moose

Lake Coeur d’Alene

Published May 28, 2016

Memorial Day weekend: unofficial kickoff to summer – and for the past 3 years, summer’s meant summer running.

World’s Longest Floating Boardwalk

Set my 10K PR in 2014 at the Bolder Boulder, last year marathoned in Burlington Vermont. Continuing the streak this Sunday in the Inland Northwest at the Coeur d’Alene Marathon.

Direct flight to Spokane, hotel 40 minutes away in scenic Idaho. Huge towering pines. Massive river-fed natural lake. 3 days of mental download, relaxation 🙂

When I originally booked this race months ago, was supposed to travel with a friend – that fell thru so…splurged & booked a room at the Resort which hosts Sunday’s marathon.

Hotel check in, bib pick-up – done in 15 minutes. Nice!

Popped on a jacket & explored the city’s downtown center (Sherman Street). Walked dockside, down the world’s longest floating boardwalk (3300 ft long) – past shops & restaurants, a fleet of recreational watercraft, up n over a floating bridge, then spontaneously purchased a cruise ticket 8 minutes before the ship set sail. Good timing.

90 minute excursion. Saturated in the smell of evergreen, sat on top & took in the lake’s cool breeze. Solo trip. No talk, no FaceBook – unplugged, first day summer vacation.

Disembarked, took in 2 parks, watched the sunset from my tower window.

First day of summer, complete. Running 26.2 tomorrow a.m. New adventure, new experience – first marathon since May 1^st, time to get back on the horse. No regrets life.

: summer begins in Spokane

: marina view from my hotel

: U-S-A wavin’ PROUD!

: what’s a lake vacation without a lake cruise, right?

: the Coeur d’Alene Resort, my fancy pre-race digs (for a night)

: late afternoon shore walk

: the 2-1/4 mile Mudgy Moose Trail along Lake Coeur d’Alene & through Downtown Coeur d’Alene features five life-size bronze statues positioned at locations where Mudgy pauses in his search for Millie

: McEuen Park, tomorrow’s marathon start

: Memorial Day remembrance

Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise

Posted in Rocky Mtn West | Tagged moose, rivers-lakes, watercraft | Leave a comment

beautiful Lake Isabelle

Published August 9, 2014

6 days after Ironman – couldn’t wait to hit the mountains, jump in & rejoin everyday life.

Kicked off the weekend at Louisville Street Faire listening to live outdoor music, filling up on pizza & ice cream. All summer, every Friday night on Front Street (just off Main). Haven’t been once this year – good to be back.

Woke late Saturday plus the weather’s been a bit unpredictable, so Lake Isabelle was today’s target. Ash & Tom’s dog Marty injured his shoulder a few weeks back so decided on a shorter hike to best assess his recovery.

Hiked Lake Isabelle 2 years ago during my 52 week hike challenge – actually overshot the Glacier, resulting in Ro & I hiking down to our end destination. Good memories.

Paid the park fee & queued 30 minutes for our turn into the Park. So many people flocking to Indian Peaks this day, that rangers limited car entry into the Park.

Located parking on the west side of Brainard Lake & hit the trail. Good to be outside, always enjoy the smell of pine.

Quickly made our way to Long Lake – much easier without waist-high snow – and continued on Isabelle Glacier trail. Memory failed me thinking I’d passed glaciers before Lake Isabelle. In actuality these were only leftover snow banks from the heavy winter season which socked the Rockies this past year. WOW – it’s August. Not expecting these drifts will melt before snow flies again. LOVE my escape from the summer heat – only an hour from home.

Sat on a large rock, Isabelle lakeside & shot landscape pics as dark clouds gathered. Rain, gusty cold wind, ice pellets, rain again, then sunshine – all within a 20 minute span. LOL>

What turns a good hike day into a GREAT hike day?

Saw 2 HUGE moose on our hike return. I’ve seen moose from a distance in New Hampshire & Alaska. These guys however were close (10-15 feet away) and H-U-G-E. Their rack, their heads – just enormous. Tried to keep our distance & not startle these giants…but in reality, they could have trounced us. SPECTACULAR!

Bear & bighorn sheep last month – moose today. Travelling to Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks over my birthday – excited about the possibilities. Life is good, really really good 🙂

: perfect day for a hike

: wet summer = lush green colour

: snow melt & runoff…in August

: snow silhouette – LOVE this place!

: Lake Isabelle

: Isabelle Glacier

: he’s baaaaaack – my hiking buddy, Ro

: Moose!

: outdoor music & brew every Friday night (local summer fun)

Posted in NoCo/Indian Peaks | Tagged festivals, glaciers, hiking, moose | Leave a comment

Ice Climbing on Matanuska Glacier

Published June 21, 2013

Although I travelled to Alaska to fulfill my goal to run a full marathon, when planning the trip it was ice climbing I found myself all excited about. Woke early and hit the road – destination: Matanuska Glacier near Chickaloon, AK.

Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier in the US state of Alaska. At 27 miles (43 km) long by 4 miles (6.4 km) wide, it is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States. Its terminus is the source of the Matanuska River. It lies near the Glenn Highway about 100 miles (160 km) north-east of Anchorage. Matanuska Glacier flows about 1 foot (30 cm) per day.

Thought I was super smart bringing my GPS (Garmin) to navigate across Alaska. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas – but no Alaska. Who knew? Plan B – used the rental car map which took me as far as Eagle River (approx 20 minutes east of Anchorage). From there I watched for road signs. And in Palmer, I used my iPhone maps app to re-position on Old Glenn Highway heading northeast – not Glen Highway heading northwest to Wasilla (home of Sarah Palin – and no, I could not see Russia :)).

No traffic, no humans, hit or miss cell reception, one moose.

Arrived almost an hour early (thank you midnight sun for the early wake-up call), and geared up. Shared the day with Mason, Tonya & Gage from Seattle, Mark from Alaska, and Chris (our guide).

The landscape mirrored walking the moon’s surface until we reached Matanuska Glacier. Gray silt permafrost merged vivid turquoise blue – quite the contrast. Amazing, beautiful, breathtaking!

Listened for a voiced ‘belay on’ – then one after another we climbed.

Belaying refers to a variety of techniques climbers use to exert friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. Climbers should wait for a verbal confirmation from the belayer that he is ready to begin. In the US, usually the climber asks, “On belay?” or “Belay?” and wait for the belayer to reply “Belay on.”

Will 1000% do this again – LOVE LOVE this sport!

Boots, gloves, ropes, crampons – my kinda gear used in my kinda weather. River ice (what we have in Colorado) is not as stable as glacial ice but still gonna climb this winter. I’m hooked – LOVED it!