Adventure Tales from an Out-of-Shape Enthusiast (Part 3)

This is the final chapter of the Adventure Tales from yours truly, the out-of-shape enthusiast.

I'll wrap up the last few days into this post...on we go!


The story of the entire trip, I believe, was snow. The snow was intense and really shaped the overall outcome of the trip. It forced us to re-route, it wore us out quicker, and it really added to the adventure.

We improvised and survived - Bear Grylls would be proud!

As we finally descended from the deep woods and departed from Rocky Mountain National Park, we exited on the Grand Lake side and rented a boat for the afternoon. (Grand Lake is the highest natural lake in the US - and BEAUTIFUL!!!)

We grabbed a campsite that night at the Longs Peak TH and finally enjoyed a campfire, non-river water, and meat...aahhh, yes, meat. We grilled some chicken to go along with left over backpacking food.

The trip lent us sights we'd never have seen, had we not taken on the elements. We saw 3 moose, hundreds of elk, mule deer, a marmot, and a porcupine.

1 week later, we eagerly picked up our girls and bathed.

You know what happens when I wear 1 outfit, exert myself on the trail, and go sans-shower for a week? I create some corn-chippy-tang-infused-toxic odor that burns the nostrils and stings the eyes. Luckily, all of that went down the drain.

What a week! What a week...

Thanks for reading...I hope its been fun.

Peace,
Ross

Adventure Tales from an Out-of-Shape Enthusiast (Part 2)

After a night at 10,250 feet, we woke up and trekked another couple miles until our trail went straight up. Now if you've been backpacking before, you'll know that most uphill climbs come in the form of switchbacks. Not this one. This trail went straight up. And by trail, I mean the supposed trail that was under knee to waist deep snow. When the snow is that deep, you really have no clue what's underneath...trail, trees, rocks, badgers...

Kate and I went straight up for at least 1/2 a mile before the physical toll was too much. We were post-holing (stepping in and out of knee to waist deep snow), because we didn't bring snow shoes (they help you stay on top).


We looked and looked for anything resembling a trail, a campsite; but found nothing.

In the end, we turned back downhill and made it back to the original trail, and back to the campsite we stayed at on night #1.

It was a bad case of 1 step forward, 2 steps back.


Regardless of the throbbing muscles I never knew I had, the aching shoulders, and soaking feet, we ended the day feeling a real sense of accomplishment and beauty from our tasks and surroundings.


Peace,
Ross

p.s. Part 3 tomorrow (the final chapter(s))...

Adventure Tales from an Out-of-Shape Enthusiast (Part 1)

Last week, Kate and I went backpacking - an adventurous trip that we hadn't revisited since we had Cora. My parents watched our girls while we trekked off into the primitive abyss of Rocky Mountain National Park.

We started at the Colorado River TH and immediately went 3.5 miles up, up, and up some more. The rangers had told us to prepare for snow - that the northwest side doesn't typically melt off until mid July. (apparently they do in fact know what they are talking about, since we were the first backpackers to tackle this part of the park this season)


We set out, out-of-shape, under-prepared, but excited. All of the rivers, creeks, ditches, and usual-trickles were rushing full force with snow melt. The trail at times would disappear for 100 yards under the snow before reappearing like a saving mirage in the distance.


One particular bridge was about 6 inches skinnier than I liked for the amount of snow caked to it, the 50 pound pack on my sore, out-of-shape, back, and the class 4 rapids rushing underneath. But alas, we made it.


Camp site found.
Animals seen.
Surrounded by beauty.
Worn out and exhausted!

Peace,
Ross

p.s. part 2 tomorrow...