Red Mountain Three...

"Uncertainty is all. Crazyass passion is the staple of life, and persistence its nourishing force."  Rinker Buck, The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey

A New Abram Summit "Dot" For Ruthie And Michelle

There are a few mountains I can skip without regret. Abram is not one of them. Abram is compulsory. A summer without at least one Abram summit feels incomplete.

"Just The Two Of Us, We Can Make It If We Try..."

It's our 34th anniversary and, of course, Bobbie wants to celebrate by going for a hike. A short discussion ensues, followed by a decision on destination. It will be 13,000 feet. There will be snow. How far can we get? It's all the unknowns that drives excitement.

In The Shadow Of My Giant

That's him in the middle—the Big Guy, clowning for the camera with brothers Milton and Harold—sporting white bucks, bell bottomed slacks, and waves of wavy jet-black hair that drove girls crazy back in the day.

Guide Noir: Going Off Trail To Richmond Pass

Two days after Bridge of Heaven, the 3 "hiker babes," plus Your's Truly, headed up the Million Dollar Highway in order to hike the Richmond Pass Trail. There are several ways to get to Richmond's lofty Pass, but this trail is the shortest...thus, the steepest. Not 200 yards out of the "gate," we were already gassed. Note: Rate of Ascent + Angle of Ascent + Altitude + Headwind = Yards Till Gassed. Simple math.

The Higher You Go, The Smaller You Get

Anyone who spends most of their time playing in the mountains knows the old adage: The harder the climb, the better the view.  Of course there are less grueling choices for when hearts overrule Type One minds. But for me, well, they just don't feel quite as satisfying.

Another Attempt On Yellow Jacket Mine

Recall a couple/three weeks ago when our geezer hiker club failed in an attempt to hike up to Yellow Jacket Mine via Bear Creek Trail. Unfortunately, we were turned back by a precipitous slide area that had throughly eroded any trace of a trail, where one slipped step could send the slip-ee over a cliff into a roaring creek swelled with spring runoff.

Oh The Views From Hayden Trail, As Hiked From Crystal Lake

I truly loathe the spurts and bouts of weather regression during spring, especially after a couple of teasing weeks of outdoor perfection. So our weather pulled a "Breaking Bad" a few days ago. We're nearing the fourth consecutive day of unnerving, tree-toppling wind that pack gusts to over 40 mph. Worse, the weather guessers now predict snow tonight.

To Those Who Ask The Rhetorical "Why?"

"If you're gonna be an ultra-runner, you're gonna have to embrace suffering..."   Errol "the rocket" Jones

A Wander Up Engineer Pass Road

Getting High On Corkscrew "Wine," and Our Trash Marauding Bear

Unless you happen to love post-holeing through knee to hip deep snow, hiking above timberline this time of year generally requires "equipment," things like snowshoes, gators, crampons...backcountry skis. We seldom prepare for lingering spring snow, thinking we'll just figure it out as we go...which usually translates to, if the "draw" is strong enough we'll just post-hole...end up with bloody shins from ice-shards, heavy soggy shoes, and frozen toes. But post-holing is not as much fun as it used to be. Nowadays, we try to minimized it to once a year. Fortunately, there's a solution around Lovely Ouray for hiking above timberline during spring's prolonged meltdown.

Diary Of A Mountain Madman: Peaked Out On Twin Peaks

Just as an unchallenged mind begins to falter, so too, does an unchallenged body.