Argh! My heart aches to be hiking again. The pure joy of simplicity! Knowing I can handle anything that comes at me just with the use of those items I chose to put in my backpack! It is an amazing feeling to be so empowered!
So, the other day, I met friends who are currently hiking the entire Colorado Trail (~500miles from Denver to Durango) and brought them their resupply food. I got there a day early with the idea that I would meet them on the trail and stay the night with them before bringing them back in to resupply! After about 10miles out, I found myself extremely exhausted and worried about missing them. So, I turned around, drank the coke I brought for them, and headed back towards their car. In total, I did 20miles of backpacking that day only to end up back at the car, where I spent the evening, more or less!
The next day, I woke up early to make sure I was at the trail head to meet them bright and early. By 10am, I had not seen them and began to worry a little more. Having read a couple of short Stephen King stories and eaten tons of cherries, I decided it was time to get in motion again. So, I headed back up the trail to meet them. This time, I did it in my flip flops without a pack! It made me chuckle a little! :o)
At the pass and junction with the Colorado Trail, I once again met up with Apple, a trail angel for both the Appalachian Trail as well as the Colorado Trail. He is a retired IBM employee who enjoys assisting those who attempt the craziness of long distance hiking. At Lujan Pass, he had a cooler, tent, and chairs waiting for those hiking the Colorado Trail at this time. It was neat to read his log book and talk to him about the AT. We knew some of the same people and then one of the guys I met on the AT in 2005 had actually been through on the 5th of July. It was amazing and brought tears to my eyes as I remembered old times.
During my backpacking on Thursday to meet my friends (whom I never did meet that night), I found myself overwhelmed with emotions of wanting to be back on a long trail. The simplicity and the respect one receives by taking on such endeavors builds enormous amounts of self-esteem. I found myself breaking into tears and forcing myself to turn around for fear of never leaving the woods again and knowing I need to go back for my husband! Life feeds us a lot of responsibilities and challenges and we are not always lucky enough to be able to step outside of those challenges and take the outside view of it. Sometimes, we just have to jump in blinded by the unknown and hope for the best. The future is what we make of it and sometimes we just have to make it!
With that in mind, it is my intention to be back on a long trail again before I grow too old. Once you do one natural journey, it soaks through your veins until it causes you such discomfort that you have to go out again! The trails breed such communities one does not find in cities of any size! It reminds you of the humanity of people and we are not doomed to tragedy! Hiking and finding selfless people wanting to hear your story is where the honesty and integrity of a nation is seen first hand! The beauty of each of us is still there if only we all believe and embrace it.
That is why I long to be out again among those full of the love of nature and what it was truly given to us to teach...peace, love, and understanding...not to mention patience and kindness!
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Training Time
The packets are finding their way into my mailbox and increasing the stress in my training life to get out there and mountain bike. I am most worried about the Silver Rush 50 and the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. As for the running aspect, it really is just a matter of fast hiking. So, I am not worried about that.
Many moons ago, I remember my husband starting to get into cycling and coming home from being gone for about 15minutes on a bike ride pissed because of mechanical problems. His complaint was in favor of his running because nothing can go wrong with running. There is just so much to know about with cycling...mainly the need to change tires, thus carrying extra gear with you.
Since the Appalachian Trail, I have been looking more and more into going ultralight in everything I do. Working at REI, I have acquired many lightweight layers to make my hiking and backpacking more enjoyable and easier, but just as safe. So, as I prepare for Leadville/The LeadWoman events, I wonder how to make things lighter on the mountain bike. The bike itself is big and bulky, but I was not going to spend tons of money on a carbon mountain bike which I may never use again. Although, I cannot imagine not falling in love with mountain biking as I have every other adventure event in my life. Anyway, my husband put a slime tube in the front tire of the bike after it went flat on my first mountain bike race last september when we did the Bearable Adventure race, so I know I could change that out for lighter, but then I run the risk of getting a flat on the course. Granted, I can get a flat even with the slime tube, but...
Ok, so I guess I got some thoughts to work through on how to approach these events. After doing the Colfax Marathon almot 2 weeks ago, I did learn what I need to do for the running events and am ready for those. It is simply the cycling events that need to be managed at this point and I need to get out on my mountain bike and train. Part of my fear is going alone. I am prone to falling off my bike and after a rash of friends crashing on their bikes from crazy mountain bike accidents to goofing around on road bikes during a day of fun, I am a little nervous to mountain bike alone. Granted, I will be wearing a helmet which these others were not doing when they had their major crashes! Also, I will start small with just local parks that are rather busy most of the time. That can be a good thing and a bad thing as I will have to learn how to dodge people if there are too many of them on my training courses. It all boils down to confidence on the bike. Unfortunately, my mountain bike is the one bike I feel least comfortable on. So, we will see what happens. The sun is out today and I am thankful for that as I may actually be able to take the bike out on some trails without slogging through mud. I may go check out the trails on foot first, though. My confidence increases when I know what I am in for and can plan ahead! That keeps me on my bike usually. It is the unexpected that throws me for a loop and off my bike!
So, the challenge is there, but I am still excited to get started and see how things finish up. I will be posting the cutoff times for the races in the next few days as I review the information being sent to me. As I have already said, the running events will be easy to make the time cutoffs. I need to figure out how easy the bike cutoffs will be even if I end up pushing a bike a good portion of the course. This summer will be a busy time, but also rewarding in so many ways. I look forward to the challenge as it continues to approach me and remind me of my strength and ability to put mind over matter to get the job done! I will prevail!
Many moons ago, I remember my husband starting to get into cycling and coming home from being gone for about 15minutes on a bike ride pissed because of mechanical problems. His complaint was in favor of his running because nothing can go wrong with running. There is just so much to know about with cycling...mainly the need to change tires, thus carrying extra gear with you.
Since the Appalachian Trail, I have been looking more and more into going ultralight in everything I do. Working at REI, I have acquired many lightweight layers to make my hiking and backpacking more enjoyable and easier, but just as safe. So, as I prepare for Leadville/The LeadWoman events, I wonder how to make things lighter on the mountain bike. The bike itself is big and bulky, but I was not going to spend tons of money on a carbon mountain bike which I may never use again. Although, I cannot imagine not falling in love with mountain biking as I have every other adventure event in my life. Anyway, my husband put a slime tube in the front tire of the bike after it went flat on my first mountain bike race last september when we did the Bearable Adventure race, so I know I could change that out for lighter, but then I run the risk of getting a flat on the course. Granted, I can get a flat even with the slime tube, but...
Ok, so I guess I got some thoughts to work through on how to approach these events. After doing the Colfax Marathon almot 2 weeks ago, I did learn what I need to do for the running events and am ready for those. It is simply the cycling events that need to be managed at this point and I need to get out on my mountain bike and train. Part of my fear is going alone. I am prone to falling off my bike and after a rash of friends crashing on their bikes from crazy mountain bike accidents to goofing around on road bikes during a day of fun, I am a little nervous to mountain bike alone. Granted, I will be wearing a helmet which these others were not doing when they had their major crashes! Also, I will start small with just local parks that are rather busy most of the time. That can be a good thing and a bad thing as I will have to learn how to dodge people if there are too many of them on my training courses. It all boils down to confidence on the bike. Unfortunately, my mountain bike is the one bike I feel least comfortable on. So, we will see what happens. The sun is out today and I am thankful for that as I may actually be able to take the bike out on some trails without slogging through mud. I may go check out the trails on foot first, though. My confidence increases when I know what I am in for and can plan ahead! That keeps me on my bike usually. It is the unexpected that throws me for a loop and off my bike!
So, the challenge is there, but I am still excited to get started and see how things finish up. I will be posting the cutoff times for the races in the next few days as I review the information being sent to me. As I have already said, the running events will be easy to make the time cutoffs. I need to figure out how easy the bike cutoffs will be even if I end up pushing a bike a good portion of the course. This summer will be a busy time, but also rewarding in so many ways. I look forward to the challenge as it continues to approach me and remind me of my strength and ability to put mind over matter to get the job done! I will prevail!
Monday, January 05, 2009
This Year's Challenge
So, until I am able to get back out there on a long trail (which may be the PCT in 2010), I continue to find semi-local challenges to keep me in the shape I was on the Appalachian Trail. For this year, I am biting off more than I can chew, but I am going to try to swallow it WHOLE!!!! I have decided I want to be a Leadwoman! My friends are all trying to be Ironmen, so I thought I would stick with the metal idea and go for Lead! Also, I am an over achiever and have to do a variety of crazy races and teach myself something new with each challenge. So, here is the list of events going on for this year's challenge:
2009 Schedule of Events
2009 Schedule of Events
Leadville Trail 100 Training Camp
Saturday – Monday, June 27 - 29, 2009
Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half Marathon
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Leadville Silver Rush 50 Mountain Bike Race
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race
Saturday, August 15, 2009
LT 100 10K
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Leadville Trail 100 Run
Saturday – Sunday, August 22-23, 2009
As some of you know, I have attempted the Leadville Trail 100 Run before. It was 2007 and I got to see the entire course. This time around I plan on doing better than 2007 and thus decided it was okay to throw the extra events in along with the trail run. My husband feels I am biting off more than I can chew, but like I said above, I plan on swallowing it WHOLE!! Without challenges in my life, I am just ordinary and my mother taught me to always be
E X T R A O R D I N A R Y!!!!!
So, here goes another year of fun and adventure! Wish me luck world as I conquer the world this time around and swallow LEAD WHOLE!!!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Trail Lust Runs Rampant
Over three years have passed since I finished the Appalachian Trail and the desire burns brighter than usual right now. So much has changed in me over the past 3 + years. I do not fit in this world as I did in the past. Things move too fast and people are too self absorbed. The mountains and trails call to me. I can hear them. Yes! That sounds crazy, but it is in my blood now to conquer the beauty and absorb it into my very soul.
This is the reason I often think of being an author. Unfortunately, I can not have a coherent thought to save my soul or at least a linear line of thoughts. If I were to write, someone would have to take my writings and organize them into a cohesive story that makes sense. That is the same way with my speeches or presentations. So many thoughts float through my mind wanting to get out the information, that I lose the straight path and end up walking in circles.
Every conversation I have centers around walking in some fashion or another. My greatest thoughts come from walking (or the toilet). The freedom of the trail is what calls me as well. At the same time, I wish I could take everyone I meet out on to a long distance trail and show them the miracles of life! There is so much beauty that goes unnoticed as we all rush around our daily lives.
My next trail will be the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I am hoping for 2010 for this adventure; however, my life may not allow it to happen. We will see what the future holds in store for me. If nothing more, then I hope to get some good s-miles on the Colorado Trail (CT). Just to be out in the woods absorbing the energy from the earth as I snuggle into my sleeping bag. Gotta get some winter camping experience too! The world is my oyster and I will conquer it all. Beware when I do as I will be overwhelmingly beautiful due to the absorption of the natural beauty. Either that or wrinkled and leathery from all the sunshine and fresh air! Both are beautiful in their own way.
Until then...
This is the reason I often think of being an author. Unfortunately, I can not have a coherent thought to save my soul or at least a linear line of thoughts. If I were to write, someone would have to take my writings and organize them into a cohesive story that makes sense. That is the same way with my speeches or presentations. So many thoughts float through my mind wanting to get out the information, that I lose the straight path and end up walking in circles.
Every conversation I have centers around walking in some fashion or another. My greatest thoughts come from walking (or the toilet). The freedom of the trail is what calls me as well. At the same time, I wish I could take everyone I meet out on to a long distance trail and show them the miracles of life! There is so much beauty that goes unnoticed as we all rush around our daily lives.
My next trail will be the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I am hoping for 2010 for this adventure; however, my life may not allow it to happen. We will see what the future holds in store for me. If nothing more, then I hope to get some good s-miles on the Colorado Trail (CT). Just to be out in the woods absorbing the energy from the earth as I snuggle into my sleeping bag. Gotta get some winter camping experience too! The world is my oyster and I will conquer it all. Beware when I do as I will be overwhelmingly beautiful due to the absorption of the natural beauty. Either that or wrinkled and leathery from all the sunshine and fresh air! Both are beautiful in their own way.
Until then...
Friday, November 07, 2008
3 years Later
So, it has been 3 years since the completion of my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike and I still burn with desire to get back out there and hike to far off lands. My next hope is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). My husband is not a big backpacker, but I hope to get him out doing some sections with me at least. We will see what the future holds. I continue to work for a large outdoor retailer and thus am plunged into helping others "outfit for a life time of adventure."
I also continue to learn and grow from my experiences on the trail. My life continues to slow down and be relaxed due to what I have seen and done through my adventure on the trail. I have not had a car since I smashed up our only car in April and it has been an adventure commuting by public transportation, bike, or foot. Of course, my preferred method of transportation is on foot as there are so many things we miss while moving fast! We do find we eat out less and stay closer to home. This is the first winter my husband and I will be using public transportation to get to and from work. Luckily, we both have the gear to not be too miserable with our commute.
The trail and the outdoors continue to call to me. I often want to just pack up my backpack and walk away from everything. So much has happened in the last 3 years to change who I am and how I interact with people. It has been a challenging and yet rewarding transformation for me. At the same time, my transformation is not fully completed yet. I look forward to all the future holds in its teachings and gifts. Life is truly blessed and I will be back out on the trails again in the near future. Maybe the money from the car being totalled out will help take me on my next journey. Until then, I will continue to watch for opportunities to learn more ways of interacting with the beauty that surrounds me daily, from the people I meet to the things I get the pleasure of seeing.
Thank you all for everything you have read, done, and supported me through over the years. This coming year does hold another big challenge for me as I attempt to learn mountain biking and sign up for the Lead Woman series. It is a series of 5 events from a marathon to a couple mountain bike races, and finishing with a 100mile trail run (the one I attempted in 2007). I feel if I put my mind to it, I can do anything!
I also continue to learn and grow from my experiences on the trail. My life continues to slow down and be relaxed due to what I have seen and done through my adventure on the trail. I have not had a car since I smashed up our only car in April and it has been an adventure commuting by public transportation, bike, or foot. Of course, my preferred method of transportation is on foot as there are so many things we miss while moving fast! We do find we eat out less and stay closer to home. This is the first winter my husband and I will be using public transportation to get to and from work. Luckily, we both have the gear to not be too miserable with our commute.
The trail and the outdoors continue to call to me. I often want to just pack up my backpack and walk away from everything. So much has happened in the last 3 years to change who I am and how I interact with people. It has been a challenging and yet rewarding transformation for me. At the same time, my transformation is not fully completed yet. I look forward to all the future holds in its teachings and gifts. Life is truly blessed and I will be back out on the trails again in the near future. Maybe the money from the car being totalled out will help take me on my next journey. Until then, I will continue to watch for opportunities to learn more ways of interacting with the beauty that surrounds me daily, from the people I meet to the things I get the pleasure of seeing.
Thank you all for everything you have read, done, and supported me through over the years. This coming year does hold another big challenge for me as I attempt to learn mountain biking and sign up for the Lead Woman series. It is a series of 5 events from a marathon to a couple mountain bike races, and finishing with a 100mile trail run (the one I attempted in 2007). I feel if I put my mind to it, I can do anything!
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