snowpocalypse

Ice Fishing in Dillon

Published March 2, 2014

Last month Ashton mentioned ice fishing as a possible birthday adventure. Sounds fun, right?

Quick google search, followed by a phone call to Big Ed’s & our reservation on Dillon Reservoir was set.

Woke crazy early on Saturday – sure it’s snowing, but we’re scheduled to be on a frozen lake by 9am.

Unfortunately, our state’s only east-west through-way, I-70, was operating at a standstill – multiple accidents. 3 hours later, highway closed just past Georgetown. ARGH! Plan B? Enjoyed breakfast at the Happy Cooker & rescheduled for ice fishing Sunday.

Day 2, another early start. Arrived in plenty of time to help our guide set-up & drill holes with an electric ice auger. 4 feet of solid ice, fluffy snow & sunshine. Beautiful lake, beautiful day.

Fishing Guide Randy started us out with jigs, then bait. Salmon eggs. Two nibbles but never a real bite. Ash, our experienced fisherwoman, dropped line & soon after snagged a small rainbow trout.

An hour later, a 2^nd trout (which she threw back). And a third which jumped line after cresting the surface.

Ashton 3, everyone else ZERO. Runner-up honors to Tom who reeled in at least 4 yard-long sticks. AND special thanks to Matt who chauffeured us cross state – not once, but twice.

Ended the day with Randy talking up Ashton – and only Ashton – on fly fishing this summer, while the rest of us stood around hoping to be included. LOL>

Sunshine, snow & 3 fish — what’s not to love? Ice fishing in the Rockies, highly recommended 🙂

UPDATE:

Later I prepared Ash’s catch while everyone was showering. HUGE FAN of rainbow trout! Tay-stee 🙂

CLICK to WATCH ‘Ice Fishing (Dillon Reservoir, CO)’

: I-70 closed: no Saturday ice fishing

: downtown Georgetown

: Plan B — breakfast & hot drinks at the Happy Cooker

: BUFFALO!

: Day 2 – Dillon Reservoir

: electric ice augers ROCK!

: laddling ice & snow from our fishin’ hole

: drop the line ’til it hits lake bottom

: switched from jig to bait

: in a pinch, use salmon eggs

: first strike?

: fisherwoman & her catch

: err…catches

: Ash 3, everyone else — ZERO

: tasty rainbow trout – thanks Ash!

Posted in Continental Divide | Tagged buffalo, fishing, snowpocalypse | Leave a comment

Breck Snow & Ice

Published January 25, 2014

Between Ironman training (running marathons & 2 hour lap swimming), work, church & family (acclimating to life with Ash, Tom & pets), have experienced a mighty full 2014. What’s missing? Need to get outside & enjoy our Colorado winter!

Bought tickets (via Groupon) to Ice Castles – an elaborate castle carved from ice, open from late December to February in Breckinridge (CO), Utah & New Hampshire. Cool, huh?

Wait, wait, it gets better.

Timed my trip to Breck on the same weekend as the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Teams from the US, Europe & Mongolia worked for a week on their masterpiece(s) – judging scheduled for Saturday. Excellent luck!

Left Boulder County in 50 degrees & sunshine. Arrived in Breckinridge, overcast & 20 degrees. Same state yet divided by the mighty Rocky Mountains = very different weather.

Busy ski day on Breck but secured parking & walked a short mile to Riverwalk Center & the International Snow Sculpture Championships. What a find! FAVES: Italy’s simple entry ‘Looking Up’ & both bold sculptures crafted by Mongolia. DISLIKE: France’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ – seriously, kinda creepy.

Devoured a package of elk jerky & entered Ice Castles. SPECTACULAR! Inspired to climb – but probably not the right setting 🙂 Anything better? How ‘bout returning at 6pm & walking thru the Castle under lights. WOW, WOW, WOW!

Crazy cold return walk under the most stunning, illuminated sky (ok, 2^nd best – hard to beat October’s outdoor soak in Steamboat).

Have enjoyed touring the US during my 50 state marathon challenge but Colorado – man, this is home.

: International Snow Sculpture Championships — with Ashton Haga and Tom Wilpiszeski

: Winner: Breckinridge

: 2nd Place: Germany

: 3rd Place: Wisconsin

: Russia

: France

: Mongolia

: Mongolia (small country, 2 entries)

: Colorado

: Italy under lights – simple but probably my favourite

: Welcome to Ice Castles!

: LOVED this place! AMAZING!

: today’s WOW shot! (pic credit Tom)

: mighty tight tunnel – claustrophobics beware!

: tasty snack

: Ice Castles under lights

: toss up whether green or purple were my fave

: Goodnite Breckinridge – super fun day!

Posted in Continental Divide | Tagged festivals, snowpocalypse | Leave a comment

hike #69: Como Lake, Blanca

Published December 14, 2013

Coming off a marathon run last weekend AND 2 weeks of crazy cold sub-zero temps, thinkin’ this might be my best chance/motivation to complete gift purchases & send out holiday cards. Only 11 days ’til Christmas!

Think again…. received an email from Fort Collins hiking buddy, Cammy – Erik & her are free 2 of the next 3 weekends. Winter 14er hike? Heck yeah! (I’ll get holiday inspired next week 🙂 )

Teamed up with M & caravanned down I-25 to the Sangre de Cristo Range – destination: Blanca Peak. Located the pull-off from Highway 160 & managed maybe a quarter-mile off road before burrowing deep in mountain snow. Erik unloaded chains – determined their Subaru would make the journey UP.

Most cars can drive about 1.5 miles up before it gets rough. 4WD SUVs and trucks can slowly make it 3.25 miles to several pull-offs at 8,800’, before the road turns nasty.

As the clock ticked 1 (a.m.), pulled out sleeping bags & crashed for a few hours before tomorrow morning’s ascent. Ice formed on the inside of M’s jeep – all liquids froze except for a last minute Gatorade purchase. Cold, super cold!

3 of us crazies started the hike UP, catching the most beautiful pink sunrise. (M drove on to Alamosa for the day.) Snow was only wind-blown patchy in areas so I make an über dumb move & leave my snow shoes behind – opting for a lighter pack.

Another mile further we reached sunlight – warmth improved my spirit while ice dangled from my beard.

I struggled this day in knee-deep snow (why did I leave my shoes in the car? ARGH!) Found myself lagging far behind. Who wants to be that person? Decided this just wasn’t my day so I would head back – but needed to first catch Cammy & Erik. Not once but twice I almost reached the Super Hikers, only to see them complete their mini- snack break & push even further. LOL>

Snow is now waist-deep. Thinkin’ I’m D-U-N (done). Only .5 miles further to Como Lake. Totally do-able.

SUCCESS! Kicked back on the frozen lake, I refuel & catch some zzz’s.

Return hike is soooo much easier – no longer cutting a trail UP in snow. 11 mile roundtrip winter hike. No Blanca Peak today but gotta thank Team Ft Collins for pushing me this day. I’ll be back…in the summer 🙂

Wait, wait – this tale’s not finished.

Back on the highway & only another 15 minutes down the road, we take in an hour at Great Sand Dunes Nat’l Park. Sand dunes & snow — followed by Mexican food in Walsenburg. FANTASTIC finish, FANTASTIC day!