Playing catch up on the blog

So I've totally slacked on keeping up with this blog.  I do this mostly for myself and for those that are faraway and might be interested in whatever I’m doing.  I blame a mix of laziness, school, stress and tv show addiction.  I shall try to be more diligent to in this endeavor and keep everyone posted to the latest adventures.

Since our last bit, not a ton has happened.  The high point (no pun intended ;-) was that I hiked to the top of my first 14er.  For those of you unfamiliar with this term a 14er is any mountain that exceeds 14,000 ft or higher with in the Rockies.  I believe there to be approximately 50 of them.  For those of you in Scotland/England, it’s like summiting Munros, except about 4-5 times the height and slightly less oxygen.  I plan to summit as many as possible with the full intent, if life allows me to stay in this area, to bag all of them.

So the inaugural 14er is a hill named Bierstadt, which according to me new hiking bible 14ers.com, tops out at 14,060.  We got there and started the hike just shy of 6am, while the sky was ever so gently transitioning from black to dark blue.  The moon was full and Beautiful, almost as if we could reach up to it from the summit we eagerly marched towards.  My roommate, my cousin, her roommate and good ole Dakota (my dog) set off across the valley floor towards the beginning of the climb.  The breathing was already labored as were over 9,000 feet starting out.  Eventually, paces separated us and Jen (roommate) and I moved ahead.  Yeah that’s right, the two Floridians outpaced the Colorado native girls that were also about 10 years younger ;-)

Jen and I reached the top to a Magnificent, outstretched view of surrounding mountains and valleys.  It was breathtaking and not just because of the low oxygen.  I was very brisk and windy atop Bierstadt, as was to be expected.  Jen found a little alcove just off to the side which served as a nice spot for a snack.  After waiting about 30 minutes, we began to make our way back down.  Shortly after we ran into the girls on their way up and said we’d see them back at the car.  Eventually we all grouped back up in the parking lot, which was full of cars.  I almost forgot to mention the pilgrimage of people that were ascending as we were descending.  So many people out that day for that hike, good thing we got there when we did.

Anyways, we headed to a famous pizza joint in Idaho Springs called Beau Jo’s for some beers and Amazing pizza.

OK, let’s see what else I've done…Mountain biking.  At the advice from me new favorite bike shop, Cycleton, I've been heading over to Morrison to ride the Lair’ O the Bear.  It’s an intermediate and very fun 7 mile out-n-back with an initial climb that killed me on the first go at it.  The trail head is at an elevation of 9,500 to begin with.  Once you’re done it’s a cumulative 2,300 plus elevation gain ride.  Initially it took me over 3 hours to do it with all my lightheaded, feels like I have no lungs, gasping for air stops.  On the way out is mostly ascending, with some fun roller-coaster style sections.  However, the way back rewards you with fast roller-coaster sections with some great technical spots, small berms, fun manicured turns and jumps.  It’s just a great ride plain and simple!  I was hooting and hollering the whole way back in between gasps of air.

It was from that point on I decided that I must work harder so that I can acclimate to this new elevation as quick as possible.  So in between I've been running around town and through the Denver city park as often as possible.  And I must say, I have really seen the difference as my lungs have become much more effective at oxygen intake as they were before.  It’s basically my body creating more and larger red blood cells for a higher oxygen transport.

This shown true the last two times I've returned to that ride.  My time went down to 1 hour 45 minutes from just over 3 hours.  My buddy just came to visit this last weekend and wanted to do a ride.  I should have taken him somewhere easier.  He’s a Floridian, so as it did I in the beginning, the altitude got him.  However, he is also not accustomed to climbing OR Mountain biking….he’s a lycra clad roadie….I’m hoping to turn him to the cooler and more exciting side of the force.  He basically paid a $60 bike rental fee so that he could push the bike uphill for the initial climb, and pretty much all of it.  I should have just taken him hiking and saved the poor bastard a lung and 60 bucks.  BTW, he got passed by a hiker while pushing said bike up the mountain….it was a sad sight.  Either way, he got humbled or I hope at least some Stoke on mountain biking.  Next time I’ll make him hike a 14er with me.  I look forward to torturing my visiting friends with high altitude adventures and then following it up with mass quantities of beer afterwards.

Next subject…School.  I LOVE grad school!!!!  It’s challenging and so rewarding.  The professors speak to you as a peer and not as student.  Everyone in the room is as intelligent and passionate as I, or More so.  Through some research of my own interests as well as some talks with Profs, I’ve somewhat narrowed down my area of thesis work.  I was gonna do a study of glaciers in Rocky Mountain National Park.  However, after being introduced to a Very motivated prof that loves field work and is all about facilitating students with their field work, I have changed it up. When I spoke with him he asked where my interests lie.  I have two interests; Ecology which is also what I have field and research experience with and Climatology, which I have a basic understanding of, no experience and want to learn much more.  He then perked up and said he had the perfect book for me.  It was entitled Ecological Climatology, I instantly got nerd butterflies in my stomach when I laid my eyes on it.  Here it was, the perfect marriage of MY interests in one, relatively new discipline.  This was one of those moments when you know everything has aligned JUST SO, so that I could be right there looking at that book with him. This is not only catering to my passions, but it also offers the option of maybe integrating my study with new ground….and new ground, if studied and written properly, can lead to publishing!!! I’m Effin stoked!!!!!  I’m setting a meeting up with said prof next week to discuss such ideas and possibilities.  For a class this semester, my final project is to write up a research proposal.  Basically, we’re gonna learn how to do it properly and what not.  I want to figure out my study subject so that I may kill two birds with one stone and hit the ground running with my thesis work next semester.  As well as utilize the winter break for researching.

Wheeeeew, that about catches us up to date.  This is why I need to stay up on the blog so that I can write less and not drown you guys with a sea paragraphs.

I’m still looking for a job, getting shot down left and right for some reason.  I’ve been told it’s because I’m a grad student and most employers know that they will not be my priority….unless it’s within my field.  I’m just trying to find something enjoyable to pay the bills at this point.  My class schedule doesn’t allow for 9 to 5, so I have to find a part time gig.  I have a meeting with a manager at REI Denver today through an old friend that works corporate for them.  Cross your finger for me!  I’ve also tried to avoid getting back into hospitality to avoid the late nights.  However, since I haven’t really worked at all this year I’m at a point where I just have to get some sort of income coming in ASAP.

Going hiking this upcoming Sunday with my cousin to a place called Hanging Lake.  You should take this time to google it, it looks so Amazing!!!  I’m really looking forward to that and once I have some money coming, Snowboarding!!!!!  A-Basin has already opened their slopes as of yesterday.  Super pumped for a great season of pow pow!!!

Below are some pics from the Bierstadt hike and a camping trip with Jen, her Father Jim and step mom Laurie.  Till next time, down with evil Romney and up with Obama and a progressive, separation of church and state kind of future!!!!  How about that last debate, looks like Obama finally decided to join the party….gheeeesh!

Bierstadt

Camping Trip