Go big or go home...hiking our first 14'er

From the Summit of Grays 14,270'

One of our biggest goals during our time in Colorado was to hike to the TOP of a 14'er.  A 14'er is a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet tall above sea level.  It is a big deal in Colorado as they have more than any other state, maxing out at 53...or 54 depending on what source you find.  The next populated is California with 11.  To compare, Humpback Rock in Virginia is 3,080 feet and the tallest mountain in Virginia maxes out at 5,729, which is Mount Rogers.  The true test is to hike all of the 14'ers in Colorado, but Eli and I just wanted to join the club of hiking at least one.  Eight years ago we attempted one, Mount Quandary, but did not reach the summit due to waist deep snow!  Typically, June or July is the best time to start these hikes because of snow and bad weather earlier in the season, but with limited time we had to test our luck in May.



We were going to try on Saturday, May 19th but due to snow and rain we stayed local and spent the day with our friend, Lauren Eckard, and her cute son, Ian at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster.

Hiking as the sun was coming up!

We had a great time but were getting very excited about our upcoming challenge.  Eli had done his research so set the alarm for 3:00 am so we could get started early to avoid any afternoon storms.  We got to the trail head of Grays (11,280 feet) at 5:30 and began our hike as the sun was coming up over the mountain.  We totally lucked out on weather as it was chilly but crystal clear.  The initial trail was well marked and had great views along the way.  We both had some shortness of breath but nothing to slow us down.  After winding around the mountain, we got to boulders and lots of snow.

 We ate a few snacks and began the trek...up!  With no definite trail from the snow on the previous day, Eli literally punched his way into the snow to create footing for us in certain spots.  I thought it was hard, but Eli paved the way for me (thank goodness!!).  As we inched toward the top, it got harder and harder.  At times we were on all fours and others we zig zagged upwards.  It was frustrating occasionally because you felt so close to the top yet SO far away.  The last 100 to 200 feet were the hardest.  Even though we have lived in Colorado for six months we both noticed how difficult it was due to the altitude. I had to stop to catch my breath every 15 feet or so and Eli was battling nausea and a headache. With all that said, once we reached the summit, it was well worth it. We had a commanding view that stretched miles and miles in all directions.  There were a few people already at the top that offered us a shot of whiskey in celebration. We found that type of kindness from many hikers as everyone was very friendly and offered encouragement or well greetings. Eli actually got phone service on the top of the mountain and called his Dad. I just took in the views. After enjoying the beauty we hiked back down and in some cases slid. It felt much better going down with our breath coming easier, our heads clearing, and feeling a sense of accomplishment as so many others were still working their way up. We got back to the car about 11:30, so it was around a 6 hour round trip and 7.5 miles worth of hiking. We were both famished so stopped at Burger King (I know awful) to get whoppers (so much for gluten free) and then Starbucks for a Chai Tea and Mocha Frapaccino.  We scarfed our food down and headed back to Boulder for an evening of relaxation. This day will definitely be on our top 10 list.  Not all parts of it were fun but it was an incredible feeling to achieve our goal together. It is definitely a spiritual connection with nature and just makes you realize how incredible this planet is. I could not think of a better hiking partner to experience this beauty with!!

Red Rocks and Rockies!

After a wonderful weekend in Moab it was back to the real world and work. However, the real world is pretty wonderful in Boulder and with the warm weather it just keeps getting better and better. Going on a run in the evening turns into a scenic outing with the plethora of trails to choose from, many with prairie dogs running beside the path and a view of the Flatirons. On Thursday Katy and I took the dogs hiking in Chautaugua Park, which provides miles of various trails at the base of the Flatirons...oh yeah, and the park is only a 10 minute drive from our house!

It was a gorgeous evening and so we ended up hiking for over two hours, going all the way into the mountains to where it became unsafe to continue scrambling over the rocky paths with the dogs. It was a wonderful hike and one we will definitely repeat before leaving Boulder.

On Thursday we were hiking in shorts and t-shirts with evening temperatures still in the 70s. Friday saw a drastic change in weather and on my way home from work I drove through snow showers! That is all fine and dandy except for one small detail...we were going to an outdoor concert at the infamous Red Rocks Amphitheater that night! As we've heard multiple times, this weather is just par for the course here in Colorado, so we sucked it up, bundled up, and headed up to Red Rocks to meet up with Cyndi and do a little tailgating before the concert. We ate a wonderful picnic that Cyndi packed (from the warmth and comfort of the car, of course!) and waited until the last possible minute to head out into the drizzling rain and cold. The first half an hour of the concert was wet, but then the rain stopped and the fog settled in which actually made the lights from the show reflect off the mist and the rocks and made for a really cool effect. The concert was amazing as the group, The Fray, are all from Denver and so it was a special show for both the band and for the audience. There was not an empty seat in the amphitheater and everyone stood for the entire show! Despite the weather, it turned out to be a wonderful evening, and for anyone visiting the Denver area, Red Rocks is a must do!

On Saturday morning we woke up and drove to Cyndi and Carole's cabin in the small mountain town of Fairplay, about 15 miles from the continental divide and 20 miles from Breckenridge. Over the winter a lot of trees had fallen down around the property, and so we spent the weekend cutting up the trees into firewood. We got snow showers complete with thunder and lightning, a first for me and Katy, on Saturday night. The weather did not bother us this night though as we hunkered down in the cabin with the wood stove going strong and a delicious steak dinner to feast on. On Sunday we continued the work until calling it quits around two that afternoon, It was another good weekend and nice to spend Mother's Day with two very important women in our lives.

The dogs especially loved the weekend as they had free run of the cabin and the woods around it!

Moab!

Delicate Arch

The first weekend in May Katy and I took off for Moab, Utah. We took off work early on Friday, May 4th and headed west through the mountains, stopping in Vail for about an hour to walk around the quaint (and ritzy)  ski town where we grabbed ice cream and enjoyed the pretty weather. We arrived in Moab that evening just as the sun was setting over the red rock sandstone cliffs that surround the city. We grabbed a bite to eat at a place called Eddie McStiff's and then hit the sack early so we could be ready to hit the door running early Saturday morning. 

On Saturday we began a marathon day by eating breakfast outside at our hotel enjoying both the views and the warm weather. We then headed to Arches National Park, which houses over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. After you enter the park it is still quite a drive to get to the various hikes and scenic pull offs. It took us close to 30 minutes to drive from the entrance of the park to the world famous Delicate Arch. The Delicate Arch is a 65 foot free standing arch which is featured on Utah License plates and was also where the Olympic torch passed through during the 2002 Winter Games which were held in Salt Lake City. It is a three mile hike to see the Arch, including passing by the Frame Arch, but the trek is well worth it. 

Looking out from Frame Arch

Balance Rock

Window Arches

Turret Arches

After seeing the Delicate Arch we then hiked the two mile loop to see the Window Arches, The Turret Arch, and the Double Arch. On our way out of the park we stopped by the Delicate Rock and the Courthouse Towers to snap some pictures and take in the views. 

Mesa Arch Overlook

We then ate a packed lunch on our way from Arches National Park over to Canyonlands National Park. The two parks are separated by only 30 miles, but are starkly different in terms of scenery. Arches is full of sandstone cliffs and formations with the snow capped La Sal Mountains serving as a back drop while Canyonlands is a never ending landscape of canyons, mesas, buttes, and rivers. The Colorado and Green Rivers snake through Canyonlands and actually connects the park to the Grand Canyon! Canyonlands is one of the most remote National Parks in the country. It encompasses over 337,000 acres and it is divided into four districts. The park has few roads that navigate through its boundaries. Instead it is filled with mostly rugged and remote trails with miles of roadless back country.

Upheaval Dome

We visited the Islands in the Sky district and started off our trip with a two mile hike to the Mesa Arch, which frames one of the many canyons within the park. After our first hike we then headed to see the Upheaval Dome, an unusual area that no one is 100% certain of how it was formed, although the leading theory is that it is the site of a crater that made impact with the Earth millions of years ago. Before leaving the park we went to the Green River Overlook, a stunning view of endless canyons broken up by the winding Green River. 

Green River Overlook

After a long day of hiking, we headed back to our hotel where we soaked in the hot tub before heading to a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Double O Arch

Landscape Arch

On Sunday we got up early to go hike the Devil's Garden trail in Arches National Park. The trail is an 8 mile round trip hike, but we only did six miles as we needed to get back to the hotel to shower and check out. It was still an amazing hike and one of the most memorable we have ever been on. During the hike you pass by  many arch formations, including Tunnel Arch, Pine Arch, Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch, Black Arch, and the Double O Arch.

Pine Arch

Navajo Arch

The hike is so incredible not only because of all the arches that are visible from the trail, but because of the trail itself, which is listed as a moderate to strenuous hike. This is because after the first mile of the trail you must perform moderate scrambling and rock hopping and you traverse two rock fins with steep drop offs to either side of you. The rock fins made us a little nervous the first time we crossed them because of the strong winds and just being so high up, but the panoramic views were incredible and so made the trip well worth it.  

Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

 

Spending the weekend in Moab and being able to make it to two National Parks was wonderful. It was a great trip and one we would love to repeat someday. When we left Utah it was sunny and in the 70s. As we drove back into Colorado and through the mountains we ran into steady snow showers and temperatures in the low 30s! Oh the joys of living in Colorado.