Longs Peak

Posted October 4th 2009
Colorado to do list:
Summit Longs Peak
Summit Mount of the Holy Cross
Denver Broncos game
Hut trip
Colorado's Triple Bypass
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Concert at Red Rocks


I've stared/admired/feared/adored this peak every day for almost 2 years.  I heard stories about the physical torture.  I (of course) read ALL about the route.  I KNEW what it would feel like.  I was born and raised at sea level.  My body was upset about being above 10,000' for 10+ hours.  More like ... my body HATED me for taking it up there.  I usually suffer from altitude sickness, but normally I'm only above tree line for a couple of hours.  I thought for sure I would toss my cookies (actually my "Jeremy's Granola Bars") on the summit.  I was pretty miserable.  It was the most difficult 14er that either one of us has climbed so far.  I'm pretty sure the Oskar Blues waitress probably thought we were on drugs when we collapsed into our chairs for dinner at 5:00 PM.  The more time that passes ... the more fun I THINK I had.  By this time next year, you might hear me say, "Longs Peak?  I loved Longs Peak!"  But, don't ask me anytime soon ;)


Let's see ... I'm thinking "Concert at Red Rocks" or "Denver Broncos Game" is sounding like a good challenge.

Difficulty: Class 3 
Summit Elevation: 14,255 feet 
Elevation Gain: 5100` 
Round-trip Length: 14 miles 
Trailhead: Longs Peak TH 

2:00 AM Awake 
4:00 AM Start Hiking 
11:00 AM Summit Longs Peak 
4:00 PM Back at Trailhead 

Date Ascended: 8/14/10 
Roundtrip: 12 hours 
Temperature: 30's/40's/50's/60's

Been hiking for a couple of hours ...

Good Morning

I love Colorado

Diamonds are Forever

The Keyhole

The Homestretch

14er #9

The Boulder Field (Evil)

Campers in the Boulder Field

Wow

Deb + Sweet Waterfall

Longs Peak ... Appropriately Named

Lookin At Lucky

1.  Lookin At Lucky (foaled May 27, 2007 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes.
or

2.  Lookin At Lucky (foaled January 18, 1972 in North Carolina) is a very happy young lady counting her many blessings these days.

I saw/fell in love with the name "Lookin at Lucky" back in May during the Kentucky Derby ... when my life wasn't really going as planned.  I decided then and there - WHEN my luck turns around ... I'm going to use that as a Blog Title.  Well, here it is.  You are looking at lucky.

So many great things happened in July.  I thank God frequently for blessing me beyond what I deserve.  I struggled through many months of not being happy in my career.  Subsequently, it felt like everything around me was all wrong.  I was definitely "in the hole".  Most days I tried to talk myself into believing that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  I understand that all life ebbs and flows.  It just seemed like if it could go wrong, it did go wrong in my world.  My spirits rose and fell like tidal waves.  Then - BOOM!  Little things starting going right again and I knew my stars were lining up again.  I have always felt like I'm walking a well laid path and I'm reminded often that it's certainly true.

JULY

14erWorld

I LOVE climbing 14ers.  There's just something about it that thrills my soul.  In the month of July I summited three peaks (Handies Peak, Wetterhorn Peak, Torreys Peak).  I went well out of my personal comfort zone to summit Wetterhorn and Torreys.  Each experience is spiritual in it's own way.  It's weird and hard to explain ... but it's a special feeling.

Torreys Peak/Kelso Ridge Route/Class 3 (14er #8)

Family Vacation

My family came to Colorado.  WOW.  I think about that time and realize how lucky I am.  We had so much fun together.  I love spending time with all of them.  I have so many memories that make me laugh and smile.  

Airports, Cheyenne, driving, Estes Park, YMCA, rain, bacon-eggs-biscuits, puzzles, Rocky Mountain National Park, marMOTs, graupel, 37 degrees in July, "you ain't too happy that this is not going good" - XG, foosball, ping pong, rain, gardening gloves, constipation, ELK, driving, "but it IS WINTER" - XG, rain, pronghorn antelope, Salida, a scary fast breathing animal in the dark night, deer, magnet rocks, "captus", trout fishing, Uno, Mutton Bustin', Who Let the Cows Out?, Moma wearing ski gloves and toboggan at the rodeo, "BETTER YET, I'll put you a real nice trailer with wheels on top of that mountain you love" - XG, Cottonwood Lake, rain, picnic at the Whitewater Park, putt-putt, Moma's spaghetti, Backgammon, whitewater rafting, mountain goats, driving AGAIN, rain, Arvada, home, Atlanta overnight, back to NC ... that about sums it up. :)

Alpine Visitor's Center (RMNP)

YMCA - Estes Park

Xander (loving the gardening gloves)

Salida, Colorado

- Crystal

Salida, CO (14ers in the Background)

Jody & Daddy

Xander (Mutton Bustin')

Buena Vista, Colorado

Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo

Buena Vista, Colorado

Cowboy from NC

Salida, Colorado

Arkansas River

The Numbers

Class IV/V

Array BioPharma

Written in February 2008 ... while still living in NC

The Flatirons/Boulder

"I finally visited Boulder and I fell in love with it. There's a small pharmaceutical company called Array Biopharma there. Every time something rocks my world ... I say "I'm $%*#X##F moving to Colorado and working at Array". You know you've heard me say it.. probably sick of hearing it. In my heart, I THINK it's exactly what I NEED TO DO. However, I'm always afraid I'll miss my family and friends... and I never actually take steps to move."

I fell in love with that company years ago.  I left GSK ... moved to Colorado ... worked at Gilead (met an angel there) ... was unemployed for a month ... worked at the University of Colorado for 5 months and VOILA - I am now working at Array BioPharma ... and happier than I have been at work since leaving Oncology at GSK in 2005.  I love the science and I love the people and of course - I love Boulder.  My path has detours - but no doubt - there's a destination.  I'm thankful for that.

I can't say it often ... but I will say it for now.

Lookin At Lucky :)