Happy September!
Woke early, long walked Ro, breakfast PB&J (’cause I’m grown-up & I can đ )
- organic seed bread
- coconut water
- groovinâ on 70âs tunes
Brand new, hippied out, lovin’ life. Â 4 years in the making â fixing inside & out.
2011: scary crazy leaving NYC, move 2 time zones away, no job, career change.
4 years later, absolutely no regrets. Â Trust yourself.
Kicked in the weekend with an early group run âround Boulder Rez in North Boulder â a âsweet 16erâ.
Held sub-8 pace for 10+ miles, then slogged the hills. Group said their goodbyes at mile 13; soloed the remaining 3 at âold man paceâ. Need to find an 8:30/9-minute pace group â the young guns are killinâ me. Thatâs all.
2 hour nap, pasta carb loaded â reenergizedâŠhiking tomorrow.
Woke late Sunday (7am), made sleep a priority before hitting the highway. Easy hour half drive â I-70 to Idaho Springs Exit 238, todayâs hike destination: 13er James Peak.
[in Colorado] 13ers are often treated like the ugly step-sisterâŠonly 14er climbs rank a water-cooler boast. Todayâs elevation gain? 4000ft â thousand feet more gain than 14er Bierstadt (my one-day PR: 7800ft, Barr Trail to Pikes Peak in 2012).
Parked at St. Marys Glacier, outside of Alice.  Watched local snowboarders pitch up the impromptu ‘slope’âŠonly in Colorado, right? đ
Glacier crossed tethered to Ro, then hiked 2 miles across colourful arid landscape: bushy willow thickets yellowed by cool evening temps, late season wildflowers, orange-hued moss â spectacular pallet of early autumn colour.
Beautiful weather: sunshine, temps in the low 50âs, lotta wind.
Followed the CDT (Continental Divide Trail), bushwhacked briefly, then connected with the well-defined trail up James & neighboring Mount Bancroft.  Hiked this peak in 2012 â bushwhacked that year too. Consistent I guess đ
Wildlife count: marmot, pika & a flock of summer-camouflaged ptarmigan. These birds will go âwinter whiteâ over the next 2 months.
Stayed right of the canyon gulch between Bancroft & James at 12,000ft (whatta view) â then pushed UP the remaining 1000 feet over a maze of switchbacks.  SUMMIT SUCCESS! Kicked back on a rock shelter & let Ro hunt pika before snapping Peak pics.
One last weekend before fall marathon season. Running my hometown 10-miler Saturday morning, Louisvilleâs Coal Creek Crossing â then 3 hours of highway to Leadville.  Hike goal: Mount Massive, 3rd highest peak in the continental U.S. Why? âCause itâs there.
Weekend Highs & LowsÂ
Rocky Mountain high – LOVE this place!
‘sweet 16er’ at the Boulder Rez
13er James Peak â 10 mile hike PLUS glacier snow
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- St Marys Lake, only 30 minutes from metro Denver – whatta view!
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- St Marys Glacier (late August)
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- glacier melt magic
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- snowboarding in August – only in Colorado đ
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- beautiful hike day – so much colour
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- summer-camouflaged ptarmigan, will go white when the snow flies
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- summit SUCCESS!
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- good day to be a dog
Finally a day set aside for man’s best friend!
Ro, Sno’ Ro, Rowan O’ Roark, Rolo Cup — I love ya to the moon & back đ
National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
“Millions of dogs are killed each year because they’re simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog Day. They’re unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the demands of the breed. They’re unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas gift for a child that didn’t keep their promises about caring for the dog…unwanted because they shed too much…unwanted because they bark too much. UNWANTED…simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to do is love and protect you. That’s all. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered “unwanted love”, into your heart and home on National Dog Day!”
National Dog Day can be marked as many a dogâs birthday for those rescued on the day and for all of them it will be akin to a âK9- 4th of July!â Even citizens who are not dog owners will be encouraged to donate $5 to their local shelter on National Dog Day.
