CHIEF MOUNTAIN

Squaw Pass Road

(Near Echo Mountain Ski Area)

 

Round Trip Distance: 2.9 miles

Summit Elevation: 11,709 ft

 

 

 

I've done this hike a couple of times now and just love it!  It is a lot of bang for the buck....!!!The distance is reasonable, and with nice long switch backs, you don't get tooooo winded!!  (Ok, its Colorado I still get winded walking up my stairs!)  But I think you get the idea!  And the views from the top are just AMAZING!!!  It is a great one for visitors and kiddos!

The trail was pretty dried out when we did it.  Certainly, a few spots with some snow, but no need for a flotation device!  



 

 The views from the top are just amazing!!  You have a great view of Mount Evans and Bierstadt, as well as Denver.

 

Yet another beautiful day in Colorado!  Sooooo glad to be here!!!

SKINNING UP A-BASIN.....

A great way to spend a couple of hours!

 

 

 

A-Basin (Arapahoe Basin) is a 45 min drive from our house.  It is about an hour ski to the top (ok, I'm working on speeding up my time!).  It is about a 10 min ski down.  And it is soooo much fun!!  Here are a couple of photos from the last trip! 

 

BERGEN PEAK

 

Evergreen, CO

 

Round Trip Distance: 9.4 miles

Start Elevation: 7,813 ft

Summit Elevation: 9,708 ft

 

 

 

 Bergen Peak just doesn't get old!  Andrew and I had a beautiful day with great views from the top!  The chipmunks were out of hiding and were ready to eat all of our snacks!

 

 

 

 

 Cactus were blooming along the trail....some of the first signs of spring!! 

More on Bergen to come, I promise!!

 

 



HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

I have always enjoyed birthdays....It's a time of reflection for me.  A time to be thankful for all of the amazing people that surround me, love me, and continue to help me grow into the person that I am.  It's a time to reflect on life, and all of the amazing things that have come my way....

(Above: Tanya and I skiing at Breck.....

Believe it or not this is the first time we had ever skied together!)

April here in Colorado seems to be one step forward and two steps back when it comes to spring and warmer weather!  But that didn't stop us.  We got shut down trying to climb at Eldorado, but did make it out for a nice hike near Boulder.

 

 

Tanya expressing her joy, that I don't live in a city anymore!! 

Below, a beautiful, yet cooler, day down at Shelf Road.  I really enjoy climbing down there!

 

 

 

It was a quick weekend, but a very special one.  Tons of amazing phone calls, cards, and emails.....I really felt loved this year.  Thank you, friends, for being who you are!!

XOXO

BISON PEAK

Front Range Central Colorado

Round Trip Distance: 11.3 miles

Start Elevation: 8,719 ft

Summit Elevation: 12,431 ft

Its Spring!  But its also so Colorado....and being new to the state, I'm not exactly sure what that means......but I have some ideas!!!  Regardless, I've been super itchy to get out, explore and do some trotting.  I found a blog post that described Bison Peak (located south of Bailey, CO) as a great spring time destination.....and it truly was!

We trotted for a couple of miles, and then my heart was pumping so hard I thought I might puke!  So we slowed it down to a nice walk.  The trail was dry up until about a mile from the top, in which it became snow-packed.  Pretty easy travel as the trail had been pretty packed down.

Crazy, bizarre rock formation filled the summit....and cooler temps as well!  Ok, actually it was pretty darn cold at the top considering we hiked up in t-shirts!  We brought some layers, but not enough.....!  So, not a lot of time was dedicated to exploring the top.....guess we will have to go back!!!

Summit shot of myself and my amazing friend Kira!!!  Sooooo glad she her pooch made it to Colorado and sooo looking forward to many, many, many more adventures!!!!  Below one final summit shot!!

ALWAYS BE SWOOPING

Yep, it’s my third, and I’m going to say my final blog, as I don’t foresee any major life changes coming my way for some time…..or at least that is the hope!!  I’m feeling motivated to write, photograph, and share…. I'm excited to explore and adventure, so I thought I would start blogging again….especially now that we have landed in such an amazing place…..Evergreen, Colorado.  Living in Evergreen makes me feel like I live in a snow globe -- Nothing makes me happier than shaking a snow globe and watching the magical little world that resides inside…..In short, that about sums up my present life!

So dream big friends, and never stop making them come true!!

PS a special thank you to Jake, from a few years back, for hooking me up with the name of this blog!