Winter Transitions

Although the arrival of Winter was gradual and mild, I still felt as if the leaves on the ground suddenly disappeared one day. The annual "adjustment phase" of the season is once again upon us. Fortunately, sunshine is a year-round staple to Colorado climate--as are a few sporadic 65-degree days.

While work has been slow, I've spent the days buried in library books and picking up extra cash dog walking. In an effort to expand my social circle, I joined a neighborhood Spanish conversation group that meets every week at organic cafe, The Corner Beet (my new favorite spot). I also invited my co-worked, Bri, to Green Mountain Beer Company in Lakewood--#66 on my Colorado brew list.

Despite the unseasonably warm weather, I joined Anna and Alex at the holiday Denver Botanic Gardens' Blossoms of Light celebration. We shared dinner and drinks at The Park Tavern  beforehand--a welcomed change to spend time together in my neighborhood!

As the end of the year draws near, I find myself considering future goals. A career with the Air Force is still a dream that, I believe, would suit me both professionally and personally. My doc cleared me for "boot camp" training in November, but getting passed by the military physician is a more challenging and lengthy process. While I have very much enjoyed my time in Colorado, I am anxious to move forward with the next chapter of my life (and have been since March). It is tempting to make a fresh start in a new city (i.e., Portland), but I have decided to make the most of my time here until I see what finally pans out with the military. That being said, I intend to shift my attitude with this decision. Instead of continuing to live as if my life is on hold, I plan to consider additional job opportunities, travel outside of Colorado, and make more friends.

For now, however, it's off to British Columbia to spend Christmas with family. Despite taking the ski season off, I could not be more excited to spend time with loved ones and recharge for the year ahead!

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Moab, UT

After putting in a full work week over Thanksgiving, my holiday break came the following week; naturally, a four-day break quickly transformed into a road trip. Utah is home to a whopping five national parks, two of which are located outside Moab. An easy 5.5 hour drive makes Moab a popular destination from Denver.

11/26-11/29

Red and I set off Sunday morning heading westbound on I-70. I recalled the dramatic change in landscape from my fall Colorado road trip; mountains collapsing into desert mesas. The forecast predicted mostly sunny skies ahead with mild temperatures in the 50s-60s.

I arrived at Dead Horse Point State Park around 2pm. This state park sits at 5,900', high above a gooseneck in the Colorado River. Immense vertical cliffs meet with canyons carved by ice, water, and wind. Native plants and animals have adapted to a land of scarce water and extreme temperatures.

Seven miles of hiking trails navigate the rim rock and desert plateau landscape, connecting eight overlooks. All trails are relatively easy, traversing the mesa top with minimal elevation change. Leaving from the Visitor Center, I connected the East and West Rim Trails to form a 4-mile loop.

Dead Horse Point is a peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs that is connected to the mesa by a narrow strip of land called "the neck." According to legend, Dead Horse Point was used as a corral for wild mustangs. After rounding up the horses, cowboys would chose the horses they wanted and let the rest go free. One time, however, the horses were left corralled on the point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River below.

The view from Dead Horse Point is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world--especially at sunset.





Using my dad's hefty employee discount, I lodged at the Marriott's Fairfield Inn & Suites, conveniently located across from Arches National Park and five minutes from downtown Moab.

Monday was spent at Arches National Park. As you might have guessed, Arches contains the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches--over 2,000 arches are located within the park. A paved scenic drive takes visitors to most of the major viewpoints. Short trails provide opportunities to explore the arches and rock formations up close. It’s an easy park to navigate, making it great for a day visit.

I followed the scenic drive to the main viewpoints/short walks, including Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, the Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, and Landscape Arch.

Winter can be a tricky time of year to visit in terms of weather, but crowds are thin and you’ll find a lot more solitude. Plus the snowy peaks of La Sal Mountains create a terrific contrast with the red sandstone. The clouds and lighting that day made especially unique photo ops.

The iconic Delicate Arch is the state symbol, appearing on Utah license plates. Almost 500' above the valley below, Delicate Arch is hidden in a bowl at the top of one of the park’s famous sandstone fins. The arch is freestanding and magnificently alone in the natural sandstone bowl, standing out against the multitude of horizontal planes around it. The three-mile hike is common to do at sunset for the lighting/shadow features.

I visited Canyonlands National Park on Tuesday. Unlike the manageable size of Arches, Canyonlands is Utah's largest national park. It is cut into three districts by the Green and Colorado rivers; Island in the Sky in the north, The Needles in the southeast, and The Maze in the west (the most remote and challenging).

Most start with Island in the Sky, the district closest to Moab. It sits atop a massive 1500' mesa. 20 miles of paved roads lead to panoramic views that encompass thousands of square miles of canyon country. The 100-mile White Rim Road is popular among 4WD vehicles, motorcyclists, and mountain bikers.

My first stop was Upheaval Dome. A steep but short trail leads to an overlook of a three-mile wide rock formation that has several geological theories of origin.



Next was Aztec Butte, where a steep climb offers views of Taylor Canyon. Despite a pair of trail runners that passed me, the final scramble was a no-go for my grandma knees.

The Green River Overlook is a pull-out stop with a spectacular view, especially at sunset.

An easy two-mile walk at Grand View Point winds along the canyon edge to the end of Island in the Sky mesa. I developed a healthy fear of heights along this trail, but the panoramic views were unbeatable.









My final stop was a short hike to Mesa Arch. This famous structure sits on the edge of a 500' cliff,  framing views of rugged white rim country and La Sal Mountains. Some of the best photos are taken at sunrise.

I spent Tuesday afternoon in downtown Moab. The little hippie town is largely seasonal, as many of the stores had already closed up for winter. The natural grocery store, Moonflower Community Cooperative, quickly became my go-to spot during my stay. I also paid a visit to the Moab Brewery.

My spontaneous road trip to Moab was the perfect last-minute get-away. I feel fortunate that it was relatively low maintenance in terms of planning and cost. Now, of course, I am anxious to explore more of Utah--especially the other three national parks. Until the next adventure!

Bergen Peak (Thanksgiving Edition)

By mid-November, Cheesman Park was already dressed for winter, though still enjoying warm days.

On a particularly warm day, Dana and I hiked Bergen Peak in nearby Evergreen. If you remember, my first hike post-injury was around the meadow at the base of Bergen Peak; I vowed then that I would return to do the "real" hike once I was stronger.

We set off from the trailhead at 10am, trekking through open grasslands and meadows. The trail was in great shape with very few snow patches. A steep rise in elevation was accommodated by switchbacks through pondersoa pines, douglas fir, scattered aspen groves, and--in the highest elevations--lodge pole pine. The newly snow-covered Indian Peaks could be seen from a viewpoint near the top.

The wooded summit at 9,708' had a clear view of Mt. Evans to the west, Pikes Peak to the south, and Denver to the east.

We completed the moderately-rated 9.5 mile hike in about 4 hours (1,895' elevation gain). Après beers were poured at El Rancho Brewing Company (#65).

In local news, I was saddened by the recent closure of my favorite neighborhood Whole Foods Market. It was replaced, however, by a new beautiful store behind Union Station--a worthy trip!

Speaking of food, Thanksgiving was shared at Anna and Alex's apartment with friends. Sunny and 70 degrees, it was a merry day of cooking, feasting, and calling (or remembering) those that could not be with us.

This time last year, I was celebrating my recent acceptance into the AF. I would have never guessed all that would ensue in the months to come or that I would still be living in Denver for this Thanksgiving. As challenging as the past 9 months have been, I recognize the blessings that have occurred despite--or perhaps as a result of--my injury. One of the most important lessons has been that happiness--which stems from gratitude--is often a matter of perspective and choice; that is, choosing how to view a situation.

"Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am grateful that thorns have roses."

-Alphonse Karr

Flagstaff, AZ

At the beginning of November, I paid a short visit to Flagstaff to see Kim, my good friend from pharmacy school. It had been almost a year since our last reunion, so I was eager to catch up! After a brief connection in Phoenix, I arrived in "Flag" by late afternoon on Saturday.

Populated by ~70,000 people, Flagstaff is surrounded by mountains, desert, and ponderosa pine forests. South of the Grand Canyon and Navajo/Hopi Native American Reservations, it serves as a gateway to the Arizona Snow Bowl and the San Francisco Peaks--home to Arizon’s highest mountain at 12,633'. At 6,910', Flagstaff experiences cooler temperatures than other parts of the state (mostly in the 50s this time of year with ample sunshine). Fun fact: Arizona does not participate in daylight savings time.

Kim and Kyle live in a lovely apartment just 15 minutes east of downtown. We spent our first night catching up over drinks at the popular Hotel Monte Vista.

On Sunday, Kim and I went for a leisurely hike along the Kachina Trail--a relatively flat 5-mile out-and-back (we turned around after 3 miles). The trailhead starts at the Snow Bowl Ski Area and descends into an old-growth forest that shelters ancient pines, massive Douglas firs, giant ferns, and groves of aspens.

We lunched at our favorite market, Whole Foods, and indulged in dessert at the Local Juicery. That evening, we attended a yoga class at The Yoga Experience and shared vegan pizza at new start-up, The Pizza Patio.

While Kim worked on Monday, I explored on my own. After some necessary PT stretching, I went for a slow morning jog around the neighborhood. Duck Lake offers grand views of the San Francisco Peaks.

The Campbell Mesa Trail System contains 5 short loops that are perfect for year-round outdoor pursuits. On a larger scale, the Flagstaff Urban Trails System is a city-wide network of pathways for both recreation and transportation.

That afternoon, I followed Route 66 into Historic Downtown. The clean and quirky town is sprinkled with coffee shops, vegetarian-friendly cafes, and pizza parlors.

The district south of the train tracks stretches to Northern Arizona University. The campus infuses the town with a young, west-coast vibe (the chaco-with-socks kind). In general, Flagstaff identifies itself as a transient college town.

After browsing the shops, I quickly decided what I liked most about the town--its friendly atmosphere. The warm sincerity of the community is energizing.

I found Macy’s Coffee House to be a cozy retreat, in addition to Historic Brewing Company--even if it doesn't count towards my Colorado brewery list!

Tuesday was spent in Sedona, just 45 minutes south of Flagstaff. The drive through Oak Creek Canyon was a spectacular stretch of beauty that winds through varied foliage set against red-faced rocks and cliffs. Located in the Coconino National Forest, Wilson Mountain is the highest of the red and white sandstone peaks surrounding Sedona. At 7,122', the top is a grassy plateau rather than a discrete summit, and may be reached from two directions via steep trails that converge half way up and continue to two different overlooks. Total elevation gain is ~2,000'.

Shortly after 10am, Kim and I set off on the North Wilson Trail from the Encinoso picnic area. A strenuous climb via switchbacks finally gave way to a bench at the edge of the mountain. Very few hikers joined us on the trail; however, we did cross paths with several tarantulas and catch wind of javelinas roaming nearby.

The North Canyon Overlook sits high above Vultee Arch and Sterling Canyon, with upper Oak Creek Canyon just beyond. Heavy cloud cover obscured the San Francisco Peaks on the horizon.

Sedona Overlook is reached by an easy walk through sparse, burnt woodland, leading to a viewpoint at the rim of the sheer cliffs on the south edge of Wilson Mountain. The impressive view includes Sedona, lower Oak Creek Canyon, Munds Mountain, and Verde River Valley. 

10 miles and almost 6 hours later, Kim and I arrived back at the trailhead. Calves aching, we drove through downtown Sedona. At 4,326', the desert town is noted for its mild climate, vibrant arts community, and New Age shops and spas. Kim and I refueled at Chocolatree, an organic vegetarian oasis. Likely suffering from exhaustion and low blood sugar, we were immediately transfixed by the garden patio, intriguing menu, and zen staff.

That night, we returned to Flagstaff (and reality), and watched a movie with Kas.

Wednesday began with a morning walk through town. Kim and I shared tea at Steep Leaf Lounge and another yoga session before grabbing lunch at Whyld Ass--a wonderful plant-based cafe that serves chlorophyll water.

That afternoon, I returned to the tiny airport to catch my flight home.

My last-minute trip to Flagstaff was such a treat. It was refreshing to explore a new place outside of Colorado. I feel grateful for the opportunity to have spent time with a dear friend, enjoying tasty cuisine, mindful yoga, and meaningful conversation... already looking forward to our next adventure! Flagstaff is a cool little hippie town, unassuming and super friendly, with good climate and easy access to desert and mountains; a real gem.