Dec 25th - Christmas in Boulder

Christmas Day for the past five years has been spent in Boulder.

Growing up, we had a few traditions that were observed.

One of the most memorable traditions was having a southern Italian Christmas Eve dinner. On Christmas day, we'd go see Mom's side of the family and have a more traditional American type dinner with the usual mashed potatoes, stuffing, turnips, carrots, etc...but it would be done buffet style. Mom is one of six children. I am one of 16 grandchildren. Needless to say, buffet style was the only way that many people could be fed at once!

Now that I am in Boulder, the traditions are a bit different. As with many people who have moved to different areas, the people who are part of my community are forming our own traditions.

For five years in a row, I've been tagging along with my friends on their ethnic (Jewish) tradition: Chinese food and a movie! Usually the only two places open on Christmas Eve. If the point of the holidays is to be with people you care about, then a good meal and seeing a movie with my friends fits the bill.

Being in Boulder, something outdoors has to be done! With all the recent snow, the local trails made for some great snowshoeing or skiing.

My friend Marie did her annual Christmas breakfast followed by a morning snowshoe (and skiing in my case). It was quite nice to play in the local area without having to drive too far.
The day was a little windy, but overall pretty warm. Enough powder that snow toys were needed. The views of the foothills and distant mountains made for a great Christmas morning.

Marie enjoying some chocolate on Christmas morning

After all the fun in the snow, time to head back and cook! As usual, I made way too much food. But what else is a holiday for then to make lots of yummy food? Had a large group of friends come over for a holiday potluck. Lots of good food, wine and talking. Another great way to spend the holidays!

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Dec 21st - A Boulder Ski Tour

Almost three feet of snow fell in Boulder Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The main highway between Boulder and Denver was shut down. The National Guard was dispatched to pick up stranded motorists. Many area businesses were closed. Flights were canceled at DIA. And I caught the last bus before the local bus service was canceled.

Where I am working for a bit is still open though. It really is not a problem. The office was quiet, and I am getting paid to do what I would do at home normally. (Such as posting my photos and editing this journal! :D). Why not get paid to surf?

But how to get to work? The buses are shut down today. My truck is still sitting in Rhode Island and probably won't be here for at least another week or so. Well, conveniently located next to my house are a marvelous collection of bike paths! These paths connect all over Boulder and one path conveniently goes right by the Indra's Net office.

What better way to travel on a snowy day then skiing on bike paths? Was awesome!

The dirt bike path next to my house was full of much powder. Made for some slow going breaking trail. Luckily, Boulder plows the paved bike paths (I kid you not!). There was just enough powder on the bike paths to ski to work. Was able to get in a 1.5 hour ski. The path near my house was quite nice. Overhanging cotton woods, covered with snow. Ice in the creek. One of my better morning commutes by far.

Of course the ONE time I fell on my way to work this morning? Skiing up the ramp into the parking lot. The ramp that my co-workers can see from the window in the office. :) Matt stuck his head out the window and said "Morning Mags!" as I was getting back up.

So, now I am looking out at the same ramp. The bike paths were plowed again down to pavement. The snow has stopped falling. No ski back home! Oh well..hope the buses are running later! :)

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View from the Cottonwood Bike Path

Dec 16th - Going to Kathmandu....

Often times I will plan on my weekend adventures around the food available after a trip.

Since moving to the Boulder area, I've developed an appreciation for Indian and Nepalese food. And since moving to Boulder, I've also grown to love cross country skiing. How to combine these two loves? Why going to the Kathmandu Restaurant in Nederland (or just plain "Ned").

After a day of playing in the powder, what can be better than hot chai, fresh naan and a platter of momos? Conveiently located just down the road from many of the popular trailheads and just up the road from Boulder, Kathmandu has become my favorite post-ski destination. Food at 8300 feet!

D-low, Ann and I went to the Peaceful Valley trailhead. Though the snow was a little low, we did find enough powder along the rolling terrain. A great ~9 mile jaunt...with some awesome food afterwards.

Dec 13th - Slackers on Snowshoes!

As mentioned, one of the joys of being underemployed is that I can go play during the week. Why wait for the weekend to go snowshoe or ski?

On Wednesday my fellow underemployed friends (Mark and Terry) and I went to Sandbeach Lake in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park.

This part of the park gets relatively low use, is scenic and has plenty of options.

The three of us decided to snowshoe since the terrain was steep and rocky. The snow was a bit icy in places. Did not want to futz around with skins nor go down a luge run!

Was a nice jaunt. Plenty of hot chocolate. Since we all had to be home early, did not make it to the lake. No matter. Was a great day!

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Terry and Mark on the trail

December 10th - Royal Arch in Boulder, CO

One of my favorite things about living in Boulder is the incredible Open Space system. Hundreds of miles of trails right in my backyard. Want to take a trail run after work? The trails are only minutes way! Want to spend a few hours hiking on a Saturday without going very far? The local mountains call.

This past Sunday, had the chance to hike with some fellow thru-hiker alumni. POD was in town visiting some friends and we coordinated for a hike. Her AT friend MacGyver joined us. Also along for the day was a newly arrived person to the Boulder area, my CDT friend Love Barge!

A hiker trash get together doing what we do best (besides eating): hiking!

The location chosen was Royal Arch. A little bit of Utah found in Colorado. The perfect hike for those who want to spend some time outside and spend some time together.

We walked along the hiking trail talking about the great year we had, laughing, teasing...and falling down a lot on the ice covered patches. Just made us laugh some more.

The hike was enjoyable. So good to be outdoors with friends with who I have a strong bond.

We took a different path back to the car that was a bit less icy and then drove to Pearl Street (another quintessential Boulder experience).

Lisa (Love Barge) said one reason she moved to Boulder was because of how much I talked so highly of it on the trail. Hope she enjoys it here after all my PR! :)

Life ain't bad at times. Not bad at all.

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December 9th - Hessie Trail, Indian Peaks Wilderness

One of the perks of being "gainfully unemployed" is that I have free time to do the really important things in life: hiking, skiing and snowshoeing. :-)

Have been lucky enough to have been out three times on skis this year. Once on a ski tour in Boulder itself one snowy day and twice up by Brainard Lake.

Over the past two years or so, have really enjoyed skiing more and more. Cross country skiing is a great way to see the backcountry in winter. More elegant that snow-shoeing (even with my bad ski skills!), not as adrenalin intenstive as doing the big bowls (ala Tele skiing) or Alpine skiing (never could get into resort skiing!). Something about going for miles at a time in powder, enjoying the views of the mountains and then gliding back to the trailhead reminds me of a playtime as a child during the Rhode Island winters.. The same cold and invigorating feeling, where being outside in the sun was fun and after playing outside for so long, some hot chocolate was just perfect.

I still snowshoe on occasion, though. Snowshoeing is a great for people to have fun in winter...without a steep learning curve. Snowshoes allow people to view winter as fun, not as a time to put away the outdoor gear. Two weeks ago, brought a friend out for some winter fun.
Went on snowshoes.

The destination was Mills Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. A short (five miles R/T) jaunt with a mellow elevation gain. The sight at Mills Lake is quite nice. A frozen lake surrounded by mountains. With the snow gently falling down, made for a nice winter day. The hot chocolate with a dollup of caramel liquer helped, too!

This past Saturday, went back to skis.

Was invited to spend some time with the Zapins. It was Avery's first time out with Marni and Josh. Think it is awesome that my friends are making sure Avery spends time outdoors. Though the trip was a bit slower than I am used to, the time spent together was still fun. The day was sunny and not too windy. Though not much snow, was just enough to ski on. And Avery seemed to enjoying himself as well. Looking around, taking in the sights, being able to spend time outdoors with Mom and Dad (and thier crazy friend!)

Love any time spent outdoors. And spending the time with close friends (and my adopted "nephew") made for an esp. enjoyable day.

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November 26th, 2006 - Jerimoth Hill, RI

Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island has a rather curious history. At 812 feet, it is not exactly mountain that towers over the country side. The summit is a non-descript pile of rocks in a wooded area within minutes of the Connetcicut border. The elevation gain is five feet from the road on a path that is perhaps 100 meters long. But this modest hill is the high point in Rhode Island. As such, it is a "must-do" summit for people interested in reaching the high point in each of the fifty states.

The "curious history" aspect of this summit is that Jerimoth Hill was described as the
"hardest high point" to reach of all the fifty states. Mt. Washington may have 200+ MPH winds, Denali may be remote and high and Ranier may be a classic in world mountaineering... but how may summits have gun-toting New Englanders who will bash you over the head?

High winds, white out condtions and remoteness may make doing other summits
difficult but dodging bullets is a bit more of a challenge.

For years, the High Pointers allowed posing by the highway summit sign as an adequate substitute for reaching the high point. Posing by a sign was deemed a bit less dangerous than dealing with armed locals.

Jerimoth Hill lost this rather dubious "honor" in 2005 when new land owners allowed
access to the true summit on weekends. No longer would intrepid hikers have to contend with gun-toting New Englanders. The new owners have even made an improved path to the "summit".

This past Thanksgiving, I visited my home state. Have not celebrated Turkey Day in RI since 1998. The thought of Mom's home cooking after four months of eating Ramen on the Continental Divide Trail sounded to good to pass up. And after a month of camping in the desert of New Mexico, celebrating Thanksgiving in Utah (as I have done since 2001) did not sound too inviting!

Used my visit as a chance to climb the highest point in Rhode Island.

With me for this arduous climb was my good friend Tim. Tim and I went to the same Catholic elementary school, ended up working at the same hospital as orderlies in our early twenties, and made rather large bar tabs (with our good friend Leo) also in our early twenties. (At least I think we did..the years 20-25 are a bit hazy for me. Pitchers of beer along with Jaegermesiter and "kamikaze" shots put those years in a bit of a fog.)

Tim took me on my first backpacking trip. He also joined me for the last week of the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails. And Tim was there for that fated climb up Jerimoth Hill.

I arrived at the Geoffroy household for 8am. We then suited up for the hike.

Provisions were packed. Equipment checked. Tim said his last goodbyes to
his wife, step-son and one-year old daughter. A grave moment....

(Actually, I think the extent of the prepartion was me finishing my coffee and Tim
asking if I wanted to drive. Reckless, I know).

Drove for five minutes and reached the summit sign on the highway. Walked across the road and found the trail. Was thankful for the time I spent on the CDT this past year, otherwise I think would have been lost on this twisty path. (OK...so there were more signs in 100 meters than I saw on the entire CDT this year!)

We reached the summit...without a support team or oxygen. Reckless still!

The summit was a pile of rocks. A register was signed. We posed, took photos. Jerimoth Hill was conquered!

After this difficult trek, Tim and I celebrated. How else do two Rhode Island boys celebrate climbing a summit in the morning? By going to a Rhode Island diner, of course. Home fries, eggs, corn beef hash. Lots of coffee. A fitting end to a most difficult adventure.

Tim is thinking: "My friend dragged me away from my family to do this ?!?!?!"

Completing the "Triple Crown" of backpacking paled in comparison to this glorious moment!

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