Denver Lately

As I mentioned in my last Blog I have been very busy with my yoga teacher training which hasn't allowed for much travel outside of the occasional ski day. Chad and I were planning on heading to Peru this month but the timing just wasn't right so that trip will have to be on hold for, yet again, another day. That doesn't mean I haven't been happy to be in Denver though these past few winter months and enjoyed all my favorite state has to offer. I'm proud to announce that I officially graduated yoga teacher training at the end of March!

(Me and my new best friends on our last day of training)

Of course this doesn't mean I am through with my yoga education nor have I received my certificate yet. First I have to teach my six SEVA classes which are donation based for friends and family where I will be collecting items for a shelter for women and children called The Gathering Place. I feel so blessed with all that I have in life and so I am grateful to be given this opportunity to not only spread yoga throughout my community but to inspire giving in others as well. My first class is this Sunday and it already looks like I have about 10+ friends and family attending. I am nervous but also excited to show everyone what I've been working so hard on these past few weeks. If all goes as planned I will have my hours turned in before I leave for the Bahamas in May which means I'll have completed yet another bucket list item before my 30th Birthday. I feel so accomplished!

To welcome in spring and celebrate being through with teacher training (yay for having some of my weekends back...for now anyways!) my friend Sarah and I hung out for the Rockies opening day the first weekend in April. Opening day has always been a fun event for me but the past 4 years I was working it due to being a Miller Lite promo girl. Last year was the first time I got to experience actually enjoying the day and not watching everyone else lose their minds. The only downside to opening day is that it is on a Friday so as you can imagine most of my friends have to work. Sarah was able to come downtown early however and then Lyndee and Chad met up with us later in the afternoon. We hung out around downtown for a few hours, watched the game and of course, being the person I am, found a cupcake truck:


We left just before the game ended and downtown became an even bigger zoo than it already was. We all had to get up early anyways because we were headed to the mtns. in the morning.

It has become an annual tradition to visit the Sulphur Springs in the town of Hot Sulphur Springs. Chad and I went several years ago before we got married for my birthday because we couldn't afford to take a real vacation. Then I had told Lyndee about the place one night at dinner and we decided we had to go again so we all went last year. We had such a great time we decided to make it an annual tradition and so we left for the night the Saturday after opening day.

Every year the sulphur springs holds a surprise for us. The surprise is that you never know what you will find in town because businesses come and go there every year. The population is only about 625 but you won't even see half that many people in town. Of course some of the main attractions like the Dairy D-lite and The Glory Hole aren't open because it's the mud season, but this means a discounted rate on hotel stays which is why we pick April. Plus it's usually still a little cool out making for a relaxing all day soak in the outdoor springs. When we visit we always stay at the Canyon Motel

Mostly due to the fact it's pet friendly, they sell discounted hot springs tickets, you don't have to pay until you get there (except a small deposit) the staff is friendly and if you get desperate you can order a pizza (which is basically a Digorino's) to eat for dinner. There isn't much in town to eat so you really have to plan your food consumption wisely. When we checked in the guy at the front desk recommend a couple of new places in town that were now open to eat at which we hadn't tried before so we figured why not. One of these happened to be the restaurant at the
Stage coach country inn which, only after doing some researching I later found out was haunted.
The food was so decently priced we walked out of there feeling like we had robbed the place. Both couples split chicken fingers and fries and we got an appetizer and a desert all for $20. My only complaint was our fried cherry pie was frozen in the middle but we ate it anyways and it was delicious.

After lunch we spent the day doing of course, what we came there to do which was to soak:


I think this was the most crowded I have ever seen this place. Unlike last year we never found ourselves in a hot spring pool alone and there were even more unique people there than I'd ever seen (think Ukrainian coal miner and girls with legs so hairy they looked like men). Unfortunately some of the smaller pools were closed in order to bring heat into the others so that was a bit of a bummer. Hopefully we will make it back at the end of the year when more is open.

After a day of soaking and relaxing we wanted to find the nearest bar in town to hit up...but as luck would have it there really isn't a bar in the Sulphur Springs. In fact, the guy at the front desk said the only bar in town (which he did not recommend) served beer "and tequila if that's what the bartender is drinking." Well we know to bring our own libations (which we did consume don't get me wrong) but we felt like going out to eat so the only option was to drive 5 miles down the road to the next little town over called Parshall (population 588) to the aptly named Parshall Inn.


This place has everything on the menu from fried shrimp to sirloin and it's all pretty cheap. Mark and I tried the P.I. Burger which has boursin cheese and bacon and has to be one of my favorite burgers of all time. The only downside of the PI was the drink prices. While beer was cheap, the shots were not. It wasn't until we got our tab we realized we had been charged $8 a shot (red headed sluts) and not only that but they wouldn't give us the 10% that the hotel flyer promised they would. So my recommendation is to eat here, don't get the shots and certainly bring the flyer from your hotel so that they can't explain their way out of not giving you a discount.

The celebrations didn't end after the hot sulphur springs. Next came my mom coming into town and Lyndee and Mark's bachelor/bachelorette party. My mom just happened to get a new job so she had the time off to come and visit me and then go on to San Diego to visit my sister. While I planned to take her hiking and all sorts of things, our time was limited and so we couldn't accomplish everything on my, "want to take mom to-do" list. Highlights of her trip include me taking her to her first spin class at Qi Ryders , eating dinner at the Capitol Grill in Golden, getting pedicures and cupcakes and exercising everything off at Red Rocks. If you haven't been to Red Rocks to workout I highly recommend it. You can run the stairs, do push ups, planks or sit there and enjoy the view.My mom really liked it and hopefully we can go to a concert there together one day.

Lyndee was having her wedding shower and bachelorette party this same weekend so my mom was able to come to the shower and meet Sarah and some of Lyndee's family. We had a great time drinking mimosas and playing games and making toilet paper bridal gowns while the guys went out to Dave and Busters. That night was their joint bachelor party but my mom didn't feel like attending so while she stayed home we went out on the townAll the ladies with our pink mustaches.

It's probably just as well my mother didn't attend to see the amount of alcohol consumed but it was great hanging out with some of my very best friends. We had a really good group of people out to celebrate and it was almost more fun having the guys there...especially when other guys would try to come up and talk to us and compliment our mustaches....

With all this whirlwind of activity you think we'd be slowing down now but we're actually just beginning the craziness that comes with summer. Chad's parents are in town this weekend for his dad's 60th birthday and then two weeks after that we will be heading to Gunnison for his brother's college graduation. Add in a few more yoga teaching classes then a trip to the Bahamas for Lyndee and Mark's wedding and we have a lot to look forward too....and the flying magee's will be back in the air again

Skiing is almost out and 14er Hiking Season is In

This past winter I haven't had much time for outdoor activities mostly because I've been indoors completing my yoga teacher training. After two years of the practice I decided I wanted to take it further so in December I signed up for the winter yoga teacher training which began in January. This meant every other weekend, for three months I would be participating in lectures and teaching clinics from 11am until 6pm on Saturdays and Sunday's in addition to weekly two hour Friday night posture clinics and taking at least 4 classes a week. Needless to say between that, the reading, and the small group meetings I haven't had much time for else even on my free weekends.

I have did manage however, to get two weekends of skiing in - one at Monarch and one at Loveland. Both are smaller resorts with a little less terrain than say, Aspen, but they are both affordable and accessible. We bought our tickets before Monarch opened so they were cheaper and made a trip out of it when we went to visit my brother in-law in Gunnison. Lift tickets are only about $45 a piece so even though the drive is longer, you are paying less and dealing with minimal lift lines and of course free parking. Plus Monarch's snow is all natural so you don't have the icy runs that you experience at say, Keystone.



A gas station on the drive up to Gunnison had a promotion where if you bought ten gallons or more of gas you got a free lift ticket coupon (you just had to buy another ticket to get the free one hence more of a buy one get one free deal but still a great promotion) so we knew we'd at least get one more day in skiing this season. The deal was good at Loveland (as well as a few other mountains) so when Chad's parents came to town this past weekend we decided to venture up to the resort. I have never skied Loveland and it's one of my goals to ski at every resort in the state so this was the perfect opportunity for me to try some place new. Loveland is fantastic because it's right off I-70 West before you reach the Eisenhower Tunnel which makes it easily accessible. While it's known to be windy and cold, especially on top of the divide, we ended up having a beautiful day once the snow clouds cleared around noon. We decided to sleep in to avoid the early morning ski traffic so we arrived right around 10:30 or so and there was still plenty of parking. The trick is to park at the lower lot, ski a few runs on that part of the mountain which has a 4 person chair lift, then take the free bus over so you can ski the rest of the terrain. There is actually so much open space that we didn't even get to ski it all, but there was lots of fresh powder as well as groomed terrain and it wasn't too busy so you weren't running into people all over the place.

(chad with his parents before the clouds lifted)

Loveland and Monarch are both excellent mountains for those looking for a great ski experience without the hefty price tag. You'll find hardly any lift lines, uncrowded mountains and even your lunch will be cheaper ($50 for a family of 4 with drinks at Loveland which is unheard of trust me).

While I love skiing, what I really enjoy is hiking up mountains and the recent warm weather has put me in the mood to work on my 14er list for the summer. I plan to hike all of them, but realistically I know I can't conquer them all in a few months so I put together a list of those I hope to achieve the summits of (in no particular order):
Mt. Of the holy cross
Massive
Wetterhorne
Handies
Sneffles
Harvard
Oxford
Antero
Belford
Mt eolus
Humboldt
Missouri
Lindsey
Princeton
Shavano
Tabeguache
Uncompahgre
Snowmass
San Luis
Huron
And if I'm really ambitious Capitol!
Plus longs but not via the keyhole

I know this list is ambitious and long but at the very least I hope I can knock out the Collegiate peaks and those near Gunnison. It really all depends on the weather, how much I can get away, and most of all who's willing to come with me. I think I have pretty much hiked the only ones I can by myself already so I'll need companions for all of these. While I am sure I can drag Chad up over half of these, I have friends who are willing to help me complete my goal and for that I am grateful. I realize not everyone is as passionate about hiking as me so I have to hope I can conquer as many as I can with the people lucky enough to go with me ;)

Since I plan to hike Mt. Everest in my lifetime it's really important I gain all the experience I can now. Colorado is such an amazing state and I know I have more than a few mountains left to challenge me that stand in my way of achieving my dreams. But perhaps this is why I find hiking mountains such an incredible experience because they represent everything in life that you can let dominate you if you are a weak person. There's only one way to reach the top - one foot in front of another - and mountains are a great equalizer. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, if you want to stand at the top you have to work for that privilege...and what a privilege it is.

Aspen Winter X-games and a wedding

Almost every year for the past 6 I have lived in Colorado, my brother has invited me to the winter X-games in Aspen, Colorado. For those unfamiliar with the X-games it's basically the winter Olympics of extreme skiers and snowboarders. The first Winter X Games took place at Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, California, in 1997 and the following two years, the Games were held at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort here in Colorado. The two years following that, the Games were held in Snow Mountain, Vermont and since 2002 the Winter X Games have been held at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen. It seems I always had something I had to do which prohibited me from making the drive up to Aspen with my brother, but this year I couldn't say no (finally!) because he was getting married.

The wedding was supposed to take place in June but my brother and Raychel decided that they might as well save some money and get married at the same time they were going to be in town for the X-games. They flew in to Denver on Thursday and her brother and mom, who drove up from New Mexico picked them up and drove them to Aspen. My dad, who was the only family member besides us who could attend the wedding, flew in Thursday also but we waited until Friday to drive to Aspen. My dad had never experienced the mountains of Colorado so I was excited for him to be there with us. It was a beautiful drive Friday with amazing weather and my dad couldn't get over Glenwood Springs Canyon or the mountains as we got closer to Snowmass. We arrived right around noon just in time to join the rest of the family for lunch at the Hickory House.


After lunch and getting to know you's (I had never met my brother's fiance Raychel before I had only talked to her on the phone and online and of course hadn't met her mother or brother either) we headed over to the Aspen Chapel for the rehearsal. Keep in mind there were only seven of us to be here for the wedding, with Chad and I serving as Matron of Honor and Best Man respectively, but none-the-less we had to meet with the minister and go over details of the big day. The irony about John and Raychel getting married at the Aspen Chapel is that this was the original location I had picked out for my wedding. The reason we didn't get married in Aspen was because it wasn't financially feasible for us and what I wanted, but I was happy to think at least someone in my family was having the pleasure of being married here.

(the beautiful Aspen Chapel)

Since John hadn't originally planned to get married when they were in Aspen, he had only booked one small place to stay....that is until I called and told him there was no way 7 of us would fit in a hotel room. So he made a few arrangements and ended up booking a condo for the rest of the family while Chad and I could take over the room at the Independence Square hotel. This worked out great for us as we were in the heart of downtown Aspen and right near the bus stop so we could shuttle back and forth to the games. Unfortunately, our window faced the main street and it was extremely loud Friday night until about 4am making it impossible to get any sleep in the otherwise comfy beds. The hotel did provide free breakfast however, and had a nice sundeck with a hot tub which would have been perfect to soak in after a long day of skiing.

Friday night was the only night we were able to go to the X-games. The wedding was at 3pm Saturday and between that, and the dinner afterward there just wasn't time for a second night. The best part about the games is that they are free as is the bus service that takes you from Aspen to the base of Buttermilk Mountain. The worst part is, it's crowded. Leaving the X-games were were funneled like cattle into lines that were reminiscent of being at an amusement park and loaded onto the buses with dozens of loud, obnoxious drunk 16 year olds. We were able to catch the snowmobilers and watch their crazy speed race and stunts and saw a little of the downhill ski jumping. There are lots of tents to check out products, etc. and you can get great views of the super half pipe standing right along side it. Of course the whole event is outside and at night so it's cold but we all had an awesome time watching the events and I would say it would definitely be worth visiting again next year.

(vendor booths)

(downhill jump)

(snowmobiler doing his thing)



(my brother, Raychel, me and Chad trying not to freeze to death)

Just an FYI there's no alcohol allowed inside nor is it sold in here, you can't drive to the event but you can take a shuttle from the park and ride near Buttermilk and they really don't sell food out here at all except overpriced hot dogs and pizza at the Inn at Aspen Hotel and there's no inside eating area.

Before the wedding the next morning Chad and I spent the day walking around town and enjoying chai tea and pastries at the awesome Peach's Corner Cafe. None of the stores were open yet, but Chad said when all the men got together later they explored the downtown a little more and he really enjoyed the art at the Peter Lik Gallery which if you've never seen his photography it's truly amazing. While the men walked around downtown, Raychel, her mom and I had our hair and makeup done and then headed over to the Aspen Chapel for the wedding. We were right on time and my brother was late of course, but the small intimate ceremony was beautiful and the light coming in from the stained glass was just perfect that time of day.


(Raychel's mom, brother, Raychel, John, my dad, Chad and I)

(The Allens and Magees)


(My new sister in-law and I)

I couldn't have planned a better wedding myself and for how quickly Raychel put this together (less than a month!) Everything was beautiful from the flowers to my bridesmaid dress which she picked out for me (THANK GOD she picked out black so I can wear it again YEAH!) There was snow on the ground outside so we were able to get a few pictures out there with the couple and then it was off to relax for a couple of hours before heading to dinner.

Raychel had no idea where the reception was being held so it was a complete surprise for her when she walked into N9ne steakhouse . My brother is a very meat and potatoes kind of guy so this restaurant suited him perfectly. The atmosphere is casual but the prices are not and the food is amazing. I treated myself to a filet Mignon and we had a round of side dishes that included lobster mac and cheese, spicy broccoli and brussel sprouts with bacon that made you forget you were even eating brussel sprouts. Their pickley cactus margaritas were amazing and I really enjoyed the service from the staff. I do find it a bit odd to be eating such nice food in such a mod casual environment but then again it's Aspen and I'm sure most of the people dining there have money and enjoy spending it in an unpretentious atmosphere (maybe it makes them feel common I don't know). The restaurant itself is a little hard to find, with the door to it hidden down a side street. Even if I could never afford the steak here again, I would definitely come for a drink and some appetizers.

Our overall experience in Aspen for the weekend was amazing. I was glad I could be there and support my brother and his new wife and was happy to be included in their special day. I know how much my brother loves Aspen and the X-games so I only saw it fitting that they be married here at the exact same time. I know that for years to come it will be a treat for us all to return and celebrate their anniversary here. Congratulations again to them both and may they have many happy years together!

Ice Climbing, Spaghetti Dinners and To-hell-you-ride

(watching the climbers from the upper bridge)

One of the advantages to staying at the Ouray Victorian Inn was how close in walking distance it was to the Ice Park. We woke up and headed up the hill around 9am to see what the festival was all about. Neil and Meghan had already been up walking their dog and said the competitors were walking around town in their harnesses and ice picks. Yet another perk of being in a small town, you're standing in line to get coffee next to someone who's probably summited Everest.

As we walked up the hill the first overlook we came to was, what I can assume as, the beginners ice park. We weren't able to pay the fees and sign up in time, but one of the best parts of the festival is you can take clinics to learn how to ice climb. Unlike rock climbing, when you ice climb you begin at the top of what is basically a giant ice cycle and climb down. The have chains and anchors at the top and someone supervises your descent down to the bottom of the canyon where then someone else was waiting to belay you as you climbed to the top.

(belayers below)


(more advanced climbers in the canyon)

We watched these people for awhile then walked up to the second bridge where you could really get a good look at where the ice competition was held. For purposes of the ice festival your goal as a competitor is speed and the route you climb is a mix of ice and rock which adds to the difficulty. Both men and women compete and truth be told the women usually out climb the men. It's that we are lighter and use our legs more than our upper body which is important when climbing.

(watching the competition. the people on the ledge are belayers and the climber is lead climbing which means when you fall you call from as far as your last clip in was)

Set up further on the hill were various vendor tents to browse should you be bored watching the climbers. There were crampons to try demo, ice axes to try, the latest technology in jackets to try out and extreme outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. Everyone was so nice and informative and I got some good ideas on lightweight packs I want for this summer's hiking season.


After a few hours out in the cold we wandered downtown for a bite to eat and ended up at the Ouray Brewing Company. It's only been open less than a year and they had a good selection of locally brewed beers on tap (plus football games on tv as bonus for the men) so we tried it out. The food was a mix of everything from Bison burgers and wings to a shrimp salad and pulled pork sandwich. Their IPA (Ice pickers ale) must have been the most popular choice because they ran out before we could even try any. Ouray doesn't have a lot of food options but I think this place will do well especially with their roof top patio for summer.

We couldn't coordinate all the events we wanted to during the festival (such as attending some of the various Everest Movie previews and lectures from famous climbers) but we did attend the Fireman's Spaghetti Dinner that Saturday night along with pretty much everyone in town it seemed. For $20 it was all you could eat spaghetti, salad and bread as well as all you could drink New Belgium Brews. How much spaghetti can one person eat you might ask? Well I had two plates myself (with meatballs I might add) as well as 2 beers and 2 salads and God knows how many pieces of bread and butter. As a bonus they brought out cookies and brownies at the end of the night. Well the price tag may have been a little steep, all the money went to charity and you got to dine family style with the climbers you just watched scaling sheer ice that day. They also had a silent auction of various items which none of us had the money to bid on but were cool to look at. The firefighters cook this dinner every saturday and sunday night each year (I believe Sunday was lasagna) and judging by the people who attended it's probably their only fundraising for the winter.

Being so close to Telluride we had decided in advance that instead of watching more competitions Sunday we would drive over to the tiny mountain town. Anyone who has ever been to Telluride knows how isolated it is and how far from Denver (it's in box canyon so there is only one way in and one way out) so how could we pass up this opportunity to go? The initial plan was to ski but seeing as lift tickets were $98 per person, Meghan, Neil, Chad and I decided to forgo the downhill and try a little cross country while Jason and Angela explored the town.

I have never cross country skied before and so this was quite an experience for me. We rented our equipment at the Telluride Nordic Center for $22 each and then went off to explore the trails around town. Had we more time we wanted to go up the gondola and ski some of the trails on the mountain but Chad felt my learning curve may have not been up to par with those more advanced trails.

Cross country skiing is, in essence, very easy. In fact, I believe I over-thought it for the most part. Your heels are not attached to your skis which takes some getting use to but you are basically doing walking lunges on these little carved out paths. What is great about the sport is not only can you bring your dog, but you can ski alongside your friends, talk, and get to see the scenery better. We took a couple of practice loops around the lake near the Nordic Center then used the trail that went along side the river all through town and out into the wilderness area. I definitely overdressed for the occasion and found myself sweating despite the cold. It was much more of a thigh work out than I anticipated and, I would say a lot more work for less money.

After a few hours we were ready to call Jason and meet up at the bar so we went to one of the restaurants in the old town and had lunch. We chose the Floradora Saloon, at a friend of Jason's suggestion (that friend had lived in Telluride several years thus a trusted source) which had the best fried cheese medallions and sandwiches I've ever had. It's a casual place with wood floors and tables covered in paper (to which some of the guests have created amazing art with crayons which is displayed on the walls) and they served everything from Caprese Benedict to BBQ duck quesadilla's. It's a family-owned and operated restaurant and bar and they use natural and organic ingredients from region. Afterwards we walked up the street to the Steaming Bean, my favorite coffee place which I was introduced to in Steamboat. They have the spiciest chai I've ever tasted.

Even though lift tickets in Telluride are expensive, they have free Gondola rides that take you from the old town to the mountainside village. Dogs are even allowed in designated gondola's and you can take it back and forth until midnight. Taking the gondola is a great way to see the town as well as the tiny airport which is just a landing strip with a cliff at the edge of the runway. Seeing all the skiers come down the hill from the mountain side made me want to run to the nearest lift line and jump onboard, but I guess we will have to save the alpine skiing for another day.

After a full day in Telluride, complete with souvenir shopping we returned to Ouray to enjoy our last night in town. By this point it started snowing pretty hard so we what else to do but enjoy the hot tub? We actually ordered a few pizzas (which as a side not it's ridiculously hard and expensive to find pizza delivery in Ouray. There is only one place in town that delivers which I think is the restaurant in the Best Western) and had them delivered to the hot tub where we soaked and enjoyed the snow. By this time we were only one of about 3 groups left staying at the hotel so we had the place all to ourselves. You really get a feel for how desolate the town is in the winter on other weekends. There is a great hot springs in Ouray with swimming pool size outdoor pools but we didn't have a chance to make it over this time.

(beanies and bikini's)
I really enjoyed my whole experience in Ouray and Telluride. Small mountain towns are so nice to visit and the people there are friendly and accommodating, if not sometimes a little nosy (aka the manager of our hotel). While I didn't get to try ice climbing myself this year I now have a new appreciation for those that excel at the sport and how it keeps a small town like Ouray alive in the winter. I also hope to return to Telluride for the bluegrass festival this summer and perhaps do some hiking in the area. After all, I hear there are a few 14ers to be hiked nearby :)

HoURAY for the Ice Climbing Festival

After 4 months of waiting in anticipation, our chance to attend the 16th Annual Ice Climbing Festival in Ouray, Colorado finally arrived this past weekend. Ouray is approximately a six hour drive from Denver so Chad and I decided we would fly into Montrose where Jason and Angela would pick us up on their drive into town. Angela is fairly new to Colorado so Jason wanted to show her the scenery and since the Magee's fly for free we figured why waste a day in the car? The flight was even more scenic than the drive and gave us amazing views of all the Fourteeners and Crested Butte and the Black Canyon.

(crested butte mountain)
I have to admit I was excited to have an extended stay in Ouray. The only time I had seen the the town previously was while driving through and over Red Mountain pass on our way to a wedding in Durango a few years ago. I must admit Red Mountain pass was terrifying even in the early fall but I remember stopping on the side of the road to overlook the, "Switzerland of America" as it is often referred too.

Neil and Meghan arrived shortly after us that evening; meeting us at the Ouray Victorian Inn where we were staying. The hotel was referred to me by the clerk at the Best Western because it was the only hotel which had room enough to sleep 6 people and allowed pets (we left Bebe at home but N&M brought their dog Marley) AND was close enough to walk to the Ice Park. Of course you can pretty much get anywhere in town by walking around but, seeing as the main attraction was the Ice Park we wanted to be as close to there as possible.

(our hotel)

Ouray, like most small towns in Colorado (it's population is somewhere around 800) was established by miners chasing after silver and gold. It's entire economy today is sustained by tourism. In the summer visitors can soak in the hot springs, hike or take a 4 wheel drive tour over to Telluride or Yankee Boy Basin, visit Box Canyon Falls or take the pass over to Durango. However, since Ouray isn't a ski town, it relies on it's largest ice park in the country to draw visitors in. The ice climbing festival is the only one of it's kind and attracts visitors from all over the world which helps local businesses thrive which were once previously closed throughout winter. The world's first ice climbing park, expanding on previously-popular natural falls, consists of dozens of frozen waterfalls from 80 to 200 feet high farmed along more than a mile of the Uncompahgre Gorge. The water is supplied by a sprinkler system developed and maintained by a volunteer organization and supported by donations from local businesses, gear manufacturers and climbers. Best of all the park is free and so is the event!

(view of part of the ice park)
Living in nearby Crested Butte, Neil and Meghan have visited Ouray several times so they were our unofficial guides for the weekend. Since it was Neil's birthday on Friday we decided to go out and have some drinks and check out what this town had to offer. Neil took us down a side street to a bar called Grumpy Pants which he swore had the best beer in town. He didn't dissapoint us. Grumpy Pants is exactly the kind of bar you would expect to find in a small mountain town. The whole establishment is made of rough wood and the only thing they serve is beer which Mister Grumpy Pants brews himself. The owner, who probably lives above the bar, is there to serve you himself from a swing he built that he glides back and forth down the bar on. While there weren't many people in the bar at first, as the night continued and more ice climbers piled in, it became something out of a movie.

(Grumpy Pants himself with the mug he prefers to drink out of)

(sampling the local brewskis)
Everyone was friendly with everyone and one guy even climbed up on the bar and announced he was buying the whole bar a round of beer. We played several rounds of jenga and sang several renditions of Happy Birthday to Neil (which the whole bar participated in) and before we knew it, it was way past dinner (which we never ate) and time to walk back to our hotel. After all we had ice climbing to watch the next day...

The tops of 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, ending tonight at midnight, I can't help but to reflect back on the past year. While most people make resolutions for their New Year's, I always try to set goals to accomplish by the end of one year. This gives me not only something to look forward too but motivation to work hard for what I want. My husband often times scoff's that my goals are often travel related instead of say, focusing on eliminating debt or working towards another job. Being a flight attendant, however, I can't help but look forward to places I want to see and adventures to take on in the future. Last year a few of my goals included getting another stamp in my passport and climbing 8 14er mountains. Here are a few of the highlights from my 2010 and the obstacles I overcame to achieve my dreams for the year.

1. You better Belize it -

We were supposed to end up in Peru and hike Machu Picchu but an oversold flight and the joys of flying stand-by had us headed to Belize instead. If it's anything this trip taught me is that when you aren't buying a plane ticket you must be flexible in your travel plans. Without a clue as to where we would stay or what we wanted to do when we got there we hopped aboard a Belize bound flight and hoped for the best. My 29th birthday was spent snorkeling with sting rays and eating fresh caught conch kabobs. It was the first trip in my life I've ever taken where nothing was planned out and yet everything worked out. We slept where we wanted, took tours when we wanted and ate without ever consulting a website or lonely planet book. While we still plan on heading back to Peru (hopefully next year) at least we now know that missing a flight doesn't have to be the end of the world and there are hundreds of thousands of excellent travel destinations out there if you're just willing to take the chance to check them out


2. Keep Calm and Hike on -
It may have been 2010 but this was the year of the 14er. At the beginning of last year I set my sights on hiking at least 8 of Colorado's peaks that are over 14,000 feet. My first goal was to hike Gray's and Torrey's because they were close to Denver and we could knock them out in one day with minimal driving effort. I still remember waking up at the crack of dawn and driving up that rutted out dirt road to a make shift parking lot dotted with tents and packed with SUV's. There were groups of people huddled together waiting on friends, decked out in feather weight backpacks and hiking poles. I, in my yoga pants and camel bak felt out of place. "It's only a hike," I thought to myself. "How hard could this really be?"
It took us five hours round trip and 2 days for me to recover but after reaching the summit of both Gray's and Torrey's I was hooked on hiking 14ers. The wind at the top was bitter cold and my thighs have never worked so hard in their lives but the sense of accomplishment I felt had never been greater. I began devouring books about hiking and soon Gerry Roach and 14ers.com became my best friends. When all was said and done I hiked 6 more mountains than my original goal and introduced my friends to the world of hiking, the likes of which they had never seen. I upgraded my boots and attire, purchased a backpack and hiking poles as well as a tent and an assortment of camping supplies. I'm officially hooked and never been happier.



3. Steamboat Surprise -
For my husband's 30th Birthday I wanted to take him someplace where we both had never been. A surprise trip where all his friends could meet us there and enjoy the weekend and celebrate him. Finding a destination that met the criteria of being close, having a variety of activities to entertain us as well as being affordable did present it's own set of challenges. Luckily we live in a beautiful state where weekend getaways aren't hard to come by; so I narrowed it down and chose Steamboat. The weekend of Chad's birthday turned out to also be the perfect time to visit Steamboat. The hot air balloon festival was taking place and, being July, it was warm enough to tube in the river but cold enough at night to make a trip to Strawberry Hot Springs enjoyable. Most all of our close friends were able to attend and best of all Chad was surprised. The town of Steamboat did not disappoint and I can only hope we can return this winter to enjoy the ski slopes as well.

4. Hartman's Rocks Rocks-
Unfortunately the hiking season did not last as long as I would have liked. In mid-October we drove to Gunnison, Colorado in hopes of conquering Wetterhorn. When the weather didn't cooperate we had to find an alternative means to quench my thirst for the outdoors which led us to climbing at Hartman's Rocks. Because Gunnison lays in a valley, you are pretty much guaranteed dry weather even if Crested Butte and beyond are miserable. My brother in-law and friends Meghan and Neil are excellent climbers and Neil had all the gear and knowledge necessary to guide me up an intimidating rock wall. This was my first attempt at climbing in years and the only time I've ever climbed in Colorado. My arms and pecs were sore for 2 weeks after the climb but the experience opened my eyes to a new world of outdoor activities. Neil even gave me some climbing shoes which I vowed to use this winter in an attempt to build up my strength for more difficult 14ers. While I had never intended to climb that weekend, I was once again reminded at how sometimes being flexible in your activity plans can open you up to a whole new world of possibilities

I would say I can't wait to see what 2011 brings me, but in truth I know that it is myself alone who brings good things into my life. You can't just sit around and wait for things to happen you have to make them if you want them. But I've also learned that you can plan all you want in life and it's sometimes life that has other plans for you. Flexibility is key whether it involves your travel plans or yoga. I know 2011 will be yet another year of me trying new things and exploring new places and I know that these experiences will continue to change and improve me. It's only by challenging ourselves that we truly test our limits and it's only by facing what scares us that we see how brave we really are. I plan on doing many things that will frighten me next year but I plan to go into them with an open mind and heart. Odd number years have always been good to me and I'm sure 2011 will be no exception....

Happy New Year's!

What to Give this Holiday Season

Ten days left until Christmas. I can hardly believe it, but it's true. And if you are like me you probably only have half your holiday shopping completed. This year I decided I would start spreading cheer in November and succeeded with putting lights up on the trees outside the house, making and mailing Christmas cards and putting together photo books to send to the grandparents. Shopping early means less stress in the days leading up to Christmas and the more thoughtful your gifts will be. If you are like me, you want your gifts to mean something, and so I've put together a list of items which will are not only thoughtful but in some cases, help others out there as well:

1. Feed Bags - Last year my sister bought me the feed one bag from feedprojects.org. The organization was started by Laura Bush and the proceeds of their products go to the United Nations World Food Program. The proceeds from the bag I got, for example will provide one child in Africa school lunch for an entire year.

The project has grown and the website has even more of a variety of products you can buy at a variety of retailers. I really like the Feed Bracelets which you can get at Forever 21 which come in an assortment of colors with each color representing the country designated to receive the 2 school meals that are provided with the purchase of every bracelet.

They also have a gorgeous feed Kenya scarf which are handcrafted in Kenya by a co-op of women and deaf artisans and provide 10 school meals to children through the United Nations World Food Programme’s School Feeding program.


2. Snapfish.com - This website has become my best friend this holiday season. You can upload your photos (even directly from facebook) and use them to make personalized gifts for the ones you love. Since the beginning of December they have featured a Merry Deal Reveal deal of the day where anything from water bottles to photobooks will be on sale. There was an offer for buy one photobook (at $19.99) and get two free so I used that to make an album for my grandmother, chad's grandparents and my aunt. You can also use websites like retailmenot.com to find extra coupon codes for snapfish for free shipping or a discount on your order. Check out http://deals.snapfish.com to find out the specials they have going on right now and start crafting!

3. Groupon.com - Another website which I have signed up for and receive daily deals. I was able to buy 4 tickets for $20 for the Denver Botanic Garden Trail of Lights. I figured it would be something fun for my family and Chad's to do on Christmas eve and a nice gift for us to give them. I am all for giving experiences to people which is why this website is so great. You can also browse other cities and buy say, a massage or cooking lessons for those family or friends who live out of state. Groupon also lets you do a gift certificate in any amount so if you aren't sure what someone would like you can purchase an online gift card which will be emailed. It may seem a little impersonal giving a gift through email, but trust me there are so many great gifts on this site no one would be disappointed in your gift to them!

4. Etsy - If you have never visited etsy.com you will be overwhelmed the first time you visit the site. There's everything handmade you could ever ask for from art to furniture, vintage accessories and hand knitted items. I like to support small business owners and I've always had good results with everything I've ordered from the earrings I wore in my wedding to stenciled wall art. I could spend hours browsing through the sellers list items and unlike ebay I've never had a problem with getting my items in a timely manner or having payment problems. If you like browsing farmer's markets or boutiques for unique handmade items this is the website to turn to when Christmas shopping.
I love these necklaces:

featured by:
http://www.etsy.com/people/luckymebeads?ref=ls_profile

5. Mercy Corps - I've advocated for mercycorps.org before but I really can't say enough good things about this charity. I donated money to them for Haiti and immediately began receiving emails and mailings about how my donation was being put to use. Year round they feature gifts you can purchase that are perfect for that person on your list that has everything and would rather have a gift in their name that benefits others. This year I am loving their gift of yoga. Mercy Corps incorporates yoga classes into their youth programs in places like Columbia which can help kids recover from the trauma and violence they have experienced. For only $65 you can give the gift of "OM" to those who really need a little serenity in their lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr7OA7E8zL4&feature=player_embedded

6. Harry and David - With my schedule as a flight attendant I really don't have the time to hand bake tasty treats and send them off to family like I wish I could. This is where Harry and David (harryanddavid.com) come in. For $24 I can send a tower of treats that includes their famous Moose Munch as well as yogurt dipped pretzels, truffles, waffle cookies, fruit candies, and mini mints:

They are known for their Royal Riveria pears so if you have someone on your list who can't have sweets you can send them a beautiful box of pears and assorted cheeses instead. I've used Harry and David as a thank you gift as well for a gracious hostess.

The true spirit of Christmas doesn't come from a store or involve how many things are wrapped under a tree but the time you spend together with your friends and family. I am truly grateful to have my in-laws and my mom, dad and brother spend the holidays with us in Denver and that's all the gift I could really ask for. I do believe though, that if you are going to take the time and money to pick out a gift it should come from the heart and feel as good to give the gift as you know it would be to receive it. After all you should be excited to have someone open your gift, not embarrassed! I try to take the time to look for sustainable and organic gifts as well because if my purchase can benefit someone else who really needs the help, I feel that much better in my gift giving.

Happy Shopping!