To start with I would like to take a moment and wish everyone a Merry Christmas (by this I am also including: hannukah, festivis, kwanza, etc.) For those of us who live in Boulder we had the extra treat of waking up to some nice big fluffy white flakes falling which really made it feel like Christmas.

 I thought it was pretty until I had to shovel the deck!  On top of that it has yet to stop snowing and I am going to have to shovel again!  Complaining about the weather is one of my  hobbies (wonder what I can complain about when I get old?) but in reality I enjoy the snow and actually like shoveling it! 

Due to the snow I was forced to run this morning which ended up being quite and adventure!  Ran the usual Mt. Sanitas loop and O\n the way up I ran out of my running crampons (must be  getting too fast for them) and did not notice until the top.  That made the way down on the snow covered ice very interesting…only took about seven spills on the way down with one really cool looking one!

Anyway,  like I said I lost my crampons on the way Mt. Sanitas.  Therefore, after completing the loop about an hour later I went back to look for them.  A short way up the mountain I saw my running crampons neatly placed in a tree waiting for me!  It would have been easy for anyone to have taken them but the majority of people here in town are not like that…thus it is just another reason why I love it here in Boulder!

Here’s to hoping every cyclist out there eats way too much and gains thirty to forty pounds thus making my job a lot easier

Merry Christmas, g.

Thought I would apologize to everyone for not having any big adventures as of late.  However, I have been online gathering information about rock climbing, climbing Mt. Denali, climbing Everest, and shopping for winter camping gear so there are future plans!

Aside from being rather unadventurous I have been getting in some good bike practice as of late on the cross bike.  Managed to get in 110 cross miles the other day which when converted into road miles is about 162.4 miles.  This calculation does not even include my morning top-secret training which for the right price I will reveal!

Anyway, here are a few pictures my mom sent to me which you might enjoy…

 Me as a youngster which I must admit my form is pretty good….considering I did not grow up in a trailer or in the hills of Kentucky or better yet in a trailer in the hills of Kentucky! 

  Lastly, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year!

later, g.

After spending nearly a week in Northern Wisconsin at my parents I made it back to Boulder late Sunday night.  Later the next evening Frank and I made plans to go to WinterPark the following day.  However, we were not just going to go WinterPark…we were going to hike the fifty miles, give or take a few, to WinterPark via mountain trails! It ended up being a successful two day adventure and here are some pictures from along the way.

 A picture with Mom and Dad before leaving Wisconsin last week.

 The start of my eighteen hour drive back to Colorado.

 After making it back to Colorado from Wisconsin Frank and I began our two day, fiftyish mile trek from Boulder to WinterPark at 7:30 AM on Tuesday morning in the snow.

 We had planned on camping so with the tent, sleeping pads/bags, cooking stoves, fuel, water, food, clothes, etc….my pack was HEAVY!

 Going up Flagstaff trail on our way out of town in the fresh snow which continued to fall all day!

 After spending hours slogging away uphill in deep snow on trail with a massive pack it was a rather lovely site to make it to a plowed road!

 Due to the snow and weight of our packs the going was slow and we did not make it to Nederland until dark. Initially we had planned at cover a bit more distance and spending the night at Tennessee mountain cabin further up the mountain.

 I did bring my tent in case we did not make the cabin. However, we were completely soaked and chilled from hiking all day in the falling snow and with a cold evening in store we decided to rough it and spend the night at the Best Western in Ned.  Personally I believe it was our only option if we wanted to make it to Winter Park the next day…or maybe that is just my rationalization so I do not feel guilty about it!

 On the trail again the next morning in cold and extremely windy conditions! We did ditch some of our supplies at the hotel to lighten our packs…it was amazing!

 Further up the mountain the snow got deeper, the wind got stronger, the air got colder, and the breathing got harder!  That wall in the background is what we had to climb.

 A good chunk of the day was spent between eleven and twelve thousand feet where there are no trees and wind gusts had to be fifty plus miles an hour…making for a rather cold wind chill. 

 A sketchy section near the continental divide where an ice axe would have come in handy.  The picture was unable to capture the thousand foot drop just below me. Thank God for the metal cleats on my snowshoes!

 One of the few sheltered sections.

 Yep it was windy and here is pretty much where I started to get frostbite on my face!  The windchill had to be -20F and I quote Frank when he said, “Dude, your cheeks are white and they have ice on them!”

 We had never been soo happy to see trees in our lives.  After suriving going over the continental divide we dropped down to WinterPark…the sunset as we got close to town.

 Once again…at dark we made it to Winter Park!

 The warmth of the Winter Park lodge enjoying some celebratory beverages and Frank showing Randy our route.  Frank and I would like to say thanks to our friend Randy who made this adventure possible.  Randy was generous enough to drive the two hours from Boulder to WinterPark and pick us up…thanks!

 No adventure is complete without a game of “Big Buck Hunter Pro!”

 Aside from a bit of minor frostbite the trip was a success!

Now back to brainstorming for the next adventure…suggestions are always welcome!

later, g.

After six long months (June 1 - November 30) the Atlantic Hurricane season finally came to a close this past November 30th.

So to celebrate the occasion I decided to wear a shirt that I found in my brothers closet.

What did my parents think about my new found shirt?  Well here is their reaction…

later, g.

Here is a photo diary of my trip home:

 Left Boulder at 3:52 AM on Sunday morning.

 Somewhere near Nebraska it started to get light.

 Nebraska state line.

 Ahhh….the sun finally made an appearance in Nebraska.

 The interstate arch in Nebraska…which I still do not understand?

 After an eternity in Nebraska I entered the lovely state of Iowa.  This picture is for my buddy Wes who grew up in Council Bluffs, IA which borders Omaha, NE.  Wes a native of Council Bluff, IA claims that those who live in Omaha have STD’s…wonder if that is true…and how does he know that…hmm?

 Shortly after I got bored and took a picture of myself driving.  I love to run it cold in the car so I have to wear my jacket, hat, and gloves…makes it feel like I am camping!

 The sun set in northern Iowa.

 Houses near some windmills in northern Iowa.  It has to be awesome living in one of the windiest, coldest places in the US!

 Minnesota…getting closer.

 After a trip through Minneapolis and a short detour due to the fact I forgot the I-35W bridge was broken I made it to Superior, WI…about an hour from mom and dad’s house.

 From Superior onward the snow began to fall and basically has not stopped until this morning!

 Eventually I made it to my parents house after nearly eighteen hours of driving…needless to say my ass was sore…wonder if one of those donuts like Homer Simpson had would help?

 It is definitely winter in the north woods!

 I also forgot what real cold was until I froze my face on an early morning run!

Time for me to go to the ear doc.

later, g.