Butte, MT

With my military adventure quickly approaching, my Air Force recruiter scheduled my physical at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Butte, Montana. Fortunately, all expenses were covered. With an early start, I set off on my mini-vacation, leaving a killer sunrise behind in Denver.






















With a short stop in Salt Lake City, we landed in MT by early afternoon. I was amazed at how close the mountains were when I stepped off the plane. Though not terribly far, Denver is still a decent drive (through heavy traffic) to the mountains.






















Judging by the size of the plane and airport, I already suspected that Butte was a small town. This fact was soon confirmed by the hotel shuttle driver. He also informed me that I had just missed a cold front that passed through with temperatures reaching -60 F! Glad I dodged that bullet. One of the cool things about a small mountain town is the close-knit bond weaved throughout the community--a feature that I picked up on despite the short visit.

After settling in at the hotel, I went for a walk to get some fresh air and stretch my legs. Though warmer than the previous week, it was still cold and snowy. That night, I ate dinner at the hotel, read my latest mystery novel, and attended the nightly meeting. Most of the guests at the hotel are military applicants coming and going for their various appointments at MEPS. I was clearly outnumbered both in gender and rank--most of the young boys were enlisting in various branches of the military, which is different than my plan to become a commissioned officer.

The following day began with an early breakfast and shuttle ride to MEPS. While the boys had a full day there, it was luckily just a morning affair for me. Nevertheless, the physical was thorough and tedious.

Happy to have that part of the process out of the way, I spent the afternoon in town since my flight back to Denver wasn't until the following morning. The mild afternoon temperatures allowed for a leisurely walk to the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial. I followed the snow-covered paved path up to the memorial, stopping to read the informative signs that depict the town's history.








In the early 20th century, Butte was a unionized industrial city with one of the largest mining operations in the world. The mining town ambitiously met the increased demand for copper during WWI.

On June 8th, 1917, 168 lives were taken in a catastrophic fire that ensued in the mine shaft. 79 years after the disaster, the Granite Mountain Memorial Memorial was dedicated to the men how lost their lives. The beautiful plaza offers panoramic views of headframes, the East Ridge, and the remnants of a once-flourishing mining industry.

The Berkeley Pit--another important piece of the town's history--was an open-pit copper mine that began in 1955. Millions of tons of ore and waste rock were mined from it. Today, it is filling with highly contaminated water and toxic chemicals.







Even in the face of tragedy, Butte is considered to be "The Richest Hill on Earth," referencing the soul and determination of the community.



























After my much-enjoyed walk, I descended into the city center, which is known as "Uptown."

My afternoon adventure ended at Butte Brewing Company. All in all, a very rewarding day!

I caught the early wake up call the next morning with just enough time for breakfast and a shuttle ride to the airport. I was accompanied by a small group of Army "shippers" that were departing for boot camp. It was all that they could do contain their nervous energy.

I was back in Denver before I knew it, happily greeted by sunshine and warm temperatures. I was relieved to discover that the icy streets had thawed out while I was gone. Good to be home!

A-Basin

At the start of 2017, I was excited to settle back into day-to-day life in Denver. This included picking up my CO brewery tour with Cerebral Brewing (#23). I also continued my library trips, which led to the discovery of another great book. A Fall of Marigolds is a story that weaves two New York tragedies into a beautiful novel of love and acceptance.

Although winter got off to a relatively late start, the snow gods were determined to make up for lost time. Early January brought another winter storm to the mountains, so Dana's friend, Reed, suggested that we take advantage. We drove up early to Arapahoe Basin ("A-Basin") after a 16-inch dumping of fresh powder--on top of a 45-inch base.

Having been raised as an East Coast skier, you could say that I was out of my element. My first impression of powder ("pow pow") skiing was how soft and quiet it was; much unlike the icy conditions you often encounter back East. It was certainly a game changer for me, but I rented a pair of skis that were equipped to handle the powder, which worked in my favor. I still could not keep up with the CO natives that I was with, but that allowed me to take my time and focus on form and technique. I knew for sure that my legs would be sore the next day. With more practice, however, I bet that I could really enjoy this new realm of skiing.



Despite the mounds of fresh snow that arrived overnight, it continued to snow all day without end in sight. Skiing in a blizzard was both challenging and fun--or "gnarley" according to the ski bums that I was with. The temperature on the mountain was also chilly, so I stopped several times to warm up.

The main chair lift from the base area connects to another lift that takes you to the top of the mountain. I felt content sticking to this central part of the mountain, ultimately lacking the confidence to journey to the back side or bowls.

I appreciated that the resort is nestled within the mountain range, offering a feeling of near enclosure by mountains (perhaps also due in part to the poor visibility that day).





Dana, Reed, and I were spent by the time the lifts closed at 3:30 pm. Instead of driving back to Denver, however, we spent the night in Breckenridge. Dinner, board games, and the jacuzzi were on the agenda before calling it an early night.










The next morning, Reed took a few "turns" at Breck, while Dana and I went for a walk downtown. Although still cold, the clouds and snow had finally given way to blue, sunny skies.

























Crepes for breakfast was a last-minute decision before making the drive back to Denver... first ski trip of the season officially in the books!

Cheers to 2017

Back in CO, it seemed appropriate to close out 2016 in the mountains. On New Year's Eve, Dana and I spent the day in Roxborough State Park. Just a short drive southwest of Denver, the park is filled with dramatic red-rock formations, distinct plant communities, and a host of wildlife.

We went on an afternoon hike to Carpenter Peak--the highest point in the park. The 6-mile trip was not technically difficult, apart from the icy conditions left from the most recent deep freeze. Still, we took our time and enjoyed the sunny day and mild temperatures.








We eventually found our way to the summit and took in the panoramic views, pointing out the usual landmarks and snowy summits that we recognized.

As you might have guessed, Dana is the new special man in my life.

After sharing tea and good conversation, we began the descent, quickly noting the drop in temperature with the setting sun. Near the trailhead, we stumbled upon a surprised elk. I ventured that we were the last ones on Carpenter Peak for the year.

Back in Denver, Dana and I shared a night of cooking, champagne, Star Wars, and a stroll through Cheesman Park at midnight. I could not have asked for a more ideal way to start a new year.

In reflection of the past year, I feel incredibly lucky for having had so many wonderful opportunities and experiences. For a long time, I looked forward to 2016 as the year that I would finally finish my schooling and become a pharmacist. While this was indeed an enormous achievement, I have realized that this marker was just the beginning. The decisions that I have made since graduation--my move to Denver, a summer working at Whole Foods, taking on a pharmacist role when I felt ready--have helped me learn and grow in unthinkable ways. As a result, I feel more mature, complete, and happy than I have in any previous time of my life.

I anticipate many changes in the upcoming year. While many fear change, I yearn for it. There is something to be said for the ability to adapt to the dynamic twists and turns of life. And so it is my goal to take one day at a time as I unfold the layers of an optimistic future. Raising a glass to 2017!