Ginnylynnpeterson: Colorado

Showing posts with label Colorado. Show all posts

Friday, September 30, 2011

Hello Colorado!!

Andrew, once again, was heading to Keystone for a conference.....and once again I went along! This was the second trip to Keystone -- and i really don't mind if it becomes a yearly tradition!

It was a busy week, but did make it out for one long link-up day.....Cameron, Bross and Democrat. I was still a little PTSD from the Alaska trip, but did just fine. Although, right off I got us lost and was wishing for a GPS......but it turned into an awesome rock scramble to the top!!

We got to see my friend Brett for a night, who once again has inspired me to do the Leadville 100!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Missouri/Belford Link Up.

I have always had a thing for link-ups.....And when I read the description of three peaks in one day, I couldn't resist.....Andrew at this point knows what he is getting himself into!

And if you did read the title of this post, you will note that only TWO peaks are mentioned.....that is because I didn't have enough juice to make it up the third........(which would have been Mount Oxford for those who are more ambitious than I).

We ran into a couple of locals that told us usually you do the link up in the other direction....meaning, it should have gone - Belford, Oxford, Missouri....not the other way around! Regardless, our total elevation gain for the day was over 6,000 feet, 12 miles and about 9 hours.....we were pretty beat!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Dark and Stormy...isn't that the name of a cocktail?? Mount Yale Attempt.

I think Andrew is on to me and quickly realizing sometimes I can come up with ideas, that to others, just sound a little over the top. We were pretty wrecked after doing two 14'ers back to back. We followed that by a day of soaking in some local hotsprings! But after several conversations with locals that responded with you guys are crazy....!! I think he started figuring out that maybe not all people got after the way we were getting after it...my excuse "this is how its done in AK!!!"

Maybe not a lot to say about this one....except dark and stormy!!! We were still living on east coast time, which was the way to do it, as most people know I don't love mornings! So we did our usually 8 AM at the trailhead, and watched a huge storm roll through.

After some sitting it out, followed by a decision to move camp to a drier spot...our weather window appeared! We bolted to a different trail head that would allow us to reach the top with shorter distance, but a steeper grade.

The hike was certainly beautiful, and getting above tree line were we able to watch another storm brew. We called it about 1000 feet from the top.....! So close, better luck next time!

Mount Massive....Is Massive!

I was looking for long days, and sure enough I got them! And yes, Massive felt Massive! I don't think Andrew quite knew what was in store for him!

We couldn't have asked for better weather for a long day....windy on top, but it always seems to be. We took the standard east slopes route to the top.....14 miles, 4500' elevation gain, 8 1/2 hours.....

We met some amazing people along the way....one of those days where you just bond with others, and truly enjoy the experience......Lots of conversation about the upcoming Leadville 100 foot race (they have a bike race too)....guess I kinda got fired up....any takers???

Amazing views from the top. Two 14ers back to back....I was pretty wrecked!!!
~smile~

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Colorado Vaction: Day Numbero Uno - Mt. Elbert (14,443)

I'm never quite sure how to do the posts from a vacation...do I group it all together or post one adventure after another? This time I'm going for one adventure after the other, as they were just all a ton of fun!

Our first day was up Mount Elbert. We followed the "Colorado Rules" and got up early....The 5 AM suggestion from the near by camper was just a little early.....and for unknown reasons, our technical devices were often not adjusting to the new time zones,,,,so we were up early anyway!

A beautiful first day in the Colorado Rockies. Mount Elbert - About 9 miles round trip (from the north side), a 4700 feet elevation gain, and a quick hail storm on the top.....Our first 14er down!

Meet Joe Black Quote

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived"

To Lucy Barfield (The dedication in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

My Dear Lucy,
I wrote ths story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

Ithaka

When setting out upon your way to Ithaca,wish always that your course be long, full of adventure, full of lore.Of the Laestrygones and of the Cyclopes,of an irate Poseidon never be afraid; such things along your way you will not find,if lofty is your thinking, if fine sentimentin spirit and in body touches you. Neither Laestrygones nor Cyclopes,nor wild Poseidon will you ever meet,unless you bear them in your soul,unless your soul has raised them up in front of you.

Wish always that your course be long;that many there be of summer mornswhen with such pleasure, such great joy,you enter ports now for the first time seen;that you may stop at some Phoenician marts,to purchase there the best of wares,mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, ebony,hedonic perfumes of all sorts--as many such hedonic perfumes as you can;that you may go to various Egyptian townsto learn, and learn from those schooled there.

Your mind should ever be on Ithaca.Your reaching there is your prime goal.But do not rush your journey anywise.Better that it should last for many years,and that, now old, you moor at Ithaca at last,a man enriched by all you gained upon the way,and not expecting Ithaca to give you further wealth.
For Ithaca has given you the lovely trip.Without her you would not have set your course.There is no more that she can give.

If Ithaca seems then too lean, you have not been deceived.As wise as you are now become, of such experience,you will have understood what Ithaca stands for.

Constantine P. Cavafy

I am Vertical - Sylvia Plath

But I would rather be horizontal. I am not a tree with my root in the soil Sucking up minerals and motherly love So that each March I may gleam into leaf, Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted, Unknowing I must soon unpetal. Compared with me, a tree is immortal And a flower-head not tall, but more startling, And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.

Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors. I walk among them, but none of them are noticing. Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim. It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation, And I shall be useful when I lie down finally: Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.

Thoughts....

When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion -- when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)

A friend of mine just shared this with me and I thought I would pass it on!

Myself
by Edgar Guest

I have to live with myself, and so, I want to be fit for myself to know;I want to be able as days go by, Always to look myself straight in the eye; I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done. I don't want to keep on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself as I come and go Into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man I really am; I don't want to dress myself up in sham. I want to deserve all men's respect; But here in this struggle for fame and pelf, I want to be able to like myself. I don't want to think as I come and go That I'm for bluster and bluff and empty show. I never can hide myself from me, I see what others may never see, I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself -- and so, Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.