Let’s be frank: I’m no runner. I’ve never had the special shoes or the Fitbit or the love of pain to really get into it. Yet here in Addis Ababa, I’ve just signed up for a trail run called Ethiotrail. I skipped the 12k option and went straight for the half marathon as my goal for August 9 (i.e. four weeks from now). Is that crazy? Probably. Good idea anyway? I think so. Here’s why:
One Last Ode to Colorado
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 […]
September in Peru: My fam-tastic four-week itinerary
During the month of September, I’ll be enjoying the big perk of life as a travel professional on a fam trip to Peru. I wrote about the anatomy of a fam trip after Ecuador in 2012. To summarize: “fam trip” is tradespeak for familiarization trip. I’ll be getting familiar with elements of our upscale itineraries at Southwind Adventures.
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:
My Top 3 Shorts from the Banff Mountain Film Festival
At the Paramount Theater in Denver, 1,900 people fill every seat to see the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival. For many, catching the film tour is a yearly tradition. The event stems from an outdoor/adventure film contest held each November in Banff, Alberta. Winning films are selected to go on tour over the next few months, attracting big audiences of active adventure-seeking types in cities and towns all over the U.S., Canada and internationally.
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.
What I Admire About Aspen Trees
In the house where I was raised in Denver, Colorado, my parents planted three aspen trees that sprouted up alongside their kids. Maybe this is why I have a sisterly love for them. Or maybe it’s because aspen trees are an endemic part of Colorado’s alpine landscape. Here are a few more things about aspen trees that make them great.
