Between marathon training, work & this year’s extreme run schedule, I sometimes find myself overextended/time crunched. If only a few more hours in the day…right?
Luckily last week I synced the calendar in my head with the one on my wall & found an extra weekend – SWEET surprise!
Laundry, groceries, sleep? Nope. Mountain time – much needed time in the mountains.
Despite the weather forecast, woke Saturday a.m. with ‘hike’ on the brain & no snow on the ground. Grabbed water & light snacks, sat my backpack on the kitchen floor. Begging, almost crazed…Ro knew we were going somewhere. Road trip!
Decided on Horsetooth Rock in Fort Collins. Altitude, check. Only an hour half drive north, still on the Front Range…but just east of our snow pounded Rockies. Didn’t disappoint.
With the exception of a few icy patches & an intermittent burst of flurries, very little precip. Nearing the rock scramble finish, I unleashed Ro (for both our safety) & led the boulder climb UP.
Few feet more to summit, Ro found his way & bounded to the top. Stopped for a half hour & soaked up the immensity of our surroundings, the peaks, thin air, quiet – almost complete stillness.
During our hike return, my hiking partner Cliff suggested we drive to Severance & try Bruce’s world famous Rocky Mountain Oysters – a.k.a. bull testicles. 25 minutes to the east, Severance is a small blink of a town near Greeley on the Plains.
Bruce’s menu is anything but ordinary. What I call: “cowboy exotica” 🙂 Bison, elk & yak burgers (yeah I said yak); both Rocky Mountain & Black Hills oysters. Settled on elk & yak (each of us took a half) and a combo plate of oysters.
We were split on game burgers – I prefer elk. However, hands down Black Hills over Rocky Mountain. MyCOLORADOLife foodie review: Rocky Mountain oysters are more sinewy, a bit chewy. That said, tastes good going down. YUM!
-
- highest point in Larimer County
-
- good day to be a dog
-
- Severance – Where the Geese Fly & the Bulls Cry
-
- elk, yak AND a combo order of oysters
-
- hands down winner – Black Hills over Rocky Mountain
Free weekend between Mississippi & Miami marathons – kick back & rest? That would be a NO. Winter time in Colorado is prime time for outdoor activities. Purchased a Groupon for Ash & Tom at Christmas for ice climbing, couldn’t help but tag along.
Was told it’s harder to climb in Colorado because our ice is river water, not glacier ice like in Alaska. Axe & crampons stick easier in glacier ice – river ice chips so important to stay on belay (rope) should you pop off.
2 hour drive to Colorado Springs (love the Springs), then a short quarter mile hike to Cheyenne Canyon with our guide Andrew (a scrawny rock climber – weighed maybe a buck ten). Had to compete for wall space with a local climbing group – so actually started off on the intermediate wall. Roped up, kicked in my crampons & struck a few blows before I found rhythm (muscle memory – hadn’t climbed since Matanuska, day before my Alaska marathon).
Forgot how much I LOVE ice climbing – it’s a thinking man’s sport. Yeah, there’s physical involved but LOVE picking my route – it’s unique to each climber. Do I use an existing hit (to place my axe)? Go right, go left – where is the better/thicker ice? How far can I reach? Strike high, using that arm (& forward motion) to propel the body UP, kick in again with your crampon.
Struggled up the ice lip but ultimately, SUCCESS! LOVE LOVE LOVE ice climbing!
Ash & Tom took their try at the wall. Not fair their first climb would be on an intermediate wall – no training, little instruction. Luckily, an easier tie soon opened – more ice, less vertical. Lot more fun – both summited, good memories 🙂
We paid for a half day so I took in 2 more verticals before Ash & Tom worked belay and let Andrew climb.
Felt good to be in the mountains. Perfect conditions – sunshine, no wind. Crazy addictive sport. Can see myself hitting it regularly once my running schedule frees next year. So much competition for time – cross country skiing, snow shoeing, another 14er winter summit, ice climbing…& only December to April to get it all in. LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
-
- short hike with Andrew, our guide
-
- intermediate wall climb
-
- SUCCESS!
-
- far right on the wall – more ice, less vertical
-
- speed climbing
-
- high in the Rockies – awesome view!
-
- roped up & ready
-
- Killin’ it!
-
- “This is really hard. My arms are so tired.”
-
- Ash on top of the world
-
- Tom rocking his sexy look
-
- 3rd to Summit – FAAAANNNTASTIC day!
-
- belaying Andrew, our guide
-
- fearless ice woman: “every girl should have a pair of spiky shoes”
Travelled to Centennial after work on Tuesday & met up with 2 Colorado-based Maniacs, Stacy & Dave – and their Denver running posse at Run Colorado. Always good to expand one’s friend base – thanks for the invite Stacy!
-
- Dave, Stacy & their Denver running posse
