Reorganizing 2014

June and July have been busy.  Adventurously busy.  However, along with all the adventures comes the feelings of disorganization, lack of motivation, chaos, and being down right tired.

Fortunately I have taken a week off to catch up on some much needed rest.  Along with this I have decided to organize the immense number of photos from my trips a little bit better and post highlights on this blog.  Thanks for your patience, there will be many photos to come!

Packed May 2014

Summer has finally arrived in full swing as I stare out the window filled with sunlight at the Steam Espresso Bar in Denver.  I have not updated this blog with some of my most recent adventures... so while I wait in this 95 degree heat to pick up a second friend from the airport- I will write some of my thoughts down and post more pictures in a later post.

Cycling USAFA
In preparation for biking up Pikes Peak, my roommate recommended biking around the USAFA campus.  Yes there are hills on that loop.  Not many, but that is because it's mainly one long ascension.

Katie's Birthday
Following weekend was hanging out at Fox Run park and attempting to not break my foot again.  We also played a new (to me) game, Wise and Otherwise.

Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds had their yearly a demonstration for the USAFA graduation ceremony (presuming they have the budget).  This made a great lunch time treat especially with the Top Gun sound track playing in the background.

Memorial Weekend Backpacking
Amazing hiking weather.  Heavy pack. Plus extra weight in food in my pack from two people in the group meeting up later.  Hailed as we setup camp.  Remained raining for the rest of the evening as temperatures dropped (in addition to the 11,000ft in elevation that we stopped at).  We called the trip a day short since the next morning it briefly hailed and looked like there was only a few hour window before steady rain showers continued.

Cycling Pikes Peak
13 intense miles over a mile in elevation gain with a total of 26 miles round trip for Cycle The Campus.  This event is usually in Midland MI, however since I was in Colorado why not bike Pikes Peak?  Turns out I was definitely not prepared as I hoped.  My legs held out to the tree line fairly well, however the switch backs and crosswinds on the devil's playground were a killer.

More pictures to come!

Quandary Peak

Ski season has officially ended but the mountains remain in that awkward transitional state where it’s not ski season but it’s not hiking season either.  Eager to start hiking though I borrowed some snowshoes from my friend Tony.  Rachel and I had been talking about trips and we both wound up on the topic of snowshoeing Quandary Peak (14,265 ft).  So we got a group together and made it happen!

Unfortunately the day we picked did not have a great forecast showing a possibility of rain.  However, the morning and the majority of the hike up was wonderful blue sky weather.  The group of us, Rachel, Stephan, Kristen, Audra, and I took our time on the way up primarily due to getting adjusted to the snowshoes. Who wouldn't hike a 14er for their very first snowshoeing adventure?  We were a bit perplexed and comforted with the large mountain rescue group at the parking log heading up about the same time for a training exercise.

Fortunately, weather-wise, rain didn't come.  Just 4 inches of snow and 40+ mph winds resulting in a blizzard.  Thirty minutes before reaching the summit the clouds billowed over the peak and engulfed the entire ridge in a whiteout.  Between the wind and accumulating snow the tracks behind us disappeared within minutes.  It was at that point I started asking myself if I knew what I was doing and if I was really prepared.

The blowing snow with visibility less than 15 feet kept up until our descent.  Thankfully as we started hiking down the wrong ridge line there was a break in the clouds allowing us to correct our direction.  Only to pick up again with stronger wind and stinging any exposed skin with tiny ice bullets.  Below the treeline the wind was eliminated and was only left with wet snow gracefully falling through the trees.

The hike seemed long even though it was only 7 miles round trip.  Due primarily to getting familiar with the snowshoes and the inclement weather.  However, being my first time snowshoeing and hiking a 14er in a decade it was a success and a great time spent with friends!

Summit! (I guess there are easier places to take a picture with a white background)

Hiking to the correct ridge line

All of the following photos were grabbed from Rachel.

Other things that came to mind...there was a mountain goat on the hike up and skiing down would have been an absolute blast! (not to mention much quicker too)

Copper Cat

This past weekend was a workout.  I hiked the incline with my roommate Mark and skied some semi-back country mountains with a friend Rachel.  This was the last weekend for Copper bowl being open and the cat running to Tucker Mountain.  There was a 4-6 fresh inches of snow on top of slopes that are not skied often due to the hike.  To get there, you need to take 2 lifts, ski a black diamond, take a cat ride, and then hike (in your ski boots carrying your skis) about 30 minutes.  We did the cat ride and hike three times and I think my arms and shoulder were feeling it more than my legs.  However, the runs were worth it.  Fremont Glade 4/5, The Taco, and Fremont Glade 1 all were a blast.  My favorite was Fremont Glade 4/5 because I was the one of only two people to go down that run (I mapped my run in picture below).  The last time hiking had strong winds and blowing snow reducing the visibility to a few meters.  This is probably the closest I will come to back country skiing as I have much more respect for people who climb tall peaks carrying the weight of skis (and thankfully did not need any avalanche equipment).  Enough words, here are the views.

Incline

Copper