Holy shit… I'm a mom. … I never thought I would ever say those words. Since becoming a mom, I've been adapting to a new "normal." I've been surprised at how simple this has felt in some ways, as I've gotten used to my daily routine. On the other hand, I've also been surprised at how challenging this has been in other ways: resigning from my job, getting used to the loneliness (yet never being alone) that goes along with…
Two weeks ago, I got to take my first vacation since I started my new job (which I love, by the way). IT. WAS. EPIC. I didn’t realize how bad I needed a few days off! Brian and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. Rather than getting stuff for each other, we try to go and DO something together. Our relationship is rooted in the old adage, “The couple that plays together, stays together,” so it’s important to us to…
Our second day, we attempted to ride Long Canyon to Gemini Bridge, which is northeast of town. We headed out on Hwy 279, which takes off southwest along the Colorado River. The side of the highway is littered with rock climbers, as this is one of the best climbing hubs in town. It’s pretty amazing to watch them! Unfortunately, my carburetor plugged up right as we were passing the Poison Spider Mesa trailhead. I’m on a KLX250, which is turns…
I recently got to join Brian and his family on their sometimes-annual pilgrimage to Moab, UT. Brian’s been riding motorcycles with his dad and brother since he was about 5 years old. Moab is sort of a meet-in-the-middle destination, with his parents heading up from Arizona and his brother’s family/friends heading in from Idaho. Moab is just a short 4-hour drive for us from Summit County, but we might as well be visiting Mars for all the similarities it has…
After much persuasion and convincing, Brian finally relented and let me get chickens! He was kind enough to pick up a few for me on a work trip to Denver. I picked up a couple more at our local feed shop and suddenly, we have a little flock of baby chicks! We are now hard at work, building a coop for them to move into when the snow lets up in a few weeks. We decided to name our chickens…
Fall has come around in the high country. The air is crisp and I’m rocking a beanie again. Oktoberfest has come and gone. Leaves are turning from green to brilliant yellows and reds. Given all the change around me, when a friend of mine asked a question about how to deal with change, it really got me thinking. It seems like such an appropriate topic for the season! I’ve had varying levels of comfort with change throughout my life. I…
Brian’s 17-year old niece, Hannah, was recently here visiting us in Colorado. I can’t do a ton of activity on my ankle yet, but we took her stand-up paddleboarding and whitewater rafting. It was important to me to get her out to experience some new things she might not have the chance to do at home. I want her to love the mountains just as much as I do. I believe role models can be a powerful force in the…
In 2013, Brian and I were visiting friends and family in Montana. One of my all-time bucket list climbs for Montana is a burly mountain called Great Northern. It stands just beyond the southern edge of Glacier National Park rises to 8,705 ft. It’s the tallest peak in the Great Bear Wilderness, so the views into Glacier from the peak are fantastic. The trail isn’t maintained, or even marked. It’s kind of a local’s secret, so is more of a…
As I sat outside, alone by the fire this evening, my dog sat with his ears perked up, staring off into the darkness. He was probably just listening to a squirrel or something, but it freaked me out that a moose was going to pop out of the bushes. When you are alone, you tend to “hear” things you wouldn’t normally. Which got me thinking back to some of the best creepy backcountry tales that friends have shared with me…
I remember when Brian and I switched health insurance a few years ago, looking specifically at which plan had the best emergency medical coverage. Because it turns out, playing the mountains has a little bit higher risk of injury! Of course, we always work to manage and minimize risk, but sometimes part of the fun is taking a few risks. As I write this, I’m lying here icing my foot with crutches propped up nearby. I spent three hours in…