, mighty blessed with a crazy, FULL life.

Unfortunately, finished even further behind on total miles but don’t give up on me yet. Head’s back in the game. Super STRONG run months ahead. Whole lotta marathoning every Fall. Ran 14 consecutive weeks in 2015 – still totally doable.

2 month focus (September & October): STAMINA

Race ReCap: 3 marathon month – 2 at altitude (Colorado Springs & Big Cottonwood Canyon) and RUSSIA. 17 years after an early-career expat assignment (almost a lifetime ago), reconnected with my former workmate Dima & finished the Moscow Marathon. Course trekked thru Moscow center, along the Moskva River, past the Kremlin. HUGE life experience!

Mileage ReCap: Ended September at 1,451 miles (61 miles short of goal).

: ended September at 1,451 miles

: livin’ B-I-G: deserts of Utah to Moscow’s Red Square

: bestest dog ever – LOVE my Ro!

: Milestone 1400

Life’s an amazing journey. And although running is a HUGE part of my current, still plenty of time for a Fly Casting lesson with a neighbor’s friend’s brother — Graeme, visiting from New Zealand.

Happily, I was a natural…but you’re gonna have to trust me, no video proof (clip below is my neighbor Larry) 🙂

Posted in Run Challenges | Tagged fishing | Leave a comment

до свида́ния Russia

Published September 26, 2016

Marathon done, no friends to tag behind – last day in Russia.

Woke Monday to sunshine, first rays my entire Moscow stay. Gorged on a lavish breakfast buffet, showered, layered up, grabbed a local map & hit the pavement. Best guess: no more than 2 miles from Red Square, multiple art & history museums. Have feet, will travel.

Prospect Mira to Lubyanka Square, up & under multiple street crossings, left on Teatralnyy. First stop: the Bolshoi [Theatre], iconic home of the Russian ballet. Point, click, snapped my shot. Continued thru a park littered with Communist statues, popped out in front of the State Historical Museum. Attempted to purchase lamb kebabs at an outdoor kiosk; received 2 lamb chops, pickled cabbage, sauerkraut, sweet pickle & a hard dinner roll. Yeah my Russian is pretty lousy these days…but hey, I didn’t starve 🙂

Slow stroll thru Red Square. No time constraints, took time & studied the architecture. Circled St. Basil’s Cathedral (far end of the Square), bridge-crossed the Moskva River – STUNNING view of the Kremlin, gleaming white & gold inside its red brick fortress.

Bridge returned, took a right – and got in some art history. Self-toured 4 Orthodox cathedrals (one monastery), all garish with religious artifacts, marveled at their dome construction. Entered 2 Metro Stations…just to see the art. Finished the day at McDonald’s – yep, McDonald’s. 2 cheeseburgers & a Coke. Not my finest moment…but appreciated knowing exactly what I was gonna get.

and blink…that was it. Home in morning – 28 hours & 7 time zone changes later; travelling back in time, would be a day that seemingly never ends. 17 years [after my expat assignment], super thankful for the opportunity to revisit Mother Russia.

My heart is full. Большое спасибо!