Square Top Lakes

I completed my first "real" hike post-injury at the end of July. Anna and I climbed to Square Top Lakes, a 4.5 mile trail located at the top of Guanella Pass. I would describe it as a hidden gem because the majority of hikers journey there to summit Mt. Bierstadt.

With an 8am start, we set off from the trailhead in the glorious morning light. I was surprised by how warm the air felt considering the starting elevation of 11,678'. The Sawtooth joining 14ers Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans could be admired for the duration of the trail.

The South Park Trail dropped gently through a west-facing valley before edging steeply to a crest on the north valley wall. The exceptional alpine landscape above tree line was blanketed in vibrant wildflowers.

After navigating a few muddy streams, Anna and I reached lower Square Top Lake. We didn't linger long on account of pesky mosquitos!





We continued to upper Square Top Lake at 12,265', which lies in open tundra directly beneath Square Top Mountain (13,794').

A trail rings the lake, and the surrounding slopes are possible to scale for additional perspective. The ridges are home to mountain goats and bighorn sheep, whereas elk and moose can be spotted in the valley below.



The afternoon clouds rolled in just as we began our descent.

With a net elevation gain of only +587', the hike should have taken us around 3 hours, but my knee slowed us down to 4 hours. Anna encouraged me to mark this as a win.

On our way back to the city, we stopped in Idaho Springs for brewery #42 on my list: Westbound & Down Brewing Company.

Evergreen

Anna and I spent July 4th in Evergreen--only 30 miles west of Denver, yet with a "mountain town" feel. Elk Meadow Park is situated at the foot of Bergen Peak, and is filled with wildflowers and ponderosa pines. It's an ideal spot for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. I mapped out a short trail inside the park with minimal elevation gain for my first hike post-injury. The four-mile loop is unlikely the hike that I would have chosen if I wasn't injured, but it was a beautiful morning, we were surrounded by spectacular scenery, and it felt great to be outdoors again. Anna and I finished the hike in three hours, at which point I confirmed my suspicion that trekking poles will be my newest hiking staple.

We left the park as the heat (and the crowds) set in, and made our way to Lariat Lodge Brewing Co. (#41). I will be eager to return to Evergreen again soon--hopefully to hike Bergen Peak!

 

My return to Evergreen happened sooner rather than later--round #2 the following week; this time Anna and I checked out the local farmer's market, Evergreen Lake, and downtown, with lunch and brews at Muddy Buck. Great vibes in Evergreen!









The sister activities continued when I dragged Anna to a show at a small dive bar in RiNo. The indie rock/acoustic folk band, Birdtalker, did not disappoint! I am their new biggest fan.






















We finally let Alex in on some of the fun when the Pittsburgh Pirates came to town. The Buccos crushed the Rockies with a 13-5 win. Black and gold pride!








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Back on my Feet

After three long months of waiting, I finally had both feet on the ground by June 1st. It was an odd sensation, where my left foot felt everything. According to my physical therapist, the sensors had been out of commission for some time, and needed time to wake up. Part of me was also fearful of the fragility of my knee buckling under my weight, but I took it slow and weened myself off of crutches in about a week. I am currently moving forward with strengthening the muscles in my *bird legs* by using weight and water exercises, in addition to the stationary bike.

It is reassuring to see progress now that I am in the driver's seat of my recovery, and I feel more myself than I have since my injury in March. However, the weight-bearing phase presents a new set of obstacles. One of my greatest personal challenges is resisting the urge to be too hard on myself. It's often easy to become discouraged with the gradual pace of my recovery. Furthermore, residual joint laxity could cause problems in the future, which is frustrating in itself, but also regarding my pending career with the AF. Nevertheless, I intend to dig deep for patience and not worry about something that may never happen.

Sunrise

Sunset, summer solstice

I still have a long road ahead of me, but I think that the worst is behind me. I remain optimistic in my determination to rebuild myself stronger than before. My knee may never be 100% again, but I will be. Do I think that I'm too young to have bad knees? Absolutely. But life is mysterious and unpredictable. It's wise to remain flexible with what the universe has in store. We either adapt to change, or we get left behind.

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

-Viktor E. Frankl

 

Apart from an important milestone in my recovery, June also signaled the start of summer. As I've grown older, I seem to enjoy the long days and warm weather of the season more and more. Now that I'm weight-bearing, I'm more ancy than ever to take advantage of the abundant outdoor opportunities that CO has to offer.

 

Also worth noting this month is the Penguin's Stanley Cup win for the second year in a row! I may never return to live in Pittsburgh, but I will always be proud knowing where I come from.

Finally, my hunt for CO breweries has now reached #40, with Park Hill's Fiction Beer Company, Golden's New Terrain Brewing Company, and Boulder's Mountain Sun, Upslope Brewing Company, and Wild Woods Brewery.

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May Flowers

After an unexpected second surgery on my knee and an extra month on crutches, my family decided that it was time to swoop in again. Mom was up first. I traded a few nights of snoring for a clean apartment, laundry, and stocked fridge (or at least what I consider to be stocked). Since I was more mobile now relative to her visit in March, I could show my mom more of the city. This included an afternoon reading in sunny Washington Park and sharing Argentine cuisine at Maria Empanada.

We also sought out a mountain escape in Nederland--a small historic mining town that is home to Eldora Mountain Resort.

A spring-time stretch of gloomy weather finally cleared up in time for Mother's Day. Mom and I indulged in pastries for breakfast, basked in the sun at the local Whole Foods Market, and joined Anna, Alex, and his mom, Eileen, at Stem Ciders in RiNo. When it was time for her return to Pittsburgh, I remembered very clearly how lucky I am to have a mother like mine.

No sooner had my mother left town when my sister, Rita, flew in for a long weekend. Despite the list of chores that I assigned, I did allow her some fun, including snow-shoeing in Breckenridge and fly fishing on the South Platte River.

We spent a lot of time with Anna and Alex, mostly to watch the Penguins dominate playoff hockey.

Goodbyes are never easy, but I am certain that Rita will be back again soon. My family's visits this month have served as a much-needed distraction from my injury. Here's to hoping that I am back on my feet next time they come around!

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