Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Cross Country Skiing Adventure in the Fraser Valley

I've started cross country skiing again this week as active recovery from Ironman Arizona. I’ve been skiing at lunch on the Fraser River Trail increasing time each trip. It is such a beautiful trail with Winter Park Resort’s slopes in the distance and then coming back to the Fraser Visitor Center, I see Byers. The first day out was a sunny, bluebird day, then yesterday I missed the sunshine window and when I got out on the trail, in came the clouds and impending storm. However, I took some good pictures of the Fraser River and the dark foreboding clouds.



While I enjoyed the climate in Arizona last week (it was like a Grand County summer in Tempe), I’m glad to be home and getting out on the trails filled with snow. Since I’m still in recovery mode, no running and don’t have any desire to get back on my bike for indoor riding. I think I’ll stick to skiing (downhill and cross country) and hiking with the dogs.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Indoor Spinning with a Lake View

I am indoor spinning (http://www.neversummerfitness.com/) in preparation for Ironman, 10 days away. The class is hard but it’s better than biking outdoors in 30 degree temps. I like biking with my friend George, who I met in spin class over a year ago who has been such an awesome friend and biking partner.



Ironman is just around the corner. I am so excited to go to Arizona and compete in my second Ironman. I know it’s going to be a great week. I’m going to love Arizona and 80 degree temps after it not getting above 50 the last few days.


I know it’s going to be the best time in my life; I just know it. Ironman - where anything is possible.

http://ironmanarizona.com/arzclock.html

Friday, November 5, 2010

Thoughts from a Former Peak Bagger

There are so many times during the year that I think of all the things I want to do some day. I like making lists of all the things I want to do. I haven't been getting to many of them since I'm still working on the list from last year or a decade ago. I keep thinking of all the peaks around Grand County that I still haven't done like Byers and Vasquez. Or even the 14,000 footers that I'd like to do. I've lived in Colorado for almost seven years and haven't done one.

It's about time that I get one done and that is my top goal from next summer: To hike a 14,000 footer. Over the winter I will start planning and reading and learning about hiking them. There's a story in there some where.



Vasquez Wilderness

Here's the story I wrote this year about peak bagging and why I suddenly stopped climbing the big mountains.

I haven't hiked Byers Peak, yet. As an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast living in Grand County for over three years, I'm embarrassed to admit it. The craggy peak taunts me every morning while I drive to work: Hike me, hike me.
Read the rest of the story here:

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Preserving Wilderness and What We Love

“we are the most dangerous of species of life on this planet, and every other species, even the earth itself, has cause to fear our power to exterminate. But we are also the only species which, when it chooses to do so, will go to great effort to save what it might destroy.”
Wallace Stegner This is Dinosaur

I'm writing a future column about wilderness and I am reminded of the Ken Burns film about the National Parks that came out last year.

Thought I would re-post my column about my thoughts on preserving public land and what the Ken Burns film meant to me.

It is not enough to understand the natural world. The point is to defend and preserve it. - Edward Abbey

Three events created the perfect storm in my life this month: I watched Ken Burns' documentary, “The National Parks America's Best Idea,” my family visited and with a swift kick in the butt, I realized there are so many awesome places in my “backyard”, I need to play in them, and I read in a letter to the editor that Cozens Ranch may close permanently.

This perfect storm makes me realize I need to take action; protect these things I care about before they are gone.

Two hours each night and six nights — 12 hours total — I watched the Ken Burns special; I was entranced.

Click here to read the rest of the story.