May 19th - 20th Happy Birthday to Me!

With a few exceptions, birthdays have been low key affairs. The idea of throwing myself a party just doesn't work for me. Too much hassle..and I feel odd throwing a party to celebrate myself.

This year, I turned 33. Not a milestone birthday. But one that did make me think a bit

As such, I wanted to go somewhere conducive to being by myself and doing some reflecting. I wanted a big trip where I walked all day. For me, nothing is conducive to contemplation than the simple act of walking. People spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars for meditation retreats , yet simply walking, being in the wilderness and sleeping under the stars costs much less, is more rewarding, less expensive and is arguably more effective. Perhaps I am not enlightened enough to realize the benefit of organized retreats? :) Wonder what Basho would think?

My original idea was to go to Utah. Leave Friday after work, drive up and spend the weekend in his stark and striking area. I have yet to find and area that is as unique, beautiful, raw and expansive as the desert southwest.

Then one night I met Jess.

Typically, we both met each other when we weren't looking necessarily to be dating someone. Through happenstance, we ended up at the same trivia night, started talking (until 2:30 in the morning!) and realized how much we seem to have in common. For once some "common sense synapse" fired off in my brain and I asked for her number. :)

To make this already long story somewhat short, we've been together and I might actually want to spend some time with someone on my birthday.

Jess is a grad student at CU and had lab work to do Friday. Still wanting to go somewhere different from Colorado, we decided on Wyoming.

After consulting with my thru-hiker friend Mark (Footslogger), Jess and I went to
Pelton Creek.

Along on this trip was Jess' dog Gadsen. I have a feeling that Gadsen liking
me is part of the reason why Jess and I are dating! It is now at the point that whenever Gadsen sees me, his tail starts wagging. He knows that there is a very good chance we are going hiking.
He is usually right!


Since it was Gadsen's first time in a tent, we opted to go car camping as a trial run.

Luckily, Pelton Creek has a campground that does not see much use early in the season, is in a pretty location, and is near two hiking trails.

Saturday morning we left Boulder, drove up to the campsite and enjoyed the perks of car camping. Camp chairs! Coleman two-burner stove! A cooler full of fresh food! Wine! Yeah..I can get used to this car camping thing.

After setting up camp, we opted for a jaunt on one of the trails. The wildflowers were just starting to come out at this elevation and latitude. The creek was flowing well. So well that a stream ford that was thigh high was required.

We made our way back to camp, cooked a nice curry stew, had some wine, made a camp fire and just enjoyed the simple act of talking. The stars above, a glowing fire, a glass of wine, good company. What more is needed?

I found out later when Jess had a mischievous grin and said she had to go to my truck and get something. Oh, and I was forbidden to look inside!

She came out later with 34 cupcakes and candles. (One for good luck).


The following day we did another hike. This time we hiked above some bluffs with a great view down to the creek. Nice.


We got back to camp, packed up and drove to nearby Laramie, WY. While there we visited Mark and Leslie. Leslie (aka BA Turtle) is also a thru-hiker and is now currently a professor at Wyoming University. Mark and Leslie treated us to grilled salmon, chilled wine and some great conversation on their deck on a warm, early summer night. After three hours, Jess and I reluctantly made the drive back home.



I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday weekend..or a better person to spend it with. (Awwwhh!)

ps. Gadsen did GREAT in the tent. Backpacking is next!

All the pics

May 11th - 13th : Rhode Islanders out West

Growing up in Rhode Island, there was always an emphasis on a tight knit community.

You end up knowing people in the same neighborhood, who go the same schools, who work at the same places for part time jobs while in school, you work in the same area you grew up in, marry someone who also grew up in the same area, you buy a home together, have children and repeat.

If you are a person who has a bit of wanderlust, it can be a stifling environment when an adult. Other people don't leave the community...why are you leaving?

But one positive part of this environment is that the friendships you develop tend to last long. Their is a shared history that goes back many years and goes well into the future.

I have two friends I've known for a long time. Though I am 2000 miles away from them, Leo and Tim are still close friends.

Tim went to the same Catholic elementary school as I. We both worked as orderlies at the same local hospital. He was on my first backpacking trip. And he joined me for the last week on both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.

Leo also worked in the same hospital as Tim and I. He's always been an older brother type to me. When I was younger, and a bit more shy and awkward around women, he was the one who gave me advice. Almost 20 years later, I am now just awkward. ;-)

The three of us have spent more time drinking beer, shooting the breeze, working on our AMC era Jeeps (Just Empty Every Pocket!) and more shenanigans than should be mentioned in a nominally family friendly site.

Though Tim has been to Colorado (and even went on the road trip to help me move out here), Leo has not visited me in nearly eight years since I've been here. Having two young children tends to make time a rare commodity.

This past weekend, he finally came out. Along with Tim, we spent three too-short days hanging out in Boulder, going to Rocky Mountain National Park, drinking some beer and again affirming why we've been friends for over fifteen years. I could write about showing off "my mountains" to Leo, or how pleased Leo was to bump into Jess when we were sitting on an outside deck one evening (My first time visiting you and I see Jess! It must mean something!). But I won't.

Sufficient to say that the weekend, though short, shows how when you get three guys who've known each other for so long, it doesn't matter what you do. It is the friendship that counts. Everything else we do is just gravy.

A promotional pic from Red Stripe. Great pic. Lousy beer! (Leo, Tim, me)

May 5th - Family Foothills Fun

As mentioned in previous entries, I am now at the age where many of my friends are starting to get married, have children and start families.

Because they are my friends, the outdoors is very much part of their lives. Having families does not mean they stop hiking, snowshoeing and other activities on the trails. Rather, it means they just change and modify what they do. Less mileage perhaps, but the beauty never diminishes. To see the outdoors with someone experiencing it for the first time is perhaps the most magical way to experience nature.

A group of us did a fairly big hike in the foothills outside of Boulder. On this hike were the Korslunds and the Zapins. The Zapins are frequently in my photos and journal entries. Marni and Josh are making sure that Avery is experiencing the outdoors from a young age.

I also see Beth and Peter fairly often. Like myself, Beth and Peter hail from New England. Many times we talk, it about some of our favorite stomping grounds in the Whites. As with Marni and Josh, they are making sure that their child, Gretchen, is also experiencing the outdoors as important part of childhood.

The hike was on a misty day for 8 miles and perhaps 3000' elev gain. Between the mist, the gentle rain and the somewhat cool weather among the rocky trails, it did have a New England type feel.

I enjoy these hikes spent with friends. Though the jaunts are different from what we've done together in the past, they still happen. I feel honored that I get to spend time with my friends' children in the outdoors.

Peter, Gretchen and Beth with Marni, Josh and Avery.