38 Days and Counting

Well, after 38 days of snow on the ground--Denver's going for a new record on this one--I finally got the rest of the driveway cleared. I borrowed the neighbor's snow blower. Apparently, I'm going to have to get one of those things. I also washed my Jeep today. All this in preparation for the next snow event later this week!

Yet more snow

Well, it's snowing again today. About 10 inches have accumulated here, and it's not done yet, apparently. I love snow--it's been beautiful at night with the full (or almost full) moon shining on it--but I suffer no desire to shovel any more for a while, especially as I still have a cold that I caught last time. Sigh. Cough.

Christmas 2006

Well, the whole country has been reading about the back-to-back blizzards that have hit us here in Colorado. I can't remember such big storms within such a short time since I moved here 16 years ago.


Living in the foothills, I had quite a job digging out. After the first round, I spent a total of 6 hours (over two days) digging my jeep out. The second round, I parked the jeep down at the bottom of the driveway... But oh, my aching back!

There was about two and a half feet of snow from the first round up here; we got another two feet from round two. It's beautiful, glimmering in the sun, or shining pearl-like in the moonlight at night. If only we didn't have to shovel so much of it!

2006 Review: New Roommates

In November, my friend Barbara Ohno moved to Washington state, leaving me permanent guardianship of her two cats, Buddy and Gnocchi.



Buddy is a handsome longhair tuxedo cat who loves to play with his rabbit-fur mouse, and take over my recliner (which is currently my computer chair, as well) the moment I get up. With the cooler weather he is looking like a big black woolly bear.



Gnocchi is a skittish little tortoiseshell. She loves to crawl under the blankets on my bed for a nap, and has recently become bold enough to curl up on my neck while I'm reading in bed. stick her wet little nose in my ear and purr loudly.

2006 Review: Backpacking School

I went on my last trip with the Colorado Mountain Club Backpacking School in October. I'd missed the trip last year...

We trekked up Kirby Gulch to a nice meadow where a creek comes down into Kirby Creek, and set up out tent city (there were about 40 of us on the trip...). Saturday was cool and clear, a bit breezy, and we spent the afternoon learning about and practicing emergency survival skills.


Milestones on this trip for me were: using my home made, alcohol burning stove made from pop cans and using my tent fly without the screen innards--just the fly and a ground cloth made from a tarp. I saved over a pound of carry weight by not taking the whole tent, and was plenty warm. The lowest temperature I saw on my little thermometer was 28 degrees.

Sunday morning we had our usual map and compass exercise, but with a twist--it began to snow on us. Above the trees it was particular snowy, but we found all of our waypoints just fine.

2006 Review: Mt. Bierstadt

After many years, I finally conquered another 14er! Well, conquer is probably too strong--I made it to the top and back down, anyway.


Shari Johansson and I took on Mt. Bierstadt (14,060 feet) on September 6, starting off just before dawn from Guanella Pass. First through the marshy willows, then up the rocky western face. Four hours later we were sitting on top, with Mt. Evans off to the east (bold souls can cross a ridge to get there from Bierstadt--we didn't).

On the way back down we encountered thundersnow--not an uncommon occurrence up here. But one lightning strike hit less than a mile away, with a loud clap of thunder on its heels. That's when we decided we could go just a bit faster...

To quote Shari: "Not bad for a pair of middle aged ladies."

2006 Review: ScotFest Estes Park

Once again we went to the Highland Games in Estes Park in September. The weather was cool and wet--umbrellas were standard equipment. But the sun did come out on Saturday afternoon enough to enjoy and dry out the grass a bit. Some Highlights:

Watching an usher at the Tattoo, in full regalia--including the tall furry hat, lifting Amy over a barrier in the stands.

Hearing bagpipes playing en masse during the opening ceremony of the day.

Hanging out at the Y with all the girls--and Julie's brave brother.


Seeing Chad, on leave from Iraq just in time for the games. We had met him for the first time the previous year--he was wearing a Buchanan tartan kilt, which is also Amy's tartan. It would be easier to tell in a color photo, but you can see that her scarf matches his kilt.

PS: Chad arrived home for Christmas, unfortunately wounded by an explosive device. Just a broken wrist and a broken ankle--I didn't get a photo of him on his crutches!

2006 Review: Zion

It's quite a while now since July and the trip to Zion, but several things still stick out in my memory:

The pattern of the primeval sand dunes captured for centuries in the sandstone walls and rocks of the canyon.

The sheer walls of Angel's Landing dropping 1200 feet down to the valley of the Virgin River.

The surprising way water would just be flowing from the stone walls, or collected in pools here and there along the canyon.

The Narrows, where the Virgin River IS the trail to follow if you wish to go up canyon.

My little solo tent set up amidst a large number of motor homes and 5th wheels in the RV campground.

I would definitely go back to Zion...