glaciers

Aspen road trippin’

Published July 15, 2016

crossing the Divide

Half-day work day, picked up Stephen at DIA, then hit the road Friday noon – destination: Aspen. Saturday marathon plans – running point-to-point on bike trail, Aspen to Basalt.

Stopped in Georgetown (hour west of Denver) for a late lunch, veered south off I-70 thru Leadville, then west to Aspen ‘cross Independence Pass (snow-closed during winter & spring seasons).

UP, UP, UP winding roads, landscape lined with pine & patches of glacial snow remnant. Nothing like a little July snow to center/provide balance. Big grin.

Parked at the Divide. Enjoyed a short walkabout in thin air, elevation 12,000ft+.

Mountain descending, only 45 minutes further to Aspen. Bib pick-up, followed by a short half-mile trek to John Denver Sanctuary.

Been to Aspen once before (Fall 2013) – Sanctuary return, top of my list 🙂

John Denver Sanctuary is a scenic, highly desirable venue located in the heart of downtown Aspen next to the Roaring Fork River. Within the sanctuary is the largest perennial flower garden around, which attracts visitors from around the globe. Amidst the gardens you will find an environmentally sound wetlands filter system. Artistically placed engraved landscape rocks add to the overall ambiance and story behind the sanctuary. This location is also the home to Theater Aspen in the summer, providing live stage entertainment to hundreds.

Booked ski lodge digs in neighboring Snowmass Village (20 minutes west, not crazy pricey in the summer). Bratwurst & German fare for dinner. FAAANNNNTASTIC!

Tomorrow morning, I work to keep the streak alive – my 32^nd consecutive month marathoning. AND at 7900ft elevation…will be my 3^rd highest altitude-run after Angel Fire (NM) & Steamboat Springs.

: glacial snow in July – BIG smile 🙂

: John Denver Sanctuary

Aspen road trippin’ (via Independence Pass)

13er James Peak, no ugly step-sis

Published August 30, 2015

Kicked in the weekend with an early group run ‘round Boulder Rez in North Boulder – a ‘sweet 16er’.

Held sub-8 pace for 10+ miles, then slogged the hills. Group said their goodbyes at mile 13; soloed the remaining 3 at ‘old man pace’. Need to find an 8:30/9-minute pace group – the young guns are killin’ me. That’s all.

2 hour nap, pasta carb loaded – reenergized…hiking tomorrow.

Woke late Sunday (7am), made sleep a priority before hitting the highway. Easy hour half drive – I-70 to Idaho Springs Exit 238, today’s hike destination: 13er James Peak.

[in Colorado] 13ers are often treated like the ugly step-sister…only 14er climbs rank a water-cooler boast. Today’s elevation gain? 4000ft – 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’…only in Colorado, right? 🙂

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 – spectacular pallet of early autumn colour.

Beautiful weather: sunshine, temps in the low 50’s, 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 – bushwhacked that year too. Consistent I guess 🙁

Wildlife count: marmot, pika & a flock of summer-camouflaged ptarmigan. These birds will go ‘winter white’ over the next 2 months.

Stayed right of the canyon gulch between Bancroft & James at 12,000ft (whatta view) – 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, Louisville’s Coal Creek Crossing – then 3 hours of highway to Leadville. Hike goal: Mount Massive, 3^rd highest peak in the continental U.S. Why? ‘Cause it’s there.

Weekend Highs & Lows

Rocky Mountain high – LOVE this place!

‘sweet 16er’ at the Boulder Rez

13er James Peak – 10 mile hike PLUS glacier snow

: St Marys Lake, only 30 minutes from metro Denver – whatta view!

: St Marys Glacier (late August)

: glacier melt magic

: snowboarding in August – only in Colorado 🙂

: beautiful hike day – so much colour

: summer-camouflaged ptarmigan, will go white when the snow flies

: summit SUCCESS!

: good day to be a dog

Posted in 14ers/13ers | Tagged glaciers, hiking, wildlife | Leave a comment

Grays Peak 2015

Published August 16, 2015

Forgotten how good a 14er hike feels. Pre-dawn trailhead drive, first sun pop over the high peak.

Love of everything outdoors, BIG, immense, larger than ourselves.

Hour half on I-70, Exit 221 Bakerville – 8 miles from Eisenhower Tunnel. Five mile dirt-road journey. Struggled to maneuver the pothole minefield UP, secure off-road parking. Not a lotta spots left at 630am, gotta love Colorado hikers. Day starts early here 🙂

I last hiked Grays in September 2012. Trail was lined with yellow aspens and first snow of the season.

Hiking a month earlier in mid-August, today’s views did not disappoint. So much colour – like a Ravensburger puzzle, one of those 1000 piece projects you poke over during the summer. Not just one shade of green – slate green, moss, lime, yellow-green, forest.

Looked forward to the horizon. Stopped, peered back at my progress below – completing the straight puzzle edges first, framing a border, later patch-working the green inside. Two long stretches of boulder incline, but no huge scramble at the end.

Summit SUCCESS! Strong winds whipped so backed behind a man-made rock shelter. Chatted up fellow hikers planning their next ascents – before the snow flies (just a few weeks left). Parade of folks on top at 9am.

Fave quote: “I like your dog. He’s so warm.” LOL>

Return hike always seems longer than the ascent – a hiker mystery. Purposely drove West thru the Eisenhower tunnel, crossed the Continental Divide & lunched in Silverthorne before heading home (a 3 hour I-70 day mare – ARGH!)

Next 14er? Something near Leadville I think.

Haven’t been to the Nat’l Mining Hall of Fame & Museum. [ya’ll are thinkin’] How can I get a ticket, right? 🙂

Snow UPDATE, Wed August 19th: Colorado weather: Snow dusts high country, Denver sets record low