Tag: hiking

Becoming the Highest Person in Colorado (Mt. Elbert – 14,433′)

by milesbeforeisleep, posted in Adventure Report

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At the beginning of our trip to Colorado, I didn’t really have any plans to climb a 14er. But after the 416 fire foiled our initial backpacking plans, our trip turned into a choose your own adventure planned with the advice of helpful Coloradoans. During a brief stay in Carbondale, we mentioned that we were looking for ideas for what to do after our Conundrum Hot Springs backpacking overnight before driving back to Denver. The guy at the local running/hiking shop where we were looking for trekking poles suggested a 14er and rattled off several that were in between Aspen and Denver. I tried to remember what all he said but I’m pretty sure I forgot most of it. All I really took away from our conversation was “Mt. Elbert” and “driving over Independence Pass is way more fun than I-70”. When I looked up Mt. Elbert, I saw that it was near Leadville, home of the famous Leadville 100 ultra and mountain bike race. At an elevation of 10,152′, Leadville is also the highest incorporated city in North America. If all those things hadn’t already sold me on a trip to Leadville, the fact that it’s an old mining town with none of the glitz and glamour of nearby ski towns sealed the deal. I was more than ready to trade in rich people and fancy shops for outlaws and 150 year old houses.

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We stayed at the Colorado Trail House – found on Airbnb!

Before I could climb Elbert, first we had to get to Leadville. Remember how the guy in Carbondale said driving over Independence Pass was fun? Yeah, well that’s not exactly the adjective I would use to describe riding in a car at 12,000 feet on the edge of a mountain with no guardrail and a bunch of other cars that can’t seem to drive in a straight line. While terrifying, the drive was definitely beautiful and thankfully we made it to Leadville in once piece. As soon as we arrived, I knew I was going to love it. Pretty much every building in Leadville is at least 100 years old and there aren’t 50 meter maids out ticketing people the second their parking expires (cough cough Aspen). A trip to one of the local watering holes, Periodic (Pb) Brewing (get it?) where we drank delicious beers, chatted with locals, and watched the Stanley Cup Finals followed by a pizza from High Mountain Pies pretty much confirmed it: Leadville is Heaven on Earth.

When people ask what’s a “good” 14er for someone’s first one, a lot of times Mt. Elbert gets thrown out there. It’s a class 1 hike all the way to the summit, the trailhead is easy to get to, and you’re sure to have plenty of company. Despite the fact that many people consider it an “easier” 14er, it’s still 4700′ of gain in 4.5 miles (via the North Elbert Trail). And then of course, you have to go back down, which is a lot less fun than going up in my opinion. Depending on who or what website you consult, it takes the majority of people 6-10 hours roundtrip. In the interest of my fellow plane passengers, I was hoping to do it in 5 or less so that I could take a quick shower afterward.

Since our flight departed Denver at around 5pm and we were at least two hours from the airport, I knew I was going to have to get an early start if I wanted a successful summit. I set my alarm for 4am hoping to be on the trail at first light at 5. It seemed that everyone else decided to sleep in that day, because I was one of only six cars in the parking lot when I started up the trail at 5:30. On the drive in, my car thermometer had read 27 degrees but I felt pretty comfortable in shorts, a tank, a long sleeve, and a rain/wind jacket. The huge temperature swings in Colorado were something that really surprised me. It can be 30 degrees at 6am, but by 9 it’s almost 70. The key is to have lots of layers and I used all of mine.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect trail-wise, but the first couple miles up to the treeline were pretty tame compared to what lay beyond. You just kind of gradually switchback through a forest for awhile. In hindsight, I probably could have run the first couple miles, but I didn’t want to risk sacrificing reaching the summit because I was trying to gain a few minutes. Because of this, I settled for a brisk walk. Even though the entirety of the hike is above 10,000 feet, I felt great on the first section simply because I wasn’t carrying a 25 pound pack on my back. After four days of backpacking, I felt positively light, even at 14,000 feet.

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I didn’t see many people on the way up as so few people had gotten an early start, but I did pass around 10 people. My trekking poles that I had gotten a few days earlier at an outdoor consignment shop were proving to be the best investment of my life. At times, I was pretty much using only my arms to pull myself up the mountain. There’s one section in particular that’s about a mile from the summit that looks like a wall. It’s about a 35-40% incline up loose dirt and rocks. I wasn’t looking forward to going back down this section. Honestly, I’d take scrambling over a loose, 40% controlled fall any day. But anyway, I was still going up. As I began the super steep section, there were two guys in their late 20’s who were each carrying a large rock (~10lbs) presumably from the summit. I was simultaneously amazed that they were able to go down this section with a giant rock in their arms and also angry at them for not practicing Leave No Trace principles. Leave it where you found it, people!

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Can you spot the person?

The way up has a few false summits before you reach the actual summit and at the last one it seemed as though a few guys thought they had reached the top already. I wanted to be like “Uhh, guys, we’re going to the highest point in Colorado. Those rocks over there are above us so…” Instead, I just kept climbing the last little bit, leading the way. Just before I reached the summit, there was a group coming down. Since all the people I had passed were still behind me, I had the summit all to myself for about two minutes during which I was the highest person in Colorado (altitude-wise of course). After I quickly snapped some photos sans people, everyone else arrived and they were all very prepared to hang out on the summit. People pulled out down jackets, beers, herbs, and snacks, and settled in to enjoy the views. Since I was still hoping to shower, I only stayed long enough to eat a granola bar and have someone take a non-selfie of me. It had taken about 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach the top and I lingered for about 15 minutes which meant I had about 2 hours to make it back down.

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As I began making my way down, I saw more and more people coming up. Here were the crowds of people I had been told to expect. There were families, children, dogs of all sizes, old people, young people, fit people, not so fit people. So. Many. People. My plan was to hike/roll my way down to the treeline and then run the rest of the way down. On the super steep section on the way down, some guy going up advised me to put away my trekking poles. Uhh, no thanks, these things just saved my life. Twice. After the steep section, the way down was mostly uneventful. I kept stopping to remove layers until I was just in shorts and a tank top. I reached the now crowded parking lot just under 5 hours after I had begun. Just in time to take a shower!

Climbing Elbert was definitely a memorable experience. The view from 14,000 feet is unlike any of the other things I saw in Colorado. However, there wasn’t a whole lot to look at on the way up. Trail-scenery wise, there was plenty more to look at on every other hike and run we did. I understand though that a lot of people don’t climb 14ers for the journey, they do it to check another thing off their list. I’d like to try a more technical 14er on a return trip just to see what it’s like though. The good news is, if climbing 14ers doesn’t turn out to be my favorite, there’s plenty of other things to do in Colorado.

If you are thinking about climbing Elbert or any other 14er for that matter, here’s some tips:

  1. Start early – While this early on in the summer, mid-afternoon thunderstorms aren’t that common, it’s still best to have more time than you think you’ll need to complete the hike. On my way down, I saw plenty of people that were just starting out that had no hope of finishing before dark.
  2. Bring lots of water/electrolytes – In contrast to every other trail I was on in Colorado, there are no water sources on this trail. You are going to be out there for a long time. Bring more than you think you’ll need.
  3. Choose the pace that’s right for you – I read someone else’s story the other day where they said something I 110% agree with. If you’re having to stop and gasp for air every ten steps, you need to slow down. A more moderate pace that you can sustain for long periods of time is less taxing on your body.
  4. Take the time to acclimate – If you live at sea level, it’s probably not the best idea to start climbing a 14er the second you get off the plane. I think the fact that I had been hiking and sleeping between 9500′ and 11,000′ for the week leading up to this helped a ton. So maybe plan your big 14er hike for the end of trip. It’ll be the perfect finale for your trip in more ways than one!

 

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My 7 Favorite Things About Colorado

by milesbeforeisleep, posted in Musings

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My husband and I recently returned from a week long trip to Colorado. While the primary reason for our trip was a friend’s wedding in Telluride, the decision to extend our trip into a longer adventure seemed like a no-brainer. During the week we managed to squeeze in a wedding, multiple backpacking trips, trail runs, hikes, and visits to towns less traveled. While every single trail and mountain and lake we saw in Colorado was amazing, there are plenty of less specific things that make the Centennial State one of my favorites. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say part of the reason I’m making this list is to convince my husband of my (not so) secret plans to move there someday. So without further ado, here are my seven favorite things about Colorado:

  1. Mountains, mountains everywhere. Who doesn’t love a good mountain, eh? Whether you’re driving down I-70 or camping in the backcountry, chances are you’re going to be surrounded by mountains (unless of course you’re in Northeast Colorado, which looks a lot like Nebraska, no offense). What could be more magical and inspiring than seeing mountains all around you? Nothing that I can think of.
  2. The people who live there and the outdoor culture. No matter where we went in Colorado, everyone we met was so welcoming and helpful. As soon as we mentioned we were from out of state and were looking for trail and backpacking ideas, people were eager to share their favorites with us. From the guy working at the Walmart Kinko’s in Montrose to the guy working at the running shop in Carbondale to the guy we sat next to at a brewery in Leadville, Coloradoans were happy to help us have an amazing experience.
  3. No one is in a hurry. Ok, so this was actually one of my least favorite things too. When it comes to driving, Coloradoans are the slowest of the slow. Maybe it’s because they’re busy enjoying the scenery? After the 6-hour turned 7.5-hour drive from DIA to Telluride, we were feeling less than charitable toward local drivers. When it comes to the trails though, I couldn’t agree more with the take your time attitude. After spending 15+ years competing in running and triathlon, I’ll admit that a lot of times I like to do things fast. While it’s a great gift to be able to cover long distances in a short amount of time, sometimes it’s great to be able to take your time and enjoy the journey and the views (and in Colorado there are plenty of them!). On our last day of the trip, I climbed 14er Mt. Elbert. Shortly after I arrived at the top, about 8 guys arrived in groups of two or three. They all sat down on the summit, a couple beers were opened, some legal plants were passed around, people took pictures of each other. In short, no one was in a hurry to end their journey. Except me of course, only this time it was because I had to get down the mountain, shower, and drive back to Denver to catch a flight. But I promise for the rest of my trip, I slowed down and enjoyed the scenery.
  4. People say it’s crowded but it’s really not. One of the first things people say about Colorado is “Oh it’s so busy, there’s too many people, I would never want to go there.” Sure, if you go to Pikes Peak or the Manitou Incline or the Boulder Flatirons on a summer weekend, you’re going to have lots of company. But trust me, there are lots of less traveled places in Colorado. As someone who has driven across the state multiple times in the last few months, trust me when I say, Colorado is a whole lot of nothing. Once you get a couple hours outside of Denver, I think you’ll be surprised. There are plenty of smaller towns with equally if not more amazing destinations than their more urban counterparts. On this trip we stopped in Carbondale and Leadville, which are both small towns with lots of activities and fewer people (and apparently named after elements). We had planned to visit Silverton (I’m sensing a theme here) and/or Durango on this trip, but the current forest fire near there changed our plans. There is still plenty of solitude to be found in Colorado if you’re willing to get off the beaten path.
  5. So many dogs! A lot of times it seems like outdoor adventures and dogs go hand in hand. I mean who wouldn’t want to share the best part of life with man’s best friend. From stores to trails to breweries to sidewalks, there are happy dogs everywhere. Walk into any local bike or outdoor store and you’ll likely be greeted by a friendly pup. Hike along any trail and you’ll see big dogs, little dogs, all kinds of dogs leading their owners up mountains.
  6. Year round activities! Even though our trip was obviously in the summer, it was easy to see that the adventures don’t end when the snow falls. Downhill skiing is an obvious one, but there’s also Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, mountaineering, fatbiking, the possibilities are endless.
  7. There is so much to see and do, it’s impossible to run out of places to go. Colorado is home to four national parks, eight national monuments, and three national historic areas. There are also 11 national forests and numerous state parks. Exploring any one of them could easily take weeks on its own. I feel like we saw and did so much during our week, but I already have a long list of other places I want to go and activities I want to try.

What are your favorite things about Colorado?

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How to Love Running in the Rain

by milesbeforeisleep, posted in Training Tips

After the freak mid-April snowstorm that covered half the country a couple weeks ago, it seems as though it’s finally spring. If you’re not fortunate enough to live somewhere like Arizona, this probably means rain, and plenty of it. Don’t be discouraged though, soon enough, people in Arizona will be baking cookies in their cars while the rest of us are enjoying more “mild” summers in the 80’s and 90’s. Until then though, we have rain and mud to deal with.

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Enjoying a rainy hike in Colorado

Every year around mid- to late-May, I start seeing tons of runners everywhere. “Wow, so many people! I wonder where they were a month or two or five ago” I think. Inside is the answer. Although people from the Midwest seem to be somewhat more hardy than people from more mild climates, people here have their “weather rules” too. Oh, it’s too cold out, it’s cloudy, there’s snow on the ground. The list goes on and on. The most extreme case of this I heard was from a friend who moved to Texas whose triathlon club there instituted rules such as:

  1. If it’s colder than 70 degrees, we don’t bike outside
  2. If it’s colder than 50 degrees, we don’t run outside
  3. For swimming, the water temperature must be at least 75 degrees and everyone must wear a wetsuit and neoprene booties and cap at all times

I just made that last one up but I wouldn’t be surprised if that was one of them. The truth is there’s (almost) no weather that’s bad enough to forgo an outdoor activity. With the right wardrobe and the right attitude, it can even be fun! For a true representation of sporting weather badass-ery, check out surfer Dan and his beard. This guy surfs in Lake Superior in the winter time. If you’ve never been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, trust me when I say Lake Superior is freezing cold even at the height of summer. While we can’t all be surfer Dans, we can try a little bit harder to get outside in all types of weather. See below for some tips on how to embrace the rain and mud this spring!

  • Mentally prepare yourself – **This is the most important one** If you find yourself looking out the window formulating excuses about why you should probably just skip today’s workout or thinking about how if you do go out there, you’re going to be cold and wet and miserable, stop right now. Instead, tell yourself what a badass you’ll be for going out there on a day when everyone else is huddled inside. Tell yourself how fun it’ll be to splash through puddles and feel the rain hit your face. Going into anything with the right mindset will set you up for a better chance at success. In 2016, it rained during every single race I did over half marathon distance (that’s roughly 15 races and no, I don’t live in the Pacific Northwest). If I had stayed home every time it rained that year, I would’ve barely done anything at all. You never know what the weather is going to be like on race day so you need to be ready for anything and everything.
  • Phone a friend – If you already tried to mentally prepare yourself and still can’t seem to convince yourself to do it, try calling a friend. In this case, the dumber the better. On days with terrible weather when I make my husband join me my husband voluntarily joins me, I always tell him how awesome he is for being out there, but usually he says “I’m not awesome, just dumb.”
  • Dress for success – Usually I don’t wear a rain jacket while running unless it’s under 45 degrees, and even then I might not wear one depending on how fast I’m going. I have an Ultimate Direction Ultra jacket which I love. It keeps me dry in all but the most monsoon-ish weather, its super light, and it packs down small so I can put it away when I inevitably get too hot.
  • Bring a change of clothes and a towel – If you’re driving to a trail or some other place, bring a towel and a change of clothes with you. You’ll get cold fast after sitting in your car sopping wet for a few minutes.
  • Leave the phone at home – Since phones and water don’t really mix, it’s best to leave it at home. If you’re out for a longer adventure or in a more remote area where this isn’t feasible, try putting your phone in a ziploc bag before putting it in your pack.
  • Embrace the mud – I recently did a trail half marathon in Arizona of all places where most of the course was covered in mud. Throughout the race, I watched people tiptoe carefully around the “muddy areas”, which I repeat, was most of the course. If you think there’s a chance the mud in front of you might be quicksand that will drag you underground, by all means, find a way around. But when it’s pouring rain and everything is sloppy, you’re going to get dirty eventually so just embrace it. One of my favorite mottos is “If you ain’t dirty, you ain’t having fun” so it comes as no surprise that I’m usually the dirtiest person at the end of every race.
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Becoming one with the mud