Dear Colorado — my backyard, my habitat, my home, This is not the first time I’ve sat down with a heartful to write about you. I’ve penned my praises before. You already know what I love most. It’s the summits of your 14ers, your natural hot springs, your miles of mountain highway on road bike, your […]
What I Love about Colorado’s Hot Springs
I’ve spoiled myself on hot springs. While traveling in Guatemala, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Iceland, I sought out more than my share of good geothermal soaks. Closer to home, Colorado is endowed with an impressive number of hot springs to explore. They’re dispersed all over the Rocky Mountain high country. Lately I’ve been tracking them down, checking them off my bucket list, and revisiting favorites. Here’s what I love most about Colorado’s hot springs:
What Every Beer-loving Cyclist Should Know About BABRAC2014
In the area of annual Colorado bike tours, BABRAC2014 is a noteworthy newcomer. Summer 2014 is your chance to be among the first to know about it. Some fast facts: BABRAC stands for Beer And Bike Ride Across Colorado. If a strange-sounding acronym for a fun-centric cross-state bike ride sounds familiar, it is. BABRAC is inspired by Iowa’s famous annual RAGBRAI.
What I’m Thankful For: Colorado’s Alpine Hut System
This Thanksgiving, I’m going on an adventure in Colorado’s alpine backcountry. While most of America will be gorging on food and football in their family’s homes, I’ll be beginning a four-day hut-to-hut trip in the Elk Range of the Rocky Mountains (near Aspen). I’m joining three hiking friends and ten strangers for an outdoor Turkey Day complete with a traditional feast that we’ll be packing in.
My 14 Feats at 14,000+ Feet
Coloradoans love measuring altitude. We all know how many feet are in a mile (5,280), which is the elevation of Denver, the capital. Another benchmark is 14,000 feet, since Colorado is home to 53 peaks that reach 14,000 feet or higher. These peaks have special “14er” status, and climbing a 14er is a Centennial State rite of passage. I’m a latecomer to hiking and mountaineering in Colorado. My first 14er happened in the summer of 2012, when I put world travel on hold to spend some time in my home state. Now, a year and a half later, I’ve reached the peaks of fourteen 14ers.
Ten OTHER Trips to Take in Your 20s
The do-it-while-you’re-young message here is spot on: un-tied-down early adulthood is a unique opportunity for travel and adventures. But this list doesn’t really align with my own 20s travels. Have I missed out on the essentials? Or have I just sought out something else?
For twenty-somethings like me who are looking for travel that digs a little deeper, lasts a little longer, and may be a little more enriching to yourself and to the people/places you encounter along the way, I came up with my own list.
Pedaling Across Colorado: The Countdown to BABRAC 2013
T – 14 days until I take on the biggest physical challenge in my life so far. I’ll be riding across the state of Colorado from Fort Collins to Durango in eight days along with a group of six others. We’re organizing BABRAC – Beer and Bicycle Ride Across Colorado – and we’re hoping to make this a yearly thing.
FAQ
Q. How many miles a day, on average, will you cover?
A: Average 59 miles a day, for a total of 470 miles covered. Total elevation gain will be 17,470 feet
Dumpster Diving, Freely Giving and the Man Who Quit Money
Like a good book should, The Man Who Quit Money changed the way I see a few things. It changed the way I see money – rather than an absolute or a given, it’s a convention that (almost) all of us subscribe to. It changed the way I see my home state of Colorado, where Daniel is from. Mark Sundeen’s account of Daniel Suelo’s life also changed the way I see dumpsters.
