Grandeur Dreams

I love the outdoors. A few months ago Terri planted a couple wild seeds in my head about some major mountaineering projects. Set as my mind was about a nano-second after she proposed the idea, our team FINALLY got together to discuss our goals.

While only a piece of the puzzle, the first major mission we will tackle (me and three of the most outdoorsy women I know) is climbing Mt. Rainer, and with a little luck drawing the permit, we do so this upcoming June.

Of course my major concern is all based on funding this trip since nothing is cheap including the gear required for such an undertaking. Fortunately I work at the right place. My immediate need will be some mountaineering boots. I'm thinking of the "Nepal" from La Sportiva.

The most encouraging part for me of last night was actually getting some dates on the calendar to go play in the snow and on some mountains. Sarah proposed climbing five 14er's this winter and making sure we all have some avalanche training. The first hill we will climb is Quandry which a few of the girls have really wanted to do.

In addition to the 14'ers, discussion is on the table to do Gannett Peak in Wyoming and my personal goal is to through hike the Colorado Trail. When...I'm not so sure, I wanted to sneak it in this summer after Rainer but who knows because it takes at least 5 weeks.

When I started back at Jax this summer I thought I would do so for some extra spending money. I should have known it would only spiral my need for the wilderness out of control.

At the very least, we will get out, and hopefully we will get out a lot. Plus I'll get to spend some time with some of my favorite ladies.

Great Adventures in the Great Sand Dunes

For years now, I have been trying to go on a solo backpacking trip. I truly love backpacking and something (fear) has held me back from going on my own. Every summer I wimp out and stay home.

I finally did it. While I just stayed one night in my tent, and when I tell the story it sounds a little like a disaster, the trip was a huge success for me. I firmly believe that if you really love to do something, you should be able to enjoy it on your own, not depending on others to develop your passions. From working at Jax, I have come in to contact with several folks that are very passionate and knowledgeable about the outdoors. While they may be hard core outdoor enthusiasts and I consider my outdoor experience recreational at best, they motivate me to take control and do the things I love regardless of my surroundings.

The first night I was there I stayed at the Aspen campsite north of the dunes and it POURED rain on me. The second day after I hiked back to my car I went exploring in the dunes and after ANOTHER nasty rain storm, opted not to camp in the interior of the dunes and take me and the 15 plus miles I had under my belt back to Loveland so I could get in a little tubing on the Poudre with some of my buddies from Jax.

Check out my pics...

Getting Down and Yurty at the Dancing Moose

This weekend I went on a fantastic yurt trip with eight of my favorite outdoors women (7 of us worked at Jax together, how fitting)

We headed up the Poudre Canyon and found ourselves near Walden at the Never Summer Nordic Yurts. I hadn’t been cross-country skiing for years and fell back in love with it in the course of the three day, two night trip.

I had never been on a yurt trip before and I definitely recommend them to anyone. They are like high-class camping. Yurts are non-permanent structures complete with bunks, a stove, outhouse etc. You pay to use them and they come stocked with everything you need except gear and food, you don’t have to pack in laterns, wood, or even dishes.

At the Never Summer Nordic Yurts there are several different yurts, different sizes, all different distances from the road. Ours was very easy, only a fourth of a mile or so, but we did quite a bit of cross country skiing and you couldn't see the road from our yurt. In fact, it was an awesome view.

Finally, even if you don’t go to the yurts, the drive is well worth it. Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in the world and it blows my mind that I have all of this right in my back yard!

Never Summer Nordic Yurts

P.S. Pictures to come shortly...