First non-hike weekend after 52 straight hike weeks in 2012 – so was excited to kick off my 20-13 outdoors in Colorado.
During the holidays, Annmarie & John pulled together a winter itinerary for the next 2 months – including x-country skiing, downhill skiing and snow-shoeing. Super cool – these guys ROCK!
After meeting up in Boulder, Annmarie drove us to the Eldora Nordic Center for our x-country ski lesson. Mirka (Czech Republic) taught us the basics. First one ski, then two skis, an intro to poles – then bam, 2 hours later our group of 15 adults were ready to trek through Eldora’s 25 mile x-country trail system.
X-country skiing is an excellent work-out, who knew? And since I haven’t actually started running yet, was counting today’s activity as ‘cross training’ for my marathon run later this year. LOL> Beautiful lodgepole pines, blue skies, sunshine – and lotta opportunities to use the V-technique for climbing up steep icy hills. John & Annmarie already being downhillers, easily acclimated to our ‘skinny’ skis. Since John was jacked up on cold medicine cocktails for his bronchitis, Annmarie stepped up & delivered all key ‘first-timer’ tips Mirka missed in her lesson – like ski-bunny posing while on the slopes 🙂
Confidence running high, I’m now powering up all hills & waiting for my experienced ski friends. Posing and going UP hills – I can now do. Unfortunately I missed whatever lesson helps you STOP the skis. One last picture, then down the hill…er, hills I go – on my ‘skinny’ skis. Snow-plow, snow-plow, snow plow – whew – cleared the first curve…then a second. YES! This is fast & FUN! Then – oh no, a third curve – and yeah, I’m flying at this point.
(so this is the dialogue that’s running through my head) Because I’m fit & athletic these days I’m gonna jump UP and turn sideways before I hit the tree. (dialogue abruptly ends now…’cause I see T-R-E-E) To my credit, I did jump & try to hurl myself sideways [NOTE: Mirka did not teach this stud move, all K* here].
Right ski went UP the tree until it broke on a limb. Left ski and my body wrapped around the tree base. Annmarie showed up first & unfortunately was much more concerned about me being hurt, than snapping a pic – which would’va been epic. That said, felt really good when she released my left ski binding. Knee swelled and I still carry an immense black bruise up the inside of my left leg – but nothing broken. Er…well the right ski broke I guess. But kudos to Eldora – they didn’t make me pay extra for my broken rental. Super nice. I’ll be back.
Guess I should be more gun shy – but think I’m now ready for downhill. During that lesson, gonna focus much more on ‘how to stop’. Maybe they’ll work in my trademark ‘jump/hurl/TREE’ technique – it 1000% worked in my head dialogue 🙂
Wait – the day gets even better. Hot chocolate & a blues band. (Who packs hot chocolate? Annmarie. LOVED it!)
Back to Boulder – purchased a table full of half-priced apps and watched the Texans-Bengals playoff game.
LOVE LOVE LOVE my Colorado life – hike or no hike. This place ROCKS!
New Year’s Resolution:
HEALTH
- run one race a month until I complete a FULL marathon (26.2 miles)
GREY MATTER
- begin & finish reading one new book every month of 2013
ENVIRONMENT
- limit myself to one bag of trash (or less) a week – all else must be recycled or re-purposed
HEAD & HEART
- visit more friends & family in 2013 (4 trips minimum)
- take pictures & post weekly (resolution repeat from 2012)
FAITH
- read the entire Bible – again
TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL MEDIA
- cell phone, yes – cable TV, no
- Facetime, yes – Skype, limited use only
- use iPad more in 2013 (vs laptop)
- decrease time spent on Facebook
Life is Good — 2013!
2012 has been one AMAZING year! Completed my first successful New Year’s Resolution – 52 unique hikes across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah & New Hampshire. During 2012, as my pup Ro grew – so did our health & hike stamina.
CHANGE – I increased water intake (dropped tea & coffee) and upped my daily fruit & vegetable counts. My entire diet improved & unknowingly, dropped 20+ lbs. EVERYTHING changed over simply a matter of months.
CHANGE – I learned to navigate remote trailheads (after getting lost in March – a common hike theme in 2012) and survived a lightning strike (on Audubon in August). Ro & I completed 6 14ers and 3 13ers, hiked in waist-deep snow, and both experienced ice brows on high altitude, sudden weather change treks.
In 2012, I made a lotta new friends. So many awesome people who love being outside & also love Colorado!
CHANGE – I ran 3 road races in 2012, including a local 10 mile event in Louisville.
CHANGE – I switched churches, was baptized (in August) and expanded my religious faith.
FAMILY SUCCESS – I watched Ashton graduate from UConn (in May), celebrated Ro’s first birthday and ‘Gotcha Day’ (October & December) AND travelled to DisneyWorld (Florida) for DAVE-cember, where little man turned 18!
CHANGE – I joined Facebook in 2012 but dropped both cable TV and cell phone service. That said, need to make peace with cell phone service in 2013 and decrease time spent on Facebook. At DisneyWorld I watched folks glued to their iPhones – super scary. I don’t wanna become a droid – there’s gotta be a happy medium. Remain 1000% committed/focused to ‘life-2nd half’ as an active outdoor-based guy — still don’t see TV in my future (unfortunately, just not reading enough).
FUTURE – Goal for 2013 is to further tech-up. In 2012, I launched mycoloradolife.net. In 2013, I want to use my iPad at least 75% of the time and gravitate away from the laptop.
FUTURE – Goal for 2013 is to increase friend & family time. Whereas 2012 was a lean year for travel while settling into my Colorado life and acclimating to life with a dog – 2013 will include more travel, more first time life experiences.
But no worries…still expect to see xtreme hike & summit pics in 2013 – so much more to explore in Colorado!
My mantra remains the same – LIVE, LIVE SIMPLY, LIVE NOW.
We are ALL capable of change.
Put it down on paper. Celebrate small victories, build on life successes, be courageous! It’s scary to expose thoughts, wants, dreams. But DO it — PUSH yourself in 2013, do something new, enjoy the ride.
Happy AMAZING 2012 my friends! No regrets; nothing left undone.
Hike Challenge 2012 – 52 AMAZING weeks!
