Steamboat Springs

A brief reprieve from work led to an overdue mountain trip--a weekend in Steamboat Springs with Anna and Alex. We made the three-hour trek northwest on Friday afternoon. The scenic drive was highlighted by a quiet rain with low-hanging clouds.

3/23-3/25

We eventually arrived at our cozy Airbnb downtown apartment. Steamboat has an excellent public transit system with several free bus lines that run between downtown and the ski area.

That night, we re-fueled at Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill and Mountain Tap Brewery.

While Anna and Alex hit the slopes on Saturday, I spent the morning in town. One of several trails, the Yampa River Core Trail is a 7.5-mile paved multi-use trail that runs along the Yampa River.

On my walk, I passed Howelsen Hill Ski Area, which is home to the largest ski jumping complex in North America.

That afternoon, I caught the bus to the ski area. While I had initially considered trying skate skiing, there was not enough snow at the base of the mountain this mild winter. Instead, I opted to join the free snowshoe tour at the resort. The relaxed 1.5 hour tour followed a flat trail named Roundabout at the top of the gondola. Despite a relatively low elevation ~9,000', I quickly shed layers in the 50-degree sunshine.






















The informative guide covered the local history surrounding the Yampa Valley, which was originally inhabited by the Ute Indians for hunting and its mineral springs. It also has a strong Olympic heritage, having produced more winter Olympians than any other North American town.

Back at the base, I met Anna and Alex for après drinks and live music. We also checked out Storm Peak Brewing Company (#74)--local favorite with plenty of four-legged friends.

I made a visit to Fish Creek Falls on Sunday morning. Just minutes from downtown, a short 1/4-mile trail leads to a pristine view of the 280' waterfall. More extensive trails nearby make me eager to return for summer hiking/biking.

The rest of the morning was spent in town, shopping the weekend's "sidewalk sales." Lincoln Avenue is lined with a variety of quaint shops, cafes, and small businesses. It even has its own independent pharmacy, complete with a soda fountain.

The three of us hit the road by early afternoon, surprised to enjoy a smooth commute back to Denver. Despite taking the ski season off, I am glad that I joined Anna and Alex. My first impression of Steamboat Springs is positive; the small ranching town is laid-back and friendly. It is, however, isolated and perhaps boasting less "wow" factor than other Coloradan mountain towns. Still, it makes my top three list, falling close behind Crested Butte and Telluride.

Later that week, my oldest friend, Kelsey, came to visit from Pittsburgh. Apart from family, she is the only person to visit since moving to Colorado. Needless to say, I was excited to show her everything. We walked to LoHi on Tuesday, indulging in colorful arepas at eclectic food hall, Avanti Food & Beverage. We later met Anna at Jagged Mountain Brewery in LoDo.

On Wednesday, we journeyed to Red Rocks to find a small handful of exercise enthusiasts compared to busy summer mornings.



Then it was off to Boulder for the factory tour of Celestial Seasonings tea company. My second tour experience was just as wonderful as the first, picking up on new learning points. For example, the majority of the company's "teas" are in fact herbal infusions as they do not use the leaves from tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Afterwards, we lunched at my new favorite organic cafe, Zeal, on Pearl Street.

On Thursday, we visited Kelsey's cousin, Ben, a chef at Butcher's Bistro in LoDo. Even though she brought the wintry East-coast weather, I felt incredibly grateful to spend a few days in the company of a dear friend.

March 29th marked my two-year anniversary as a Coloradan. When I first came here to visit my sister (and then never left), I imagined it would be a stepping stone between pharmacy school and the rest of my life; I never predicted that I would spend more than a year here. Yet, two years later, I find myself struggling to find direction after my original path took an unexpected turn. Colorado is a great place to live--and I would be lucky to return someday--but one thing I do know for sure is that I'm ready for a change.

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Survivor's Day

As the saying goes: March came in like a lamb, extending the exceptionally dry and mild winter. Work at the pharmacy picked up, and I snagged a new dog walking client--energetic border collie, Carla.

I completed my eCornell certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition, yet continued to devour a wide spread of library books. Most reads stem from my favorite podcast, which is hosted by ultra-endurance athlete, Rich Roll. "10% Happier," a recent find, is an entertaining read about ABC News reporter, Dan Harris, and his unexpected discovery of meditation as a tool to manage his high-stress and ambitious lifestyle. Until now, I have not been able to successfully implement meditation into my daily routine. As someone with a very "active" mind, I believe that there is much to be gained by training it to focus on the present moment. It is not an easy endeavor, but I have already begun to notice subtle changes after a few weeks of incorporating five or so mindful minutes into my day. I even tried my first group meditation at the Kadampa Meditation Center in my neighborhood. Reminiscent of the gradual progression of my plant-based journey, I am eager to begin learning more about medication theory and history.

 

On an unseasonably warm Sunday, I met my foodie friend, Dave, for a colorful vegan brunch at Watercourse Foods in Uptown. Also new on the menu: Sushi Den near Washington Park and Bonnie Brae Tavern (more diner than tavern) for the monthly vegan pizza buffet. I am infinitely happy to have finally joined the local vegan community!

 

March 9th marked the one-year anniversary of my skiing accident. This enormous milestone left me with a mixed bag of emotions. A few months ago, I listened to an interview of Monica Lewinsky. Her affair with former president, Bill Clinton, occurred before I was old enough to fully understand or form opinions. Still, I was interested to learn how she coped after the scandal surfaced, drawing parallels to the struggles that I faced after my own life-changing event. She explained how, initially, the day that the FBI investigation began was recalled as the worst day of her life; years later, however, as she recovered and grew stronger, she came to celebrate it as "Survivor's Day." The past 12 months have arguably been the most challenging of my life. The trauma of physical insult and an interrupted future pushed me to my limit. Nevertheless, with the passage of time, persistence, and the support of loved ones, I managed to emerge from the darkness. Although I continue to rehab--both physically and mentally--and search for my new path, I am confident that I am a stronger person than I was one year ago. March 9th is my Survivor's Day.

"My knee may never be the same; neither will my determination."

-Lindsey Vonn

Salem, OR

At the end of February, I deviated from my solo travels in favor of a work/stay exchange via Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)--a program that links travelers with organic farmers in an effort to build a community conscious of ecological farming practices. With my growing draw towards Oregon, I jumped on an opportunity to spend five days at Cadence Valley Micro-Farm & Vineyard.

Cadence Valley is located a few miles outside of state capital, Salem--about an hour and a half south of Portland. The 3-acre farm rests in the heart of the Willamette Valley (pronounced "will-AM-it"). Surrounded by mountains on three sides (elevation ~154') and with historical importance to the Oregon Trail, this agricultural oasis is now home to 70% of the state's population. It is commonly known as Oregon's wine country. The Willamette River plays a key role in the economy by depositing fertile soil across the 150-mile valley.

The thriving property of Cadence Valley includes a large barn, two fish ponds, and a happy crew of farm animals: alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and quirky felines, Marcel and Pinot. The farm yields a wide variety of garden vegetables in addition to an array of fruit trees. The vineyard produces more than 1,000 pounds of grapes per year, providing enough to both sell and keep for wine-making. Hops are also grown for dabbling in beer and cider brewing.





 

The beautiful 1950s house has been modernized with a clean and simple taste, displaying expansive views of the surrounding farmland. Train tracks run behind the property, which adds to the humming soundtrack of the farm.

Farm owners, Dennis and Rachel, are a fun yet hard-working couple from the mid-west. Dennis is a Marine Corps pilot and Rachel works for the state. They lead an active lifestyle, often cycling and trail-running in nearby forests.

I flew into Portland on Saturday afternoon, brimming with excitement. It should surprise no one who has flown through PDX to learn that it proudly holds a five-year recognition as best domestic airport. After catching the airport shuttle to Salem, I was immediately struck by the lush, green landscape--a stark contrast to the brown desert-like Denver winters. Gray sky and light rain are characteristic this time of year. Despite minimal snow and mild temperatures, the air felt colder than 40 degrees in the absence of the sun. I was surprised, however, by how much I enjoyed the rain.

After becoming acquainted with my friendly hosts, we ran a few errands in the sleepy town before heading back to the farm to settle in. I toured the property and shared my first of several delicious vegan meals. Both Dennis and Rachel are excellent cooks. Dennis's long-time friend, Jason, joined us at the farm while in town for business, adding to many thought-provoking conversations. The only down-side during my stay? Stink bugs!



On Saturday, Dennis and Rachel invited me to join them on an outing to McDonald State Forest. Located 15 minutes north of Oregon State University in Corvallis, the 11,250-acre forest is used for university instruction and research on forest management. I thoroughly enjoyed the new sights, smells, and sounds of the earth-sodden forest--a welcomed change from my typical Coloradan mountain hikes. Moreover, the rain blanketed the adventure with a peaceful sense of calm and quiet.



On Monday and Tuesday, Dennis and I got to work on the farm! One of the first things that I confirmed is the hefty amount of work required to operate a farm; there is always something that could be done. Dennis smartly created a running "to-do" list that allows WWOOFers to choose projects based on skill and interest. Overarching goals include the following: converting grass to food production, improving pasture quality, and removing invasive/exotic plants in order to establish a native plant landscape.

Luckily, Dennis was a patient teacher in explaining the basics of farm maintenance. By way of example, I learned how the farm runs purely on solar-powered electricity, which is managed by a bank-of-sorts that is based on daily usage. The barn, however, is self-powered by a small solar panel that is connected to an RV battery.

My daily tasks began with feeding the animals, all of whom I became quite fond of.

Buddy, the unspoken favorite

Pinot

In addition, I helped Dennis replace a frozen hydrant; the farm owns water rights to the spring and stream water on the property.



I also assisted in the installation of concrete steps leading down the gentle hillside behind the house.

In terms of gardening, weeding was a top priority--slightly daunting for a perfectionist like me, but also strangely satisfying. I cleaned up several beds, and started a new one with fava beans. Aside from providing food, fava beans enrich the soil with nitrogen as they grow. The beans become seeds after the pods are harvested and left to dry out. There is something to be said about the almost magic-like experience of planting seeds in the hope that they one day flower.

 

The three hens kept good company in the garden as they sought out the freshly-turned earth in order to greedily dig up worms!






















Another job involved trimming the wildly-growing blackberry bush, after which I learned that cuttings/branches can be taken from certain shrubs and trees to grow new plants.

The final major project was to prune the grapes by removing the canes that fruited last year. The Pinot Noir grape thrives in the fertile soil and cool climate of the Willamette Valley.





I left Cadence Valley on Wednesday morning with a full heart and a rooted vow to maintain contact with my gracious hosts. Although I longed to explore more of the state, I am glad that I made the most of my time on the farm. Besides, my instincts tell me that my time in Oregon has just begun...

During the two-hour flight back to Denver, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my stay at Cadence Valley. The rewarding experience has enriched my life in countless ways. For instance, working with my hands in harmony with nature is something that I found to be deeply meaningful. Above all, the wholesome company has left the greatest impression. Dennis, Rachel, and Jason are among the type that inspire me to be a better person. Thanks to them, I am reminded of several personal goals: mindful learning, service and compassion, and my post-injury resolution to become an Ironman triathlete. While having traveled a long way in my 25 years, I remain cautiously optimistic in what is yet to come. 

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