Back To 2008

February finds me still in Denver. My mother is a having a very difficult time with chemo and I don’t feel it’s currently appropriate to make any plans for anything. Since I don’t really have to be anywhere I’m sticking around. When it comes to helping my mother, my sister and I make a good team. She tends to takes care of a lot of the Dr. Appointments, tracking meds, etc. I’m more of a nuts a bolts guy with shopping, taking care of things around the house, etc.

Denver is not a bad city but it certainly doesn’t appeal to me. It just doesn’t feel like my place. I miss warm humid coastal air. When I was younger I was always drawn to the mountains. Now as I get older I’m more drawn to the ocean. I could very well wind up spending my later years living in Hawaii or some tropical locale. Something about being near the ocean makes me feel better. Perhaps I’ll turn out to be one of those guys who buys a cheap old sail boat more for living in a funky old marina than sailing.

Aside of being available to help my mother I’ve been trying to make a little money buying and selling old stuff with limited success. I also try to make it to the mountains at least once a week but missed a couple of weeks due to the flu. I can’t remember the last time I had the flu but it kicked my butt for a few days. I usually get an annoying cold once a year but that’s about it. The flu kept me in bed all day which is something I don’t think has happened to me since I was a teen.

A real highlight of being in Colorado over the winter is when I get a chance to zip around Nordic trails up in the mountains. My favorite place to ski is Devils Thumb Ranch near Winter Park. With over 100km of finely groomed trails it’s a bit of a paradise for the cross country skier. Yesterday I spent 3 hours skiing the perimeter and then some. It was the first day I felt like I was done with the flu and my strength felt just about back to normal. As I climbed the hills, opened it up on the flats and let it go on the downhill’s I felt really blessed to be able to enjoy skiing so much. Technically I’m skiing quite well and I always maintain a decent level of fitness which greatly adds to the fun factor. In some ways Nordic skiing is kind of like swimming. If you don’t swim much and/or have poor technique it can be a chore swimming one lap. If you have good technique and are in reasonably fit condition you can swim mile after mile and actually enjoy it. Despite my distaste for cold weather I still like to ski.

As of late I have not been feeling particularly social nor have I been feeling creative at all. I feel like I’m living in the in between and it will be interesting to see how it all segues into the next chapter of life as I have no idea where things are headed at the current moment. In the process I have been simplifying my already simple life. Recently I exited the world of social media and am limiting my time on the internet to writing, email, and work related activity. I tired of Facebook and found it to be a little bit of a compulsion checking it several times a day. Facebook has it positives and negatives but I think social media is doing more to dilute the quality of relationships. People are spread thin as communication is limited to quick text messages and life is interpreted through out of context sound bites. Big opinions are based on very little as social media fosters abundant misunderstandings and quick inaccurate judgments of others.

The internet is a poor medium for discussing anything controversial and people in general have a difficult time understanding all sides of an issue. Facial expressions, tone of voice and overall demeanor can add a lot to a discussion. My general rule anymore is if I have anything important to address with anyone it's best to do it in person. I don’t even like talking on the phone when it comes to addressing a serious issue. Social media is teaching people how not to communicate properly in my opinion.

At the end of the day I've noticed that the only people who actually look me up in real life are those who either are not on Facebook or have little to do with it. I often joked that I had over 370 friends on Facebook and actually knew a couple. Something about it all seems kind of fake and superficial, so, I’ve decided to go back to life without social media for a while and see how it goes. Back to 2008.

My Nordic Side...

I really don’t care much for cold weather anymore. Heat is uncomfortable but cold is painful. I grew up in a sub-tropical climate near the Gulf of Mexico where some winters never see temps below freezing. It only makes sense that the older I get the more tropical I feel. However, I love to Nordic Ski. I guess I have problem.

When I was younger I ran away to Colorado and the American west to embrace all four seasons. I especially liked skiing. First it was Alpine style downhill, then traditional Telemark, and finally my favorite, Nordic. The Nordic technique that appeals to me most is freestyle/skate which is done upon nicely packed wide groomed paths with lightweight gear and skinny skis.

In most states that offer a fair amount of downhill skiing you will often find cross country ski Nordic Centers with miles of groomed trails. Some places turn the local golf courses into a variety of serpentine trails. Other areas may be a little more rural in nature like a ranch with a cowboy who knows how to drive a Snowcat. The US Forest Service also grooms trails upon public lands for snowmobiles and cross country skiers. Many areas are free but usually the specific designated Nordic Centers that put a lot into maintaining trails charge a fee. It’s generally $10 to $20 for the day. Season passes are normally very reasonable.

In the mid 1990’s up to the mid 2000’s I was nuts about Nordic skiing and participated in a fair number a races. My running background transferred well to an aerobic base but it took a lot of kilometers over two year period to become proficient at the freestyle technique. Ironically, the more familiar traditional classic technique is much harder to master. When I lived in Aspen I was only a ten minute walk to miles of groomed trails and skied 4 or 5 days a week. After awhile I got pretty decent at it.

I returned to Houston in the Fall of 2004 and dusted off my roller skies to sweat along Bayou bike paths. Skiing became limited to short winter visits to Colorado. In 2006 I ran off to the Adirondacks in upstate New York and skied by butt off while working at the Mt Van Hovenburg Nordic Center, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. That was pretty awesome. Since that time I’ve focused more on International travel, long distance hiking, and have resorted to running as the usual method to maintain a desired level of fitness.

The last competitive Nordic events I participated in were in 2006. They were the Keskinada Loppett in Ottawa, Canada and the Lake Placid Loppett while working at Mt Van Hovenburg. Both are 50k’s and I was happy to place 3rd in my age group at Lake Placid. Competitive cross country skiing is by far the toughest sport I have ever participated in. It’s one thing to go for a walk with skis on your feet. It’s another to race. Every ski race is like a long lung busting interval workout with the only recoveries being the down hills which usually seem way to short. In other words it feels like most of a race consists of skiing as fast as you can uphill.

It takes a lot to be competitive but years of working on technique go a long way when it comes to simply enjoying the activity. I probably only have half the engine I use have for racing. Technique wise I’m about the same which allows me the ability to joyfully skate along for 2 to 3 hours while taking in some beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain scenery.

From Denver I’m 1 ½ to 2 hours away from some splendid Nordic Centers but last week when the city got just enough snow on my mother’s un-plowed neighborhood streets I went out for a ski just like I go out for a run. It got a lot of smiles from the neighbors as I whizzed around with a quick V2 skate tecnique.

Anyway, not much has changed since my last December post. I’m balancing my time helping my mother while she undergoes chemo and weathers the ups and downs. I don’t mind. I just look forward to making it a point to get up to the mountains 1 or 2 days a week. I know I'll eventually get back to traveling internationally when the time is right.

Taking A Stand

What do you stand for? What do you believe in? In the world of relativity and political correctness modern society has become splintered and polarized. Most people choose to fall into a safety net of non-controversial grey when it comes to expressing what they really think or feel. See it however you want. Whatever is right for you is right. Absolute truth doesn’t exist except for those that society characterizes as intolerant and closed minded. Those who do express what they believe in don’t always back it up very well. Both sides of an argument cite biased and unreliable sources while engaged in heated political debates set upon a weak foundation of emotion. Blame is placed on the other and no one takes responsibility. If everyone just did the right thing there would be very few problems in the world, however, doing the right thing has become more relative than ever.

I consider myself an independent free thinker and a reasonable person who could care less what someone does with their own life on their own time as long as they are not hurting anyone else. That’s how I see myself. Live and let live. I can get along well with most anyone but I do have my opinions.

I’ve experimented with expressing various opinions on Facebook. Political and non political. When doing so only a few respond to anything controversial. Sometimes a little banter back and forth ensues with a few heated comments for a day or two then it’s back to silly posts of last night’s dinner or a picture of someone’s cat. After a while I might delete the thread altogether. After all, it was just an experiment. Facebook is a wonderful medium for misunderstanding and expressing misdirected frustrations. A lot of people have a hard time seeing all sides of an issue whether or not they agree or disagree.

So what do I believe in? What do I stand for? This is the question I ask myself. What’s my true character? What’s my moral and ethical code? As imperfect as I am I do feel I have a strong sense of right and wrong. At times I feel a bit isolated and disconnected from contemporary society but I enjoy being social and interacting with people all over the world. In some ways I could be considered conservative and old fashioned as Christian principles provide an element of structure to my life.

In a world of relativity where I believe morals and ethics are severely eroding one must stand firm or get swept along into whatever seems arguably justified at the time. Some things you compromise, some things you don't. Change is constant but not all change good. Today, in my opinion, people justify just about anything without taking many things into consideration. A person can choose to stay true to who they are or subscribe to the non-committal realm of whatever like a fashionable chameleon. We all have a choice.

Some of the most well respected yet controversial individuals are those who stood/stand up for something. Jesus comes to mind. A person may be seen as good, bad or indifferent before the judge and court of society but only absolute truth provides a genuine assessment of one’s actual character. What then is absolute truth and where does it originate? What’s the platform? It takes a lot of guts to stand up for the truth. When taking a stand you will be judged.

No Plans Beyond The Immediate Now

Instead of the usual get up early and drive 16+ hours straight through to Denver I chose to stop roughly halfway in Childress, Texas. It allowed for a relaxed morning departure from Houston. I booked a hotel beforehand so I wouldn’t have to think about it or needlessly continue further into the night which I’d likely be tempted to do. I reached my destination at a reasonable hour, got halfway decent sleep, and rolled into Denver the following day in time to pick up my nephew from school.

That was almost two weeks ago. The original idea was to go south of the equator and avoid winter all together but that is not to be the case for now. I had no idea that my mother would be starting her battle with cancer in mid November. For the most part everything has been going well post-surgery but that being followed with lifestyle changes and chemo soon to start means a major adjustment. Unknowns loom in the future but the prognosis is very hopeful and attitude is positive amidst all those involved.

The current situation has definitely caused me to take a step back and reprioritize my own self oriented pursuits. Although I’d prefer not to be in Denver right now and I’d rather be somewhere else I really don’t mind being in Colorado. I feel like I’m doing the right thing and that is what’s most important. My number one priority is to provide support to my mother and sister but I am able to balance my time with things I like to do. A week ago, due to remarkably mild winter weather, I was able to hike to the splendid summit of Bear Peak above Boulder. I’ve also been able to make time to shop some estate sales and have had a chance to pick up some interesting items that I should be able to make a little money on while here. Needless to say I’ve been able to get out for a run on a regular basis which does more good for my overall mental state than anything. The mountains are finally getting some snow so I hope to get in some Nordic skiing soon. All in all, considering the circumstances, things are ok. I’m just taking it as it goes and plan to be in Denver through the Holidays for sure. Beyond that point I’ll just have to see. I have no plans beyond the immediate now.

Checking In

A lot has happened since my last post and I feel a million miles away from creativity. I’ve been going at it full throttle with work and have allowed little time for anything else. That tends to be the pattern as I try to push a year’s worth of work in to six to eight months so I can do as I please and travel for the remaining time.

Along with my busy work routine there’s been a presidential election, a very good friend from college passed and my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I assumed I would be headed off to New Zealand for the winter/summer and had actually booked a ticket but I felt tentative about it so I didn’t talk it up much.

It’s currently a beautiful day in Houston with temps in the low 80’s and just the right amount of humidity. My kind of weather but tomorrow I’ll be headed back up to the Rocky Mountain state. My mother was diagnosed with cancer just two weeks ago and underwent surgery almost immediately. She is now recovering in Denver and the prognosis good but there is chemo to follow along with lifestyle changes one must make to battle a disease that has become far to common. For me it’s a no brainer that I head up to Colorado for an undetermined amount of time to offer support to my sister and mother. Sure, I’d love to me headed off on some other journey but I much rather do the right thing.

Houston - Inside The Loop - Thru The Backdoor

Houston is a large city. It’s the fourth largest in the USA. A red state with a robust Gas and Oil economy coupled with a connection to the Bush family fuels the fodder for misconception. As the French would say, “Houston? Texas? Ah Bushy”. Go ahead. Think of it as a redneck ultra conservative cow town full of tea party constituents but don’t expect everyone to speak English. Dos mas Cerveza por favor. Misconceptions have an upside. Houston is much wierder than Austin….

First of all over 900,000 thousand are Hispanic with around 700,000 of them claiming Spanish as their first language. After all, Texas was once a part of Mexico until Santa Anna was captured and his Army was defeated on a plot of swampy land right outside the Bayou City. The number of whites is around 500,000 with the number of Blacks being a just a little less. Asians make up about 125,000. From there is nice mix of ethnicities from all over the world. Swirled together in sprawled out mess of roads and traffic everyone seems to get along well in what I consider to be one of the more tolerant cities within America.

People have their preferences, political beliefs etc. but at the end of the day no one really cares if you like mustard on your hamburger or not. Why talk politics and religion when there are more important things to discuss such as, “It sure is hot out there”, “Where’s the Best Tex Mex” and “Have a nice day”.

You can either live inside the loop, outside the loop, or way out in the suburbs. Strip malls and chain restaurants/stores litter the major thorough fares. Restaurants and eating establishments are everywhere. Outside the loop, in a lit parking lot of a Best Buy and Target, may make one think they are in anywhere USA. However, inside the loop, close in, and thru the back door reveals a much more interesting twist to an otherwise plain white toast sort of city. Tourist bureau? No, that won’t do you much good. Houston is not a tourist city.

The Gathering - After 27 Years

Pete, Chuck, Myself, and Gary










Old habits die hard and excuses keep them going. Especially when the need for money is involved. So, upon my return to Houston, since my last post, I have been possessed by the demon of busyness in a frenetic haste to replenish the bank account. However, I did manage to slip away for a few days to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in 27 years.

Gary “The Clam” recognized me right away. He looked a little different that he did during the time he was running 130 mile weeks and hiking like a machine. Chuck “Woodchuck” quickly spotted me as well and hobbled over enthusiastically while expressing how good it was to see me. I was informed that Pete “The Cheshire Cat” would be showing up the next day.

“ALDHA… Ah yes,,, I must confess. I am a long distance hiker”. That got a few chuckles from the audience and one boisterous laugh to my right. I had been asked to speak only an hour before the opening of "The Gathering" and didn’t hesitate to do so. Why not? It’s just a bunch of hikers. A crowd of kindred spirits that enjoy hiking miles on end sleeping in the woods while living off noodles. An assortment of individuals driven by the force of getting from here to there for no other reason than seeing what’s along the way.

I was speaking in an auditorium on the campus of Concord University in Athens, WV. To my left a large banner hung as I spoke before a good sized crowd feeling quite comfortable as unrehearsed words flowed naturally. I talked of how it had been 27 years since I hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and how much of an impact 5 months of continuous hiking atop mountains and through woods had affected my life. I also spoke of how it continues to do so. Since most of the crowd had hiked the trail I felt my talk was keenly understood and well received. In all I think my speech lasted about 7 or 8 minutes but it was kind of hard to tell for sure. I do very little public speaking but I kind like it and think I’m reasonably good at it.

 ALDHA stands for the Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association. It was created by former end to end thru hikers of the Appalachian Trail. The main event is "The Gathering" which takes place every year in October. It’s a reunion of sorts filled with workshops, meetings, and campfires. Most everyone camps on a small music festival site outside of Pipestem, WV. The workshops and all take place on the Concord campus. Although the Gathering favors Appalachian Trail hikers it’s open to anyone who is interested. Most of the workshops deal with what to do after the A.T. and where to go next. Most presentations focus on other paths within the USA and abroad. The key presentation was by a hiker that traversed the Himalaya’s across India and Nepal. He would have continued into Pakistan but didn’t and couldn’t for obvious political reasons.

The workshops and all were fine but my real reason for attending the gathering was to revisit, catch up, and reflect upon the one accomplishment that has most affected my life. Chuck and Pete were probably the two I wanted to see the most and Gary remained a vivid memory out of many I met along the way. I was only 19 when I hiked the trail. Pete was 40. Gary and Chuck were in their 30’s. Naturally, they looked a little older.

Pete “The Cheshire Cat” was fresh out of the Air Force in '85 with a 20 year retirement. He was the most precise, organized, and cleanest hiker I've ever met. Chuck “Woodchuck” was the most colorful character on the trail with his long hair, bushy beard, and custom made 7 foot hiking staff adorning coon tails and crucifix. I met Pete and Chuck on the 4th day amidst self-doubt and second guessing as the reality of what it takes to walk from Georgia to Maine really sunk in.

I hiked with Chuck for a week. I also camped with Pete and Chuck along with a few others during that time. Their enthusiasm and determination through what I refer to as the early miles of “Breaking In” really helped me to understand how to allow time for adjustment. I realized I needed break down the big goal of walking to Maine into smaller goals of where I’d be in a week, the end of the day, and mid afternoon. I learned a lot from just being around more mature adults who already knew this and were well suited for the task.

After three weeks I had gone through a mental and physical transformation. I found myself passionately committed and in it for the long haul. At that point there was no way I was getting off the trail until reaching the northern terminus atop Mt. Katahdin, Maine.

I ran into Pete off and on all the way to the end. I saw Chuck regularly until Pennsylvania where I sped up and he slowed a bit. Gary was one of those guys I met along the journey that I simply connected with and enjoyed sharing conversation during the evening when camped at a lean to. I don’t remember seeing too much of him as he was a faster hiker than myself.

In 1985 less than 10% of those who set out to hike the A.T. end to end succeeded. By late fall of 1985 about 100 hikers registered as having completed the entire trail either in one trip or several stages.

It took me a day and a half to drive the 1,150 miles up to West Virginia which gave me Friday evening and all day Saturday/Sunday to catch up and swap stories. Although many details have turned foggy, twenty seven years seemed like yesterday. As if it were nothing more than a brief hiatus were everyone just got a little older. I spent most of my time hanging out with Pete, Chuck, and can’t say I really felt all that connected with the others.

The trail was different back in the day. A lot fewer people did it. Equipment was heavier. Resupply was more of a chore. Communication was poor in comparison to today’s smart phones etc. I think hikers leaned a little more on one another. Every fellow thru hiker you met was an instant friend. Maybe the relationships were a little stronger back then and hold up a little better over time. Most attending the event were veterans of more recent years and what seemes like a little different experience.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday passed quickly. On Monday morning I packed my tent in a light rain and bid farewell to Chuck. I had said my goodbyes to Pete and Gary the evening before. That afternoon I made a slight detour on my way home to perfectly time lunch with a buddy in Asheville, NC before pressing on.

With the passing of 6 short days I arrived back home after driving approximately 2,400 miles and immediately dived back into work. I've hardly given myself a moment to reflect on the awesome time I had.

Today Pete still does long hikes. From what I understand, Gary hasn't done too much hiking since the trail but attends The Gathering every year. Chuck’s hiking is limited due to a bad foot but he is heavily involved in preserving the Appalachian Trail and has become a living legend of sorts. Oh, and come to find out, 1985 is viewed to have been one of the best years based on hiker community and trail camaraderie.

Houston, Politics, C'est La Vie....

I rolled back into Houston last Sunday night. It was a rainy night and there were a lot of cars on the road between Dallas and Houston. The last 150 miles was kind of hard driving but I still made the trip from Denver in just under 17 hours straight through. I thought my car might handle a little funny because it was totally packed with stuff I picked up at Denver area estate sales during the past two weeks. Vinyl records, turntables, vintage audio and a mix of interesting collectible items had my vehicle riding a little lower than usual. No problem. The car rode and drove great.

After all of the overseas travel I’ve done during the past few years it was kind of nice to have two months to roam around stateside. Between camping and visiting friends it really didn’t cost too much. I spent more time than I have in a long time visiting my mother and sister which was nice. A quick few days making the rounds is fine and good but more time allows for a more natural visit. I consider myself to have a good relationship with family and relatives which is nice thing. I get along with everyone and feel very fortunate in that regard.

While in Denver I had time to catch up on the political issues of today as I don’t own a TV. I catch most of the news on the internet which can be quite a chore to sift through when seeking the truth. Anyway, I watched both Political Conventions as well as a variety of news shows. Covering the issues accurately and truthfully doesn’t seem to be a priority for the majority of reporters and most people seem to choose a candidate based on a single issue that’s most important to them. I have a theory that a great deal of voters choose a candidate based on what kind of performance they portray on Television. A candidate who can present well and look good can pretty much say whatever they want and most will buy it. In the end few candidates deliver even a small portion of what they promise as they give into the pressures of lobbyist and special interest groups. Currently I find the direction the USA is heading to be quite concerning.

A disappointing thing about Americans, that I really notice when returning from a trip overseas, is how spoiled most are. People here take their freedoms and liberties way too much for granted. I think this is a big part of the problem. What we consider poverty in America is seen as living like a king in most regions of the world. America is the fattest country on the planet and people complain about hunger? The famous JFK quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”, has been turned around to a current attitude of ask not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you.

The American Government is about to start printing more money to try and give the economy a boost while devaluing the dollar. This is only going to increase the national debt in a time when people are demanding more from the government. It simply doesn’t make sense. I’ve always been a good money manager and the only way I’ve managed to stay out of debt is by cutting back and living within my means. Somehow this doesn’t seem to apply to Uncle Sam. I know I have a pretty simplistic economics 101 way of looking at things but I do believe basic fundamentals still apply. America is becoming a weaker nation and more divided than I've ever seen as we wallow in a dysfunctional decline. It may be a slow decline but a decline nonetheless. People are working harder and making less and those with less are counting on a fairytale while anxiously awaiting a Robin Hood like character to rescue them.

I know that there are many ways to look at the complex issues of today but I'd say the overwhelming majority interpret things based on whatever they want to believe. Strong opinions are often times not aligned with facts and there seems to be a lot of anger towards those with an opposing view. Everyone's situation has its own nuances etc which makes many topics relative but if we as a nation continue to spend money we simply do not have it's going to create difficulities no matter how much we try to avoid them. In the end the money really does have to come from somwhere.

In the meantime I’ll go along like most all Americans. Frustrated and feeling like there isn’t anything I can do but vote for whoever I feel is the best choice out of an increasingly less desirable pool of leaders. C’est la vie.

Currently I’m getting back to work. I don’t expect to spend too much time in Houston before moving on again as I’m creating options and hungry for a personal change.

Max's Mountain Odyssey

Traveling with my 11 year old nephew Max is like traveling with a non stop action packed variety show complete with song, dance, and never ending Why's? A complaint of tiredness and fatigue is quickly contradicted on a dime as we bounce off to an ice cream stand. A brief moment of boredom is cut short with a long rendition of a Wierd Al Yankovick song not missing a word or beat.

My monk like solo travel ways were put on hold over the Labor Day weekend when I answered a call of duty as Uncle to introduce my nephew to the ways of mountain and backpack. I felt a drive and desire to extract him from the grip of video games, television, and computer. To show him a view from a mountain top that can only be reached by foot and to camp in the Wilderness along with elements and wildlife. He had made his interest known so I seized the opportunity. Eleven is the perfect age for an introduction.

As directed he was up at 4 am to get ready for an hour and a half drive to the Quandary Peak trail head. Quandary is one of Colorado's 54 peaks over 14,000 feet. By mountain hiking standards it's a relatively easy Fourteener but that's only if you consider three and an half miles with over 3,000 foot elevation gain in rarefied air easy. Needless to say, its a good hike by anyone's standards. You can only earn the summit by working and gasping for air.

As a rule I shoot for a first light start in the Colorado Rockies. It's insurance. Almost always the weather will be great until 11am. After that anything goes. Lightning is a real issue. It's no fun being high above timberline when deadly bolts are flying about. I compare it to being in a mortar field during battle. With an early start, time is on your side and the odds of having to race down a ridge while the skies rumble is much less. In other words, you will have a much more enjoyable hike and a much better chance of reaching the summit with a sunrise start.

Since I had hadn't climbed Quandary in over 20 years things had changed a little and I wasted about 15 minutes looking for the new trail head. Once we found it and got started Max took off with an ambitious pace. I wasn't sure how he was going to do but halfway up his ambitious pace wasn't slowing much. I told him that hiking fast is not about hiking fast. It's about keeping it steady with a reasonably comfortable pace and just a few short breaks. Steadily we climbed to a false summit that seemed to be particularly discouraging to Max but steadily we continued. At right about 2 ½ hours we reached the top. I was very pleased with Max's well above average pace. The kid can hike!

When we reached the top there was only one other couple. The four of us had the chilly breezy summit to ourselves for about 20 minutes. Shortly thereafter we began the descent which I estimated would take nearly as long as the ascent due to steep sections and rocky terrain.

In Colorado everyone heads up to the mountains over Labor Day so I was kind of expecting European Alp like crowds. We passed quite a few people going up as we were hiking down. Another good reason for an early start. You miss the majority of people who tend to start a little late.

We made the round trip in just over 5 hours. It was after 11am and clouding up. By 12 noon it was raining.

After the peak climb we stuffed ourselves with nachos, burgers, and milk shakes in Breckenridge. We ate enough food to carry us over until the next day. That evening we found ourselves camped off Forest Service Tigiwon road near the Holy Cross Wilderness. It was a peaceful campsite until some redneck hunters down in the valley below started firing an assortment of guns that echoed loudly. Nightfall put an end to that nonsense.

In the morning we packed camp quickly and rolled into the historic old mining town of Leadville for breakfast at the Golden Burro known locally as “The Brass Ass”. From there we drove south to Buena Vista for part two of Max's Mountain Odyssey.

I had originally intended to take him on a longer backpack in the Holy Cross Wilderness but his leg was bothering him from the Peak hike. It think it was the running, jumping, and hopping on the descent that was to blame. After consulting some maps in Buena Vista I felt a 2 mile relatively flat hike along a creek into the Collegiate Peak Wilderness would be perfect for an overnight backpack.

As anticipated the hike in went well and we camped near an idyllic creek with a Beaver dam. Rain blew in off and on but it fell lightly. Cooking dinner kept us busy as I forgot my camp stove fuel and we had to cook over a fire. My fire cooking skill are very rusty but made easier with a little help from a passing hikers butane lighter. By sunset the skies cleared and a nearly full moon filled the night with a dreamy foresty light.

When we awoke early the next morning Max was ready to go. To go home. All gaols had been successfully attained and I was happy to get a jump on beating holiday traffic back to Denver. By lunch time I reunited him with his mother who was anxious to hear about everything after not seeing her son for two nights while trekking around the mountains with Uncle Todd.

I must admit I was a little anxious at first about the weekend but once Max and I got going everything more or less went perfectly. I was especially happy to get him up a Fourteener as hiking peaks is a favorite pastime of mine. It was fun and rewarding to share the experience. As for future trips? Well, we'll see. Kids these days have a million options for activities. It's up to Max to decide. I've made the introduction.

A Run and Return to Denver

After just a week in the Eastern Sierra I needed to return to Colorado in time for an appointment I really kind of needed to keep. I wasn't really ready to leave sunny mild Mammoth as I got up early Sunday morning for a run. I laced up my shoes and left the Forest Service Shady Rest Campground for a series of newly paved bike paths.

I started slowly heading south of town making an arching loop through brush, sage and just a few trees past a viewpoint and to a park. The path continued on and west into forested Old Mammoth where it gave way to a quiet paved road. From there it was a steady steepening climb up to Twin Lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. I relocated a paved path at Tamarack Lakes and enjoyed a nice smooth gradual downhill route leading me back to the campground for a total run of 1 hour 20 minutes.

When I lived in Mammoth 15 years ago, aside of fall running camps consisting of High School and College teams, I felt like the lone runner. There wasn't much if any kind of a running community living in Mammoth. Area races were small and aside of a few locals they would attract people who happened to be in town on vacation. I had one running friend in Bishop who I'd train with on occasion. I really had no one to run with or even talk about running. In the winter I was absolutely the only runner in Mammoth and spent most of my training time on cross country skis.

In my two years of living there I ran trails and quiet roads between Mammoth and Bishop. Bishop is only about 40 miles away at much lower elevation with a mild winter climate that sees little snow. By time I learned the area I figured it was probably one of the best places in America for a runner to train. I couldn't believe elite runners weren't taking advantage of it. I even posted on an online running message board what I had discovered. Trails, Benton Crossing Road, Round Valley, Etc.

I'm not taking any credit because I know college coaches had already been clued in due to running camps, however, since I've left Mammoth it's become widely known as one of the best places for a distance runner to train in the USA. Many of this years Olympians spent time training in Mammoth and several live there. I've never been anywhere near Olympic caliber but I took my running fairly seriously at one time. It's cool to see.

After the Sunday morning run I drove west into Nevada and through a dust storm near Tonapah. In Ely I took the business route to check out the once vibrant main street turned depressed rows of vacant buildings, faded signs, and broken neon. Tired hotels offer $160 weekly rate and casinos look dark and empty. My father and I visited Ely on a trip out west when I was a young kid. It was an interesting place in 1970's but now it looks tired. Kept alive by what little remains in mining and businesses along the main highway pushing fast food, gas, and accommodation. Your over 100 miles away from any other services so its a must stop for pretty much anyone passing through.

Not too far from Ely is Great Basin National Park. It's a relatively small park with a nice 13,000 foot peak, a few lakes, nice trees, and good views. I located a nice campsite near a stream and out of the gusty wind. I felt very comfortable there and rested for the next days drive into Denver.

Whereas Nevada is full of vast open areas with desert mountains Utah offers desert landscape. Known for it varied red rock canyons and multi colored soil under blue skies and with a mix of cloud the scenery often looks unreal. Utah has the most amazing desert landscape in my opinion. It's never a bore to drive across.

Feeling a little tired I exited onto some BLM land and hiked up a small read dirt hill for a quick view. I noticed the door to my gas tank was open. Damn! Left my gas cap about a 80 miles back when I filled up in Salina. I solved the problem in the next town where I was shocked to find an auto parts store. $10 and the problem was solved.

By time I entered the mountains of Colorado it was raining heavily. I've driven from Glenwood Springs to Denver numerous times under so many weather conditions I think I could do it with my eyes closed. As I neared the Eisenhower tunnel at 11,000 feet the clouds parted a bit and revealed a vibrant Rainbow before me. I fumbled with my camera and took a photo being careful to stay in my lane while driving.

The other side of the tunnel was much worse. Heavy rain with lots of water on the road. A truck passed dangerously fast. I gave a wide berth and truck slowed. Everyone slowed. Eventually I arrived in Denver with skies clearing feeling like the trip was coming to an end and missing the Sierra.

Out of all of the places I've visited this summer I definitely connected with the Sierra the most. Its left quite an impression. At the very least I will return next summer, however, I'm tempted to return sooner. Something about the area clicked for me. I seemed to hit it off with just about everyone I met. Kindred spirits of sorts. Sure you've got the young skier boarder crowd but you also have a wide variety of people, mostly from Southern California, either living there full time, part time, or weekends and holidays. The summers are divine but the winters can get a ton of snow. The good thing is that the winters rarely see extreme cold and there is usually a fair amount of sun.

Oh well, you never really know with me. I could just as easily wind up in Houston, Hawaii, or some country you have never heard of for the winter. I'll just have to see. Thanks to staying with friends and family in various locations along with camping I've managed to keep summer expenses low. Taco Bell, Subway sandwiches, and simple meals over my camp stove have kept food costs to a minimum. My only real expense has been gas. Nonetheless, work will once again become a necessity before too long and I'm ready to try something different to reel in some dollars.

My thought process is shifting. No need to talk anymore about what I'm going to do. I think I'll just talk about what I'm doing.