Sweet Home Alabama just hit the radio. It’s 2:22 am. I’ve cracked my second beer. We’re getting passed by a mini van. Moab is in our sights. Sweet.
More to come, but I’m zonked after nearly 800 miles of driving and two days in the desert. Photos are straight from the camera so be nice on the touchup.
-Tim
Was out this weekend with some friends in Rocky Mountain National Park, when we passed an older guy on the trail.
“Hello, how are you?” We asked.
“Great kids!” he responded. “It’s another day above ground my friends.”
And just like that, suddenly everything was snapped back into perspective.
Climbing Twin SistersIt was hot yesterday. Like 75 degrees hot. Of course when I woke up this morning, three inches of snow was on the ground, but at least for one day we had California-like weather.Pics are from our adventure up Twin Sisters peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Coffee, bagels and the New York Times gave way to the Boulder County Library and a lazy hike along the Mesa Trail before nerve-wracking football games. Took a few shots and thought you might enjoy.
1) The Flatirons
2) Notice how all the snow is on the trail?
3) A white peaceful world
Overheard while working out at the YMCA.
Ridiculously ripped dude one: “Hey man do you cyclocross?”
Equally Ripped dude two: “No, just ice climb and ski. Going to Jackson this weekend and Aspen in two weeks.”
“Sweet! But you really should try it. Once the road season ends it ‘s a great way to stay in shape. I just did a sick race in Estes Park.”
“Yea? Hard?”
“You know, typical. 30 miles, snow, same old shit.”
“Well I do need a new bike. Maybe I’ll pick one up. BTW, ever want to ride across Colorado?”
“Did last year, it was too easy.”
When I moved to Boulder I was out of shape. Two months on the road had broken me down. I’d run a marathon, competed in a few triathlons and climbed some 14,000 ft. peaks, but besides that the summer had been fairly uneventful.
Back home (Santa Cruz California,) I was the active one among most of my friends. Saturday mornings would be filled with 40-mile rides, 15-mile runs and marathon lap swims.
I would hit the gym at lunch, climb sporadically and hike twice a month.
And then I moved to Boulder.
The town where if you can’t ride a century, run a marathon and bust out a pitch on a gruesome 5.12 all in the same day, you’re mediocre. Worthless. Pathetic. Plane out of shape.
“Just remember,” several people told me when I first arrived. “There is always someone faster, better and more ballsy out there than you. Once you know that, you will be fine.”
I believed them, but it didn’t sink in at first.
My first two months were a blast. Twenty five thousand feet of elevation gain, over 100 miles hiked, a few hundred miles run and even two climbing sessions. I drank beer, lost weight, ate healthier than ever and found myself happier than I’d been in several years.
But as the newness wears off and I begin to become more of a resident in Boulder, the reality is sinking in.
“What are you doing this weekend?” I might ask a coworker.
“Oh you know, same old stuff. Climb a mountain early Saturday, then attend Dave Matthews before heading out to a friends hut trip which I’ll have to ski into at night. Then Sunday ski back, bang out a freelance piece and relax.”
Damn. And I thought hiking 10 miles was cool.
Took approximately four days, but finally after an amazing day of coffee, elevation, wilderness and beer I’m back.
Thought long and hard about putting up the pics, they are shot with a pos digital, so forgive the quality.
1) Last Drop of coffee at the Laughing Goat
2) Pre Mud Season in Boulder
3) Peace at 8,340 ft.
4) The backside of Boulder as a storm creeps in
Since two of us (not me) were toast from skiing the day before (I helped my roommate polish off his liquor cabinet before moving to London) we decided a lazy Sunday hike would be the way to go.
Shots are as follows
• Snow? Trail? Hell just pull over and go
• The three of us trying to get close enough for a self shot portrait
• What it looks like from the view of an ant
• The payoff (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
• Just enjoying a great day together (Right before Elisabeth fell through the ice…)
Read this last night and quickly made the metaphor to my current situation. Enjoy.
“The secret of this kind of climbing is like Zen. Don’t think. Just dance along. It’s the easiest thing in the world, actually easier than walking on flat ground which is monotonous. The cute little problems present themselves at each step and you find yourself on some other boulder you picked out for no special reason at all, just like Zen.”
~ Jack Kerouac
Pics are from the past few days of hiking. First three are from a 15 mile walk in the woods on Sunday, with the last one being the staircase that greats me as I begin to run up Mount Sanitas. (see Running up a Mountain for more info) 
