The Mountains are taller than ME

A hidden-in-plain-sight treasure

2010-08-09T22:05:00.001-07:00

I've known since first seeing Altamira Apartments (my humble abode) that Bear Creek Park lay just behind it. I'd explored the dog park and the creek itself a bit, but had never entered the actual park part until this week. I immediately fell in love with it! It's such a beautiful area and it is literally in my back yard! I leave the back side of my apartment building and walk down Lower Gold Camp road less than half a mile, and I come across this!
After walking down the driveway into the nature centre building, there is a map that shows all the trails that reside inside the park. The first leads through a small forested area and runs along lovely and bubbling Bear Creek. Then the trail splits and turns into Coyote Gulch loop (which I think is my favorite part!), and then into Mountain Scrub loop, then leads back to the trees and creek and takes you through a lovely trail called Birdsong which provides facts and pictures of all the birds and animals you are likely to come across on the trails, as well as their tracks. A wonderful touch!

This is why Coyote Gulch is my favorite part of the trail: The views are incredible!

The wildflowers were in beautiful bloom as I walked the trail for the first time. I like this picture! :)

On my way out of the trail, I ran into 3 deer! In this shot, if you look carefully, you'll see a doe and her tiny baby that still has its spots!

Another deer was very patient with me and let me get very close. I sat in the grass and watched her for a long time before it hit me to take a video.

Later that day the skies shook with a powerful thunderstorm. The thunder was so loud it made my kitchen table and everything on it vibrate. The video doesn't do it justice, but you can hear the loud cracks of thunder. Enjoy!

Fajita night and Pancake Rocks!

2010-08-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had Abby and Sarafia over for dinner that we all helped make. We had some delicious spaghetti and garlic bread made even better by good company.
We had such a great time that we wanted to do it again, and this time we wanted our friend Megan to join in the fun! So we gathered at her adorable cabin home in Manitou Springs one evening and together we all made fajitas!

Megan had even hand-zested and juiced 10 limes so we could have authentic margaritas with dinner! And here is our lovely spread! Spiced steak, chicken, and veggies. We also had some delicious guacamole to start.

We finished the evening with a movie and conversation. Definitely a good time, any suggestions for what we should cook next? :)

Now on to my latest hiking adventure! I last hiked Horsetheif trail to the falls at the end, but that trail splits in the middle: One way is to the falls, the other is 2 more miles up to Pancake Rocks. A few of my coworkers and I all had the day off, and so we decided it would be a great day to hike up to see the Pancake Rocks. Sarafia's mom had warned her it was a rather strenuous hike, mostly uphill, but I figured since I had survived Section 16, it couldn't be that bad. It was hard, but fun with the company of Sarafia, Joey, and Jeremiah. It took us about 3 hours to reach the rocks, where we'd planned to eat the picnic we'd brought along. Jeremiah, by the way, is pretty much Bear Grylls without the British Military training. He pointed out wild strawberries that grew along the sides of the trail that we sampled (delicious!), as well as wild onion plants (taste like chives!).

Unfortunately, the clouds chose that moment to erupt on top of us, and suddenly we found ourselves in the midst of a monsoon...on top of a mountain. Luckily, Joey and 'Fia had seen a cave, so we all ran for it and had our picnic lunch in the cave while the rain formed tiny waterfalls all around us.

We ate our lunch and tried to wait out the rain, but after an hour, we realized we were just going to have to suck it up and hike back in the rain if we wanted to get back before it got dark. As you can imagine, rain falling on top of a mountain is COLD RAIN. I couldn't feel my hands for the better part of an hour, but finally the rain let up, and we all began to defrost. The hike was hard, but lots of fun! I hope to go back to the pancake rocks in better weather, so that I can stay a while and explore the area. The hike up to the rocks is beautiful and surreal, surrounded by bending aspens and towering evergreens. It's a high altitude climb, I'd guess we were close to 11,000 feet at the top, and the views were astounding. Thanks for a great climb, guys!

Ute Fall, Horsethief Falls, and near falls of my own.

2010-07-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

So it's 97 degrees in the shade in a desert climate and you're about to leave work and the only air conditioned environment you have (besides your car): What do you do?

Hike a trail of course!

No, I'm not crazy, I'm a Colorado resident, and that's what we do...apparently. When the going gets tough, the tough climb a mountain!...and realize whatever they were doing before wasn't tough AT ALL.

Luckily, this trail promised to end in a waterfall, so if we all ended up over heated, there was always the option of jumping in some freezing mountain stream. Bonus.

The trail we (me, Sarafia, Megan, and Megan's dog!) picked is called Horsethief Trail, and the falls appropriately matched as Horsethief Falls. The trailhead was up in the mountains, about a 40 minute drive away. By the time we got there, it had dropped at least 20 degrees, making it perfect hiking weather. Hooray for altitude!

We parked and got out in front of this huge tunnel. What a cool trailhead!! ...But it wasn't the trailhead. Aw.

THIS is the trailhead. Looks much more like...well...like a trailhead. Dirt, gravel, and uphill. In fact, the first half of this trail was mostly uphill. Boo for altitude. :)
I liked Megan's dog. She's an Australian Sheppard, full of energy and goes directly to water wherever she finds it. We got along great. :)

After hiking through the rain, the sun, thunder, trees, hills, campsites, an college survival classes (no joke), we found the falls at last. One part looked like a giant water slide...I was tempted, but the rocks at the bottom didn't look like they'd be much fun to land on. :) But if you know anything about me, you'll know that when I meet a waterfall, I will try my best to climb and conquer it.

Horsethief Falls was no exception. :)

As we left the trail the rain that had followed us began to move off into the distance. The clouds cleared, and we saw the beautiful silhouette of the Rocky Mountains to the northwest.

On the way back, Sarafia took us through a tiny old town called Cripple Creek. It once was a booming mining town, and now is full of Casinos and free range donkeys. Not even kidding, the donkeys walk freely around the town, so watch where you step. ;)

We ended our evening at an Italian restaurant by Megan's house in Manitou Springs, then retired back to her place to have some of Megan's fiance's homemade beer and some laughs. All in all, not a bad way to beat the heat!

I had to include this picture because it was so flipping cute. One of my fellow Shift Supervisor's at Starbucks is quite handy at making little pictures in the foam made when we steam the milk for drinks. I asked for a hot chocolate to take on my break with me, and he handed me back this lovely piece of art-in-a-mug.

And look at it's staying power! The heart was still there even after I drank all the hot chocolate!

The title of this blog promised more than one Falls, and I shall deliver! After hearing about the adventure Abby and I went on behind Ute Falls, Sarafia wanted to see it for herself, so I went back with her one day before work. We walked the trail all along the creek up to the Falls, and did our best to stay dry. Here's one of my death defying jumps along the way. :)

And once we made it to the Falls in one piece, I decided the pictures behind the falls didn't do it justice, so I took a video of the journey behind Ute Falls. Enjoy!

There is also a video of the journey up to Horsethief Falls.

And here's Horsethief Falls!

And as a preview of what I'm sure will be many blogs to come about my adventures in Boulder for the show I'm in called Colorado Children with Imagination Makers Theatre Company, here is a video I took so I'd know what kind of shoes to look for to complete my costume. Of course they do provide the costumes, but of course it is very challenging to provide footwear for a 6'3 female with size 12 feet...to say the least, so they've asked me to search the resale shops for something suitable. In order to best match the styles the other actors will be wearing, I took a video of the pile of shoes to remember what they looked like. One of my fellow actors was kind enough to narrate it with me. :)

Red White and Married

2010-07-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July weekend my sister Katie married Rob Sowder effectively leaving me the last remaining Battern daughter. While I am completely aware of the enormous responsibility of that fact, I have to admit, they know how to throw a good party. And that leads me to my next staggering duty: finding a way to somehow throw a better one. Let me show you what I'm up against:

The groom and his groomsmen waiting at the alter for the show to begin.

First up: me. Katie had 2 bridesmaids: My sister Jane and I. I was the maid of honor, and because Jane is married, she was the matron of honor. See what she did there? Clever girl, that Katie.

Jane Janicki, the matron of honor.

Here comes the bride: Dad walks Katie down the aisle.

Katie and Rob saying the vows they each wrote for one another.

Since the ceremony was outside, Katie and Rob poured two vials of sand together to create one large vase of sand in lieu of lighting a Unity candle, since the breeze would most likely have just blown the flames out. I sang twice in the ceremony, and during the sand-pouring I sang "When You Say Nothing At All".

After being pronounced man and wife, Katie and Rob began their processional down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Sowder, and I sang "At Last".

The ceremony itself was lovely, of course. The weather was perfect, the pavilion was charming, all in all a successful wedding. The real problem here, people, is the reception. Held at Arlington Racetrack, the dinner and dancing was to be held in the Governor's Room which is a beautiful room with a wall of windows that face and overlook the entire racetrack and the beautiful lake and landscape in the center of the track. It also comes complete with a wrap around balcony that boasted chairs, tables, and the best view in the park. To make matters worse the food was delicious and the drinks were free. Now you can begin to see what I'm up against, can't you?

After dinner and desert had been cleared away and the speeches delivered, the dancing began.

This of course is the obligatory 'first dance' for Katie and Rob, set to "Smile" by Uncle Kracker.

Then the Father-Daughter dance in which Katie cleverly started playing a sappy cliched song, but then the DJ mixed into one of Dad's favorite: "Walk of Life"

Then, the coup de gras. Being that she was married on July 3rd, the park had scheduled a firework display that evening once all the racing had finished and the sun had set. After dancing and talking with family and friends for a few hours, we all made our way outside to get a good spot to view the show. We all look around and begin to notice a couple of important people have vanished. Katie and Rob are no where to be found. Suddenly, the huge three story jumbo-tron screen down on the racetrack flickers on, and who should be on it but Katie and Rob, smiling up at us. And if that wasn't enough, Katie has changed into a different gown. She is now sporting a sequined version of the American flag, and Rob's tie is decidedly more patriotic than the ivory one he'd worn to the wedding.

They are introduced to the thousands who are in attendance at the park that day, and invited to start the fireworks show by pushing down on a giant lever. The crowd erupted into cheers and the sky erupted into colors.

So, to sum up, a wedding on a lovely day, at an amazing horse race park where guests were invited (encouraged!) to bet on the races, giving everyone the chance to yell at the horses and increase their fun-having quota exponentially, great food, free drinks, two dresses, an appearance on a JUMBO-TRON, fireworks, dancing, and great music. Not gonna be easy to top.

I have to call Siegfried and Roy.

All jokes aside, it was an amazing day full of so much fun and great times with friends and family. Thank you to Katie and Rob for showing us all the time of our lives, and congratulations! Have a great time in Ireland!

Father Daughter Dance

Mr. and Mrs. Sowder

More from Pike's Peak

2010-07-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I realized I had neglected to upload the video Sarafia and I took while on the top of Pike's Peak, so I apologize for robbing you all of this comic moment in history. Enjoy.

Pikes Peak or Bust

2010-06-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

I've been having loads of fun with friends and the sun lately, since the weather here has been incredible! Lots of sun and pool fun with Abby and Sarafia. I had them over one night for some pool fun followed by a lovely spaghetti dinner and a movie. Abby made the spaghetti, I made the garlic bread (and burned some of it....but I ate the burned pieces!) and Sarafia made the lemonade.

Sarafia and Abby in my kitchen. :)

A couple days after that, Abby left for her home state of Michigan to have a small vacation with her family. She'll be gone for almost 2 weeks and I miss her terribly already!

On a whim, I called up Sarafia to ask if she'd want to make the drive up to the summit of Pike's Peak with me. Originally, I'd wanted to see the Peak for the first time after I'd hiked the Barr Trail that leads up to the top, but realistically that will take quite some time to get me physically ready for such a task. Also, my curiosity was quickly peaked when I spied a small light on the very top of the mountain early one morning when I was opening Starbucks. It glinted so close to the sky it nearly blended in with the stars that still shone, and I immediately wanted to know what and who was up on top of that mountain at 4am.

So the following day, Saturday, Sarafia and I headed to Pike's Peak Tollway as soon as she left work. Not gonna lie, I was nervous about the drive. I'd heard rumors about the hairpin switchbacks and the narrow gravel roads with no guard rails. I'd never driven in such an environment, and as far as I know, neither had Sarafia. Since she has a 4-wheel drive vehicle and I have a 1999 Toyota Corolla, we decided it would be best if she drove, just in case. So off we went, Pike's Peak or Bust.

About halfway up the mountain lies Crystal Lake Reservoir. It's as clear as its name says it is, and as cold as you'd expect a water source halfway up a mountain to be! It's a beautiful Lake and lots of Colorado folk drive up there to fish or hang out on its small but lovely beaches. Sarafia and I stopped to look around and take some pictures.

As most of you know, I can't resist the water. So Sarafia and I made our way down to the lake and took off our shoes to dip our toes in the frigid and crystal clear water. As we watched the minnows play in the sand and mud stirred up by our feet, we suddenly heard a very small and very scared cry behind us. A small girl was running along the beach crying. She was obviously lost, and crying for her mother. Sarafia, maternal heart that she is ;), jumped immediately out of the water and towards the crying girl, completely forgetting about her shoes and socks. I watched, bemused, as she comforted the girl, stopped her crying, won her trust, took her hand, and lead her back towards the Reservoir gift shop and snack bar all in about 3 minutes. I simply picked up her shoes and followed.

After letting the woman in the gift shop know that we had found a lost child, we looked around the parking lot and area and the little girl pointed out her family's car, so at least we knew they were still in the park somewhere. We decided to sit and wait outside the gift shop for the girl's family. She'd finally told us (told Sarafia, who she refused to let go of :) ) her name, and we sat and listened, thinking we'd see her family searching or at least hear them calling for her. We waited and waiting without seeing or hearing anyone. I eventually started to get a little ticked off. I mean, if YOU had lost a four year old child next to a RESERVOIR on the top of a MOUNTAIN, wouldn't you be a little frantic? Eventually, after her family could not be located, the woman running the gift shop called in a Ranger who came and sat with us for a little bit, gathering information from the girl. He then left her in our care once again as he went to search the trails for her family.

He came back about 10 minutes later with a man (who barely looked to be in his 20's) and a little boy. They collected the little girl with nothing more than an embarrassed 'thank you' and a tiny nod. Really? You lost your little 4 year old girl on a MOUNTAIN and all you can do is look embarrassed when you find her safe?? How about relieved, grateful, happy, that we found your child and not a pedophile, or a mountain lion? Needless to say, Sarafia and I were a bit frustrated with the situation as we left to continue our journey up the mountain. But continue we did, and the amazing views soon wiped away our lingering annoyance, and replaced it with awe.

The last checkpoint before you begin to rapidly gain altitude and you enter the "Alpine Zone".

The views over the side of the road begin to get more and more heart stopping!

Finally, after about a 40 minute drive, we arrived at the summit! And it was FREEZING up there! A couple of Asian tourists took this picture for us, so sorry that it's off center. Then they asked if I'd be in their picture, so of course I said Sure! and climbed back up into the picture, so somewhere on some Japanese facebook there's a picture of me. Heh.

Sarafia made a friend and the Summit snack shop/gift shop/Cog Railway Station.

This is the monument built to honor Katherine Bates. After her first trip up to Pike's Peak, she was so inspired by the amazing views that she went home and penned the poem that would become the patriotic tune we all know and love: America the Beautiful.

And after seeing the views from the top myself, I certainly can see where she got her inspiration.

That dirt edge you see at the bottom of this picture, is the edge of the ROAD. Yes, quite unnerving. But the views are great!

Views from the Peak.

So I've heard a lot about a creature called a "Yellow-bellied Marmot"since I've come to Colorado. Apparently they live in very high altitudes. I'd yet to have come across one, until driving back down Pike's Peak Tollway, when I saw not one, but TWO of the critters! We managed to snap a picture of one, it looks like a mixture between a groundhog and a beaver.

We stopped at the Inn that marks the halfway point up the mountain, or the area before you enter the Alpine Zone, or just after you leave the Alpine Zone depending on which direction you're traveling. The cafe inside was right up my alley, and my parent's alleys as well, so I took a picture. If you know my family, you'll see why it made me think of them. :) And then there was a large bear...with an even larger bear butt. So of course we took a picture. And no, the bear isn't real. It's stuffed. :)

So Sarafia and I made it back down the mountain safely, and about an hour later my ears finally popped and I could hear again. :) A great trip, and an experience I whole-heartedly recommend to all who travel to Colorado Springs for a visit. The views are legendary and indescribable (to all of us who are not Katherine Bates), and I can't wait to summit another fourteener, as the native mountaineers say. :)

Stay tuned, more adventures to come!

Manitou Adventure

2010-06-17T22:25:00.001-07:00

An outing with Abby is always an adventure, but this hike would turn out more adventurous than either of us had counted on! I had read about the old Manitou railway hike on www.localhikes.com (of course) and wanted to hike it as soon as possible! The trail was unique in that it lead you through 6 tunnels that were carved out of the mountain almost 200 years ago for a railroad. While the railroad is long gone, the tunnels and the trail still remain, and it sounded like a good time to me! Abby agreed, and we met up in the early afternoon and set off on our Manitou Railway adventure!

Here we are up the trail; which starts just behind a guardrail on highway 24, west of Manitou and near Waldo Canyon.
For the first half mile or so, the trail winds along above the highway.

The rock ledges and cliffs are quite lovely on the way up the trail. :)

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, the first of the tunnels appears in the rock wall. Of course Abby and I both immediately scramble for our cameras. :)

The first 3 tunnels are pretty short, and you're able to see light immediately. The fourth tunnel is longer and requires a good flashlight to navigate safely. The tunnels were fun and full of echoes, old fire pits, and lots of surprises along the way.

One of the shorter tunnels.
The views coming out of the tunnels were amazing! Especially exiting the first tunnel, it was like entering another world! You hear the traffic from the highway behind you, but as soon as you emerge from the first tunnel all you hear is nature an all you see is beautiful cliffsides!

The third tunnel leads almost immediately into the fourth and darkest tunnel on the trail.

The longest tunnel lead into pitch blackness. Eerie, isn't it? :)

But we eventually found the light at the end of the tunnel. *snicker*

We did leave the trail at one point to explore another side trail we found, and we ended up being trespassers. Whoops! :) But we eventually found our way back to the trail and back into the tunnels.

The last tunnel was neat because it still had the original wooden support beams that the trains would have passed through.

The website did warn that the trail ended halfway through this tunnel when you reached a cinder block gate. Beyond the gate was private property, and you weren't supposed to pass it.

There was quite a surprise waiting for Abby and I at the gate, however, and I must admit it made us feel right at home. :)

Needs some work, but it could be a great location? Haha. We laughed hard when we found this!

Knowing Abby's love for trespassing (just kidding, friend! ;) ), I wasn't surprised when she passed through the gate anyway and headed up the tunnel for a few more feet. There were a lot of interesting things to be found in the dark tunnel, ancient bath tubs, this old fashioned cement mixer/pourer...

Lots of interesting things. But the real adventure started when we turned around and made our way out of the trail and back to my car.

The website I find my hiking trails on is great for a lot of reasons, but one of my favorite things about it is that it allows for anonymous reviews of every hike. It's nice to be able to read what all the hikers that went before you had to say about the experience. They leave great tips about easy ways to follow the trail, what conditions to expect, landmarks not to miss, and in the case of this trail, dangerous places to watch out for on the trail. I had read on review that warned of an area that had been seriously washed out and had left little to no path. It was only a very small part of the trail, maybe about a five foot patch. I recognized it as the place I'd read about as soon as Abby and I came across it the first time. The trail was almost completely washed vertical in one area, and the entire cliffside was made of nothing but perilously slippery gravel pieces. The shelf we were hiking on was pretty darn steep in that area, and falling off of the trail would leave you sliding down gravel covered side of the mountain for probably a good 200 feet before the ground would stop you, and by then you'd be sliced to ribbons by all the tiny granite gravel pieces and tree roots you'd hit on the way down, not to mention bones that would probably break when you finally hit level ground.

All around, not a good scenario.

We managed a clean crossing on the way in, me being much more nervous about it than Abby (as usual ;) ), but it was a different story on the way out. As soon as we came around the curve in the trail and saw the washed out part of the trail ahead, I slowed down and said: "Uh-oh, here's the part I don't like again."

No sooner had these words left my mouth than the gravel shifted out from under Abby's feet, and down the side of the cliff she went. I was stunned for a second, and stood paralyzed as I watched Abby fall and begin to slide down the side of the mountain. I'm pretty sure I yelled her name, and all I remember Abby doing is putting her feet out to try and slow herself, and yelling "Catch me, catch me, catch me!"

Which is exactly what I did. I saw a tree root sticking out of the side of the cliff next to me, grabbed it with one hand while I slid down the sharp gravel to catch Abby with my other hand. Thank goodness for that tree root, because without it I have do doubt Abby and I both would have taken off down the slippery cliffside. There was almost no way to gain any kind of purchase in the gravel, but I dug y shoes in as best I could and clung to the tree root as Abby began to pull herself back up by the arm I was clinging to.

Now, you'd think this sounded like a pretty desperate situation, right? I suppose it was, but all Abby and I could do was laugh as we tried to fight our way back up onto a solid footing. At one point I actually had to say "Stop laughing! You can't pull yourself up if you're laughing!" Which is true, since for some unknown scientific reason, you lose all strength in your muscles when you go into a laughing fit.

Anyway, she pulled herself to safety, and using the root, I pulled MYself to safety, and then we proceeded to hang onto an outcropping of shrubbery and laugh until we couldn't laugh anymore. After getting a hold of ourselves and removing ourselves from the dangerous area, we finally lost the adrenaline and giggles, and began to take stock of ourselves. Abby's arms were pretty cut up, and I looked down to discover blood dripping down my leg. None of this was surprising considering the sharp gravel we'd both taken a dive it, and I affectionately named it my "Indiana Jones wound" since I felt like an action movie hero for those few moments when I had reached out and snagged Abby's arm.

She even took a picture of it. This blog is privy to more wounds than it should be.

Well, after that ending to our Manitou Railroad trail adventure, Abby wasn't super keen to continue adventuring like we'd planned. I was going to take her to Ute Falls, or Graffiti falls. You should recognize that name from an earlier blog. Abby'd never seen the falls, and I'd never been behind the falls, so we'd planned to see it after finishing the tunnel trail. It was a warm day, so I thought it would be fun to walk into the stream and see the cave behind the falls.

Being the hardcore girl that she is, Abby put aside her near death experience and we made our way up to the falls.

Remember how amazing the falls are from in front?

Well they are a MILLION times cooler from INSIDE!

The water was a little cold, as mountain streams are made mostly from snow melt from the peaks, but it felt wonderful after two hikes, and it was so much fun to see the 'inner workings' of the falls! The cave under the falls is quite large, and full of other tiny waterfalls and interesting rock formations. The water from the main falls is falling HARD and FAST, and hurts if you get caught under it, but there is a big enough opening close to the cave walls that you can sneak by without getting pummeled by thousands of gallons of falling water.

The experience behind the falls filled our adventurous spirits back up and we were both happy that we'd gone, despite our already trying day. :)

This lion on the wall of the falls represents Abby's courage and determination to adventure through adversity (and the tiredness of pregnancy! ;) ). She's an awesome hiking partner and I'll take her on every trail I can get her on before her due date looms too closely! :)

Hope you're all having a wonderful week! Stay tuned, more to come!

Garden of the Gods

2010-06-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of blogging lately, I've just been so incredibly busy with lot of important things. Many of them. All important.

...no, really.

;)

A few tan lines and sunburns later, I decided it was once again time to hike the fabulous hills, mountains, and red rock formations that make up Colorado Springs. One of my new friends from work volunteered to come with me. Her name is Sarafia, and she's a pretty darn good time, I must admit. We decided to hike the trails in the Garden of the Gods. Since my last trip to the Garden left me with a bloody leg and a wounded pride, I was eager to have a better experience and further (and hopefully less painful) exploration. Well I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Garden of the Gods is INCREDIBLE. With its unique bright red rocks, its awe inspiring views, and, come spring, its blossoms, you can hardly ask for more from a hike.

...except for maybe some rocks to scramble around on. And the Garden does not disappoint there either! Scrambling, or rock climbing without official permission, training, or safety gear, is frowned upon in the park, but as long as you don't fall off and die I don't think anyone will make a big to-do about it. *snicker*
While traipsing and trailing it around the park, Sarafia and I would randomly leave the trail to climb something that looked interesting. (Translation: I would leave the trail and Sarafia would yell: "Where are you going?" to which I'd reply: "Look at this ROCK! We have to climb it!")

The rock above provided a lovely place for a shadow play, which Sarafia and I gladly put on for an audience that consisted of a slightly confused but patient family of four. I think they'll appreciate it more when they've had time to discuss it amongst themselves and recognize it for the true piece of art it was....or they'll just talk about the 'crazies' in the park.

We continued to climb up and around that rock formation until we could get no higher and go no farther forward lest we fall off the edge and down to our deaths. Since it was a dangerous and life threatening situation we found ourselves in on the edge of that cliff, of course it turned into a perfect Kodak moment opportunity!

And yes, that is exactly as DOWN as it looks. :)

Sarafia did not appreciate me making her hold that pose while I took the picture. Brave as she is, it's never fun to lean over a precipice like that and look down for long. :)

Sarafia and I on the edge!

I did actually find another way around that lead a little higher, so of course I went. I blame it on my new shoes. They're so sticky and handy for climbing! Sarafia proved herself wiser than I and stayed at the bottom while I climbed up to get this picture of the view below and behind me.

After we had our fill of scrambling for a bit, we got back to the trail and continued our hike. The views you come across around every corner in the Garden are all photo worthy, this was one of my favorites.

But it wasn't complete without our grinning faces in front of it.

On our way out of the Garden, we stumbled across a bathroom that Sarafia immediately made a break for. As she was heading in, a man heading out said "It smells like 20 bears peed all over in there." Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to warn Fia before she'd already disappeared inside. Pity. I thought I'd take a picture of her on the way out to see if I could capture on her face what I'd heard from the unfortunate fellow. If the women's was as bad as the men's, she didn't seem too offended by the alleged bear perfume.

While driving out of the park, we stopped to scramble around some more on some of the rocks at the high point of the park. The sun was setting ,and therefore the lighting was ripe for some heroic poses. If you know me, then you know what's coming next. :)

Yep. You know it.

I am rather proud of this picture. I love the blooming plant right in the center and the Garden's beautiful rock formations framing it in the background. That picture is my computer's background right now.

Aaaaaaaand of course I can't end on a serious artistic note no matter how hard I try.

Hence the seal-like posture I'm striking here as I stop to smell the flowers. :)

After the successfully sweaty and fun hike, Sarafia and I ended the evening with ice cream from Dairy Queen and a Disney movie from my extensive collection. A good time all around!

Coming soon: The hike with Abby through the old Manitou Railway Tunnels! During which we visit 'Starbucks', blatantly trespass on private property, and Abby falls off the side of a cliff. Stay tuned!

Section 16/Palmer Trail

2010-06-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

So the weather outside has been absolutely beautiful this past week, so I've been trying to be outside as much as possible. I've wanted to hike this trail ever since I heard about it, and after doing the Waldo Canyon in 3.5 hours which was about 7 miles, I figured I'd have plenty of time to hike Section 16/Palmer trail before work on Tuesday since it's only 6 miles. I expected it to take just under 3 hours, and since I had to be at work by 2pm, I started out at about 9:30am. As you can see, the sun was out, the sky was blue, and there were barely any clouds in the sky. A perfect day for a hike.

The trailhead started like I've found most do: which a sign, a map, and some crude steps up to the trail.

Immediately I was surrounded by beautiful, green mountain views. Trees and flowers are all blooming up the mountainside.

The path is made up of red clay and pink Pike's Peak granite pieces, like usual. :) This one was a little more gravely though, and made for some slippery climbing conditions when the path got steep. And it DID get steep. OMG SO STEEP.

Lovely rock formations along the trail!

Random outcroppings (upcroppings? :) ) of rock in the middle of the trail made paying close attention important if you didn't want to end up with a twisted ankle.

The views in the first quarter mile of the trail were spectacular.

Colorado Springs from above!

More of the city became visible as I hiked higher.

This is a zoomed in picture, and those red rock formations in the center/lower left center of the picture are in the Garden of the Gods, viewed above from the southwest! These pictures just don't do the views justice, it was incredible to see!

The travel time between that picture and the next pictures below quite....extensive. And INtensive. That 3 hour time frame I'd given myself was quickly ticking by and I was quickly getting nowhere. I had read that the first third or half of the Section 16 trail was a 'moderate to steep climb', but the Waldo Canyon trail had been listed as 'moderate' and, though challenging, I handled that trail just fine. The website had said to set aside 4 hours for the Waldo Canyon, and I'd finished in 3.5, so I thought I'd have plenty of time to finish Section 16/Palmer trail in plenty of time before I had to get ready for work. An hour and a half into the trail, and I had already contemplated turning back at least 5 times. The trail was KILLING me, literally, I felt as I no matter how deeply I inhaled I couldn't get enough air. My legs were burning from the continuous steep climb, and I felt I could only climb about 20 steps at a time before I had to stop again. I was beginning to worry that I wouldn't make it out of the trail on time in I didn't turn around. But after hiking up that heinous hill for over an hour already, I was so tired and sick of not being able to BREATH that I figured I wouldn't be back to this trail anytime soon, so I had better just finish it that day in order to see all the amazing views I was supposed to see. So far all I had seen was more uphill trail in front of me. It seemed to go on and ON AND OOOOOOOOOOON, but finally, finally and blessedly, I reached the top.

The views were gorgeous, as promised. I met two other hikers on the top of the trail and asked them if they thought I could make it around the rest of the hoop in two hours or less. They thought I could, so I dug in and went for it, hoping and praying for NO MORE UPHILL PARTS OF THE TRAIL. I know, I know, I moved to the mountains, what did I expect? Mountains are all uphill until they're downhill. :)

From one side: mountainous gorgeousness. To the other: a fantastic view over Colorado Springs.

Zoomed in to snap a picture of this rocky peak. I want to stand on top of it! :)

There is a tiny lizard hiding beneath that piece of fallen pine bark. It ran further underneath just as I snapped the picture, but if you look closely, you can see it's tail in the lower left hand corner! I've seen a few of these little guys on the trails I've hiked, about the size of a field mouse, they're cute but wicked fast! This is the first time one held still long enough for me to get a good look at it, but not long enough for me to get a good picture. Maybe next trail!

The little waterfall in the middle of Palmer trail. Lovely, there's a video of it and the log bridge at the bottom of this blog. :)

Standing on the log bridge over the stream.

A close up of the mountain side.

I made good time down the second half of the trail. I was still nervously looking at my watch almost every ten minutes as it ticked past noon and closer to 12:30. I wanted to be back at my apartment before 1 so I'd have time to shower before work, but I wasn't sure I was going to make it, so on my way down the other side of the trail loop I began to plan and strategize different ways to get to work and not smell terrible and be full of mountain dirt and still be on time, when the trail suddenly split in front of me. Now, in my short experience of 'loop trails', the loop means that you end in the same place you began the trail in. Not so with the Section 16/Palmer 'loop'. Luckily, before I could get too horribly lost, I met a very nice couple who were heading back to the parking lot at the trailhead and they set me in the right direction. Turns out, you have to walk about a quarter mile down a narrow dirt road to get back to the maid road and the parking lot. Who designed this?!

Anyway, with the help of the friendly couple ( one of whom works at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts centre and was very excited to hear of my involvement in theatre) I made my way down the narrow road (dodging trucks every now and again) back to the parking lot and to my car. Thanking the couple again for their help, I quickly made my way back to my apartment and had time to sit, down a big glass of water, and even shower before dressing and leaving for work. My legs were pretty tired during my shift, but I was proud that I had finished the trail despite the challenging beginning.

The sights that I got to see were breathtaking, and I think, after having time to get over my anger at the steady incline of the trail, ;), I may even challenge Section 16 again.

Here's a couple videos from the trail! The first is of the waterfall and log bridge, and the second is just a video of the trail itself as I'm walking it. Those of you who get motion sickness may want to skip the second video....:) Enjoy!

Stay tuned!

Blog Makeover

2010-05-29T23:46:00.001-07:00

Just cleaning up the blog and redecorating a little. :) The weather has been AWESOME lately, and I wish I could be out adventuring everyday, but alas I must pay the bills and therefore must work before play. Or as well as play. But I promise new amazing stories and pictures soon! Watch this space!

Also, I got a callback from the audition in Boulder last Wednesday! It's scheduled for June 12th, so (hopefully) this time I'll have more time to look around and take some pictures up there when I go back.

Have and safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Auditions, callbacks, and a sunburn

2010-05-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

This past week has been full of indoor and outdoor adventures! And by indoor, I mostly mean 'in car'. I had an audition in Littleton on Monday night for a production of RENT. Littleton is a town just southwest of Denver, about an hour north of Colorado Springs. Its downtown area is quite nice, and that's where the Town Hall Theatre is. I spent an hour in the car to get there, about 30 minutes waiting to audition, and then about 5 minutes actually auditioning, followed by another hour in the car home.

I also had an audition scheduled in Boulder on Wednesday afternoon, and then ended up getting a callback to the RENT audition in Littleton that was scheduled for Wednesday night. I left my apartment at 2pm ready for a long day of auditioning. I had no idea just how long it would be!

The drive up to Boulder was long (turned out to be 2 hours because of traffic), but very nice. I drove through Denver and got to see the Mile High Stadium where the Denver Broncos play.

Boulder is very beautiful as well, and I would have some pictures of it if I hadn't gotten stuck in ridiculous traffic and ended up 40 minutes late for my audition (which turned out fine since they had a lot of cancellations later that afternoon) which left me harried and worried about making it back down to Littleton in time for the RENT callbacks.

I needn't have worried. I arrived in plenty of time for the callbacks, and then proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait and wait and wait. The callbacks ran from 6pm to 10:30pm, and I had already been running about all day, (not to mention coughing my brains out as my body tries to force out the end of this stupid cold) and was exhausted by the time we were released. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to be kept the whole time instead of released since that's usually a good sign in the long run, but I knew I had to be at work the next morning at 4:15am, and I still had the long drive back to the Springs.

It all worked out for the best, though, as today turned out to be a gorgeous day, and I didn't mind being up so early since it meant I would be done at 12;45pm and would have the day to relax. Since it was so sunny and warm, I decided to explore outside a bit. Sick to death of my car for the time being, I walked back behind my apartment complex and found a path that lead to the park that is just down the hill from my complex. It's called Bear Creek park and it functions widely as a dog park/trail head that winds around for quite a few acres in the foothills. Here are some views from the highest park of the trail in the park. Beautiful!

A house being built next to the park. A HUGE house.

Makes me want to have a dog just to let it run around freely in this beautiful park!

Like the name says, there is a creek that runs through the park. It is a crystal clear, icy cold stream that falls over itself in lovely little waterfalls. Dogs and people alike enjoy playing in its rushing waters. It also makes a very soothing sound as it trickles past boulders and over fallen trees. This I discovered when I lay down on a boulder next to it in the warm sun, and ended up falling asleep for about 20 minutes. Just a powernap, a well deserved one after working 8 hours on 2 hours of sleep, but I still paid for it with a lovely sunburn, as you can see.

Roasted flesh aside, I ended the day with a trip to the movies with Mark and Sarafia; two of my friends from work. We saw Ironman 2, and I must say RD Jr is a bad ass. He just is. Can't be denied. :) Territory Days in Old Colorado City this weekend! It's a huge festival full of food, crafts, live music and more. I have to work, but will definitely be visiting it when I'm not slaving away at the 'Bucks. Have a great memorial day, all!

More to come!

(Where's) Waldo Canyon

2010-05-21T20:30:00.001-07:00

Well, in Pike National Forest if you'd really like to know, and to my great disappointment none of the mountains or trees were dressed in red and white striped shirts or blue pants. Alas. But everything else about that hike offered no more disappointments. To say this trail was challenging, fun, and beautiful is to do it a grave injustice. All the words I can think of for this experience would be understatements, and all the pictures I'll show you will not do the views justice, but until you come out here and hike the trail yourself, this will have to do. :)

The trail starts just off of highway 24, and begins with a few roughhewn steps up to the trail that leads to the Waldo Canyon loop.

From the top of the steps and up a bit on the trail to the canyon, the highway is already far below. I've only gained probably about 100 0r 150 feet in altitude in this picture, a fraction of the 2000 feet I gained by the time I reached the summit of this trail.

The trail to the Waldo Canyon loop is a little over a mile and a half long itself, and offers some pretty spectacular views along the way. It was a perfect day for hiking: warm, the breeze was very slight, and there were barely any clouds in the sky. Still, though I started the hike in shorts and a t-shirt, I had packed a long sleeve shirt in my backpack . While it was a sunny 75 degrees at the start of the trail, the weather changes pretty quickly 2000 feet higher, and can get cold before you know it. Also in my backpack were my water bottle, an apple, and of course, my blackberry because while it becomes useless as a phone once you enter the canyons, its camera still works just fine.

The trail winds around and up the canyon's edge, pretty darn CLOSE to the edge a lot of the time. One wrong step and you'd be off on a fast journey down the side of the mountain. Syl, Mom, I don't think you'd like it. :) The trail itself is made of red sandstone and pink Pike's Peak granite bits and most of the time isn't more than 2 feet wide.

About halfway through the mile and a half trail to the loop, I came across this amazing rock formation on the inside of the canyon wall. I could hear a waterfall coming from that direction, and after staring and squinting at it, I found it hidden in a crack right down the middle. I knew the picture wouldn't do it justice, but if you click on it and magnify it, it looks almost half as cool as it did in real life. :)

Right before you reach the Waldo canyon loop, the trail suddenly opens up and leads you across this grassy knoll. I'm not gonna lie, being in the open like that made me a little nervous. As beautiful as the trail was and as much as I was enjoying the sights, in the back of my mind always lurked the thought that I was alone, and there were predators up here that were bigger than me. I expected to see the big black shape of a bear moving through the trees, or hear the scream of a cougar any second. Silly, maybe, seeing as it's a very populated and well traveled trail (I probably passed 7 or 8 other hikers during my 3 and a half hour Odyssey through the canyon), but hey, better paranoid than taken by surprise, right?

I finally found the trail head and took the pass to the right. Turns out, according to the hikers I passed (which were ALL heading in the opposite direction), that was the hard way to start. And hard it WAS. Very uphill with a lot of scrambling over loose granite gravel. I was breathing pretty hard by the time the trail leveled out, but the view immediately took my mind off of the thinner air. On the hike up into the canyon and towards the loop, I wondered when I'd get high enough to see Pike's Peak over the lower mountain tops. As soon as I stood up from being bent over gasping for breath, I was greeted by this sight: Pike's Peak reigning over the skyline.

Turning the other way, I could see over the rest of the canyon and out east to the flatter, desert like Colorado landscape.

All along the trail bunches (not sure of the scientific term for groups of cactus plants...bunches will have to do) of cacti sprouted up on both sides of me. Another reason to watch your step. :)

Further up along the trail, the skyline becomes even more dramatic, opening up and allowing me to see for miles. That's probably Kansas over there where the sky meets the land. Who knows?

At about 2 hours into the hike, I began to really feel the work my legs were doing, though my feet and ankles were quite comfortable in my new Salomon hiking shoes! :) I stopped at one point to rest, and was astounded when I looked up. I stood and watched as a group of storm clouds swept across the blue sky and touched the tip of Pike's Peak. It's unreal to think about how close the sky is here.
Another half hour into the hike and my stomach rumbled to remind me how much work I was doing, and how long ago breakfast had been. I had been so excited about my new shoes, the beautiful weather, and this hike, that I hadn't stopped to eat lunch after leaving work at 2pm. I'd brought the leftovers from a pasta dinner I'd made myself the night before and eaten them around 10am when I had my 30 minute break, and had only water and coffee after. It was close to 5:30pm now, and that apple in my backpack was sounding really good. I planned to stop for a rest and a snack when I found a suitable place. Suitable doesn't even begin to describe it.

This outcropping of rock along the trail probably hung about 200 or 300 feet above the tops of those evergreen below. The view was spectacular, and of course I had to climb out on it. Sorry, mom. :)

As I suspected, the picture doesn't at all convey the awesome height and beauty of this place, but I got my foot in the shot...aren't my hiking shoes cool? ;)

After being on the trail for about 3 hours, I began to get worried. The website had described this hike as being about 4 hours long, and having a stream that had to be crossed 'several times', and I was still ascending. I certainly didn't expect to find a stream up where I was. Had I somehow gotten off the trail? I had been lead astray earlier in the hike by a side trail that had been made by hikers before me, but had figured it out pretty fast and had corrected my path. So where was this stream, and was I ever going to reach the summit?

Ye of little faith, I began my descent not long after I had that slight panic attack. It was just like something my sister Katie had said to me once while we were driving in an unfamiliar part of California: "Just when you think you've gone too far, you haven't gone far enough", and that statement usually holds true. The stream was small and the crossings were easy, just like the website had foretold.

Small, but still quite a lovely little mountain stream. I came across many different little waterfalls as it wound it's way down inside of the canyon. The trail was now in the woods, and the temperature noticeably cooler in the shade. The air was thick with the smell of fresh pine sap, and the trail as leading me downhill (at last!)...I couldn't be happier.

I continued to follow the stream, all the while the shortly forgotten fear of predators slowly seeping back into my mind. This was a water source, after all. Something frequented by predators and prey alike. I made sure to keep my eyes up and roaming as much as I could without risking a broken ankle by tripping over the large rocks on the trail. As I traveled deeper into the forest and my surroundings grew darker and colder, I began to wish I had brought a hiking partner with me...or at least a knife. Then, I stumbled upon another waterfall in the stream, and left the trail to get a closer look. I climbed out onto a rock that was covered in wet red clay and sand in order to get a picture. It came out rather sideways, but you get the point. :)

After finding the trail again and coming to another crossing of the stream, I bent down to wash the grit off of my hands in the gently trickling water. Sidenote: mountain streams are COLD.

As I was finishing, I suddenly heard a growl right by my head. I gasped out loud and whipped around to see a golden hued animal flash along the trail. My heart stopped dead in my chest for 2.9 seconds and I seriously believed I would have to fight a mountain lion in those eternal moments. Then, a golden lab bounded out from behind a tree. It was only barely out of its puppy stage, its ears floppy and still nervous of people who are not its master: hence the growl. Followed closely in its paw prints were two other labs, both black, and both much older and wiser. They seemed to take no notice of me as they trotted past, their owner on his mountain bike right behind them. I smiled and gave a nervous laugh and a high pitched hello, and felt my heart slide back down my throat and into my chest where it slowly calmed down.

As it had been a physically and now an emotionally draining journey, the sight of the Waldo loop trail sign may be one of the sweetest sights I've ever beheld, whether the look on my face says it was or not. :)

Though I had reached the sign, I still had another mile and a half to go to get back to my car, but I had done it! The Waldo canyon loop hike was another I could check off my list. All said and done, I'm proud of myself, and the views were so spectacular I'd do it again. And no matter what the other hikers said, I'd take the same route; it was nice to end the long hard hike with a trail through the woods and next to a winding mountain stream...and next time I'll look for dogs before jumping to terrifying conclusions. :)

Stay tuned!

Ute Pass Falls

2010-05-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today was a typical day in Colorado Springs: different weather every 4 minutes. It was warm, though, and even though it would randomly begin to rain every so often, I decided that I'd find a short adventure to go on after work. Short because I didn't get out of work until 5:30pm, and I'm not familiar enough with anything or anyone to be out on a mountain after sundown, and short too because I would be going by myself. There is an amazing website called www.localhikes.com that I have been frequenting almost daily. It lists all the...well...local hikes in and around Colorado Springs. I've done 2 so far, and have plans to do another on Saturday, and hopefully Section 16 next week.

Today my short adventure was hiking to the Ute Pass Falls in Manitou Springs, aka Rainbow falls, and affectionately known as Graffiti Falls. I love love LOVE Manitou Springs! It's an adorable and very eclectic little mountain town. It has beautiful views and a slew of natural mineral springs that pop up all over the downtown area. Manitou is a native American word for 'spirit', and the Ute native americans, among others, thought the area to be sacred and its springs full of healing powers. Today visitors and locals alike can walk to the path of the different mineral springs and drink from each. They're each said to have their own unique flavor, depending on which minerals gather in that spring area. I haven't tasted any of them yet, but I'm sure I'll do that tour eventually.
This view is just above Manitou Springs. Isn't it lovely? The main trail to the waterfall starts above the town, and of course the creek that flows from it flows downhill and through downtown Manitou. I hiked the opposite way: From the creekside up into the hills where Ute Pass Falls....falls. :)

This is the trailhead I took; a small, red clay, sandy trail that wound closely with the creek up through the forest and into the hills above Manitou.

The trail sometime strayed awfully close to the rushing stream of mountain water, and it took some creative stepping and jumping to keep my feet dry!

Huge boulders (like THAT one! :) ) would interrupt the creek's flow every now and again, forcing it to split in two and rush around the giant rock.

One of the best parts of this hike was the sound. It was so soothing and cathartic to walk along and listen to the gentle rush and bubble of the stream.

Here, before I had even begun the climb up to where the water really started rushing closer to the falls, there were already signs why this place had been nicknamed 'graffiti falls'.

As I ascended the hills, the sound of the water grew ever louder, and the graffiti more constant and colorful.

The water began to rush quickly and to pick up to a near constant roar....

Finally, I came around a large boulder and spotted the falls. They lie almost hidden behind and overpass for highway 24. The roar here was very impressive, and equally impressive was all the graffiti. Every available surface was covered with painted letters, words, goodbye's, hello's, anthems, beliefs, truths, hobbies, bands, books, characters, and anything and everything else you could imagine. While some would say that it takes away from the natural beauty of the place, I didn't feel that way at all. Perhaps I would have if it were just a few tags of swear words or derogatory slurs, but I would say 85% of this was truly art. I found it beautiful.After marveling at the falling water and the myriad of colors surrounding me, I started back down the rock side and back towards my car. Before traveling back to my car, I stopped atop the hill and watched as the sun sank below the top of the mountains. And you know what? At sunset, mountains really are purple.

I took a couple of videos, since waterfalls and rushing streams can't be truly caught in still pictures, but I'm not sure if they work. If they do, hooray and enjoy! If not, I'll edit this post and delete them. :)

New Hiking Shoes!

2010-05-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

So here they are in all their Salomon glory! Gor-Tex inside layer designed to keep your feet dry even when the trail you're hiking leads you through mountain streams, snow packs, dewy fields, and muddy terrain. Bottom designed to be flexible and comfortable while protecting you from rocks on the trail and gripping texture to help your feet stick to the rocks.

Well, I hope all of that is true, but really they were 40% off so that was a big selling factor too. :)

They're to arrive in 3-6 days, hopefully in time for my next adventure!

Meanwhile, I've been busy memorizing monologues and practicing songs for 2 auditions I have coming up on the 24th. Hope you're all having a good week!

Cougars!

2010-05-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Now first of all, let me say before you all freak out...I DID NOT TAKE THIS PICTURE...and...THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO.

Ok, after that disclaimer, here's the scoop:

A girl from Detroit was visiting Colorado Springs, and was taking a walk early one morning in the Garden of the Gods. She was walking on the Scotsman trail, the same trail I was running on two days ago when...*sigh*...when I fell on my face. All I saw were rocks, trees, cacti, and horse poop. She saw something different.

Now, this would be why I was told NOT to hike in the early mornings or at dusk. Luckily, the girl was able to keep her cool. I know many of you are thinking: "WHY THE HELL IS SHE TAKING A PICTURE?!? SHE SHOULD BE RUNNING AWAY VERY FAST!"

That, however, would be the wrong thing to do. Cougars are cats, as you know. BIG cats, but cats just the same. What happens when you put something in front of a cat and then move it quickly and sharply in it's line of vision? Usually, it pounces. Hence why that is the wrong thing to do.

If faced with this situation, you should never run, never (EVER) turn your back on the predator, and try to make yourself look bigger and badder (less of a target, less like prey) than the cat is.

The girl in question put up her arms, made her hands into claws, and growled as loudly as she could. The cougars in question stared at her, then eventually padded away when she turned up the volume on her growl. Nicely done.

Here's hoping I don't have to put her methods to practice....but good to know they worked for her.

Syl, this is for you. :)

Hiking Red Rock Canyon

2010-05-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

After meeting everyone at my new Starbucks store and telling my moving story and my life story again and again about 12 times over, I met some pretty cool new people. I'm very lucky in that the people at my Starbucks are kind, laid back, outdoors-y types who are more than happy to recommend the best places for hiking, eating, shopping, etc., to the new girl. Some of them even volunteer to take the new girl out hiking around (after said new girl has dropped about a million hints that she'd love to go hiking but doesn't think it's a good idea to go alone...very subtle I know, but it worked!). Abby and her husband William kindly offered to go hiking with me on Saturday, should the weather hold out.

The weather did indeed cooperate, and we met in the parking lot of the Red Rock Canyon trails at a little after 1 on Saturday afternoon. Being the excited first time hiker than I am, I arrived early and took some pictures around the trail head while I waited for Abby and William.

The east trail head canyon map.

There was a very interesting mountain bike practice park that you can see in the left background of this picture. Apparently it's meant for mountain bikers who want to test their skills. It's filled with curved inclines, teeter-totter logs that move as you ride over them, small posts to hop across on your tires, and near-to-vertical paths that you're somehow supposed to ride across, rather than up or down.

The trail began as I had thought it would, just red clay paths wide enough to accommodate families, bikes, horses, runners, wagons, etc. I thought I was in for a lovely afternoon walk around a trail that looped for just under 2 miles before it rejoined the parking lot from the west. Well, now when I go hiking with Abby and William again, I'll know better.

The path did indeed start out just as it looked, and for a while we walked briskly around it, taking in the sights. Well, it was mostly me taking in the sights, I suppose, since Abby and William have lived in the Springs for about 3 years now, and they're no longer at tourist status.

Beautiful flowering trees decorated the bright red path as we made our way along the trail, talking and joking. The air was fragrant and the sun was very warm when it wasn't behind a passing cloud. We walked for about a quarter mile when we came upon this quarry that was used in the 1900's. Hasn't been used in almost 100 years, but it has certainly left it's mark on the land, as you can see. Here, we veered off the main path to follow a smaller trail up and into the quarried cliffs.

In the background of this picture you can see the main trail that we left, and this is the smaller trail up the side of the cliffs that started us on our adventure! Up the side of the quarry walls, we saw a man made stairway carved into the cliff side. There was another, which I don't have a picture of, that was much much MUCH further up the rocks and on a different peak all together. Of course we saw it and I jokingly suggested we get to them and climb to the summit of that rock formation. To my surprise and slight nervousness, William and Abby said sure, they thought we could find it. It was at that exact moment that I began to wonder what I had gotten into, but I was still excited. Abby is, after all, almost 5 months pregnant, so I figured whatever path we took wouldn't be too dangerous. The views were beautiful and there was still an easily negotiable trail beneath my feet, so onward I went.

Abby, in front of the carved staircase.

The quarried walls of Red Rock Canyon from the ground. Before the day was out, we'd see these walls from hundreds of feet above.

Once the smaller trail ended, we began picking our way up the rocks along the canyon wall. The higher we got, the better the view got, so I started taking some pictures. I thought we were almost as high as we'd probably get when I took this one. Luckily and happily, Abby and William were ready to show me some REAL Colorado hiking.

There was no red clay dirt path to the second set of stairs we'd seen earlier. To get to those, we'd have to climb up the canyon wall. Climb in small pieces, I mean. It's not like I scaled a sheer cliff side, so don't worry. :) We climbed up and over some 7 and 8 foot rock walls; William with the ease of a seasoned rock climber, Abby with amazingly light feet and gracefulness for a pregnant woman, and me with clumsy steps, hail Mary hauls, and the help of a conveniently placed tree. Trees I know, trees I've climbed, and I trust them to hold me. Rocks crumble and make me nervous, but I made it up and over and was quite proud of myself. After congratulating me on my successful rock climb, William and Abby led the way further up the cliff side. The views up there were dramatically better, so I pulled out my blackberry whenever I thought my footing was good enough that I wouldn't need my hands.

To the east, a thunderstorm was brewing. We were climbing west, towards the sun and higher mountains, so the storm stayed behind us.

The quarried walls from above this time! They look a little like Mayan ruins from this angle. From here we kept climbing up. Finding hand holds and foot holds, I hauled myself over cliff sides and up and around huge boulders. One thing I learned today: to be the rock climber I want to be, I have to be a lot stronger! This hiking trip was turning out to be exactly the challenge and adventure I came to Colorado for, but it only whet my appetite for more. Now I can't wait for the next hike, the next trail, the next mountain! But it was tiring, and my body was slowly becoming more aware of having less oxygen to feed my muscles.

The same quarried hills from even higher! Just after I took this picture, I realized that in order to effectively and safely hike, one should have hiking shoes, not Nike running shoes. We had to cross a pretty steep rock wall to get across the face of one of the rock formations and find our way down to join up with the trail again on the other side. I watched a bit nervously as Abby and William crossed it, but Abby told me not to worry, and to trust that my shoes would stick. Had my shoes been hiking approved apparel, perhaps they would have. As it was, I started to slide. I didn't panic, since panicking doesn't help any situation ever, but I tensed my legs and immediately scrambled for purchase with my hands. The rock wall we were crossing ended in a drop about five feet away and if I kept sliding I would end up over the edge pretty fast. Abby and William kept me calm and pointed out good places to step and hold as I made my way across the steep wall. After I was safely across, I put new hiking shoes at the top of my shopping list.

We did indeed find those second set of stairs, only it started about halfway up the cliff side, too high to reach. So we just congratulated ourselves for reaching our destination, and started back down the other side of the canyon.

We came across a scenic overlook on our way back down, and William volunteered to take a picture of Abby and I out on a boulder. Notice the look of fear on Abby's face as I totter out to the edge of the rock. :)

I made it though! Notice again Abby's easy going stance on the edge of the rock, while I am not quite yet so comfortable, and therefore am clinging to the rock with my hand. :) I'll get there.

The storm in the east really started picking up as we made our way out to the back of the trail loop. We were now heading towards it, and could feel the wind from it and even see some lightening strikes in the distance. It was a trip to see the storm in front of you, but to feel the warm sun on your back.

The trip down the canyon was uneventful, and we made it back to the parking lot just as drops of rain were falling on us. We went to a small cafe in downtown Manitou Springs afterwards and had delicious gyros and the best pita chips and hummus I've ever had. We finished the day with some Manitou Springs custard, and headed back home. All in all, a perfect hike, and a perfect day. I can't wait to hit the next trail.

Stay tuned!

First artshow, first blood. Not at all related.

2010-05-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

First Art show

A couple years ago, many of you may remember a little show I was cast in called High School Musical. Yes indeed, though at the time of my audition I was 25 and 6'3 they cast me anyway, and I am grateful for that for so many reasons. One of those reasons being the amazing people I met. I made some great friends in that show, and one of them happens to live in Denver! Score.

Her name is Karin Carr, and she is as energetic and kind and she is funny and adorable. She also happens to be an incredibly talented artist besides being an incredibly talented actress, so that's super for my self esteem. :-P She invited me out to see her art in a show at a Colorado Springs studio she belongs to, and seeing as how those were clearly the only plans I was probably going to have for quite some time, I jumped at the invitation! She had 2 pieces in the show, and I also saw artwork from one of her very talented friends, Ben. His pieces were Mardi Gras themed, and so colorful and amazing that I loved them right away. Karin's pieces astounded me, especially one of her paintings of a man holding 3 puppies. There's a picture of it at the bottom of this post, but it doesn't do the painting justice. I love that painting, and if I could afford the $1,500 it cost, it would be hanging in my living room. As it is, my Target and Walmart wall art will have to suffice. :)

After the art show, Karin and one of her friends (and a new friend of mine!) Julia and I went to dinner at a charming little restaurant that used to be a Colorado Springs train station and had a great time over appetizers and beer. It was nice to be reminded that I am known and liked by at least 1 person in this state.

First Blood

The weather since I've been here has been very odd indeed. The day I moved in, it snowed. The day after that was sunny and 70 degrees. Then the wind picked up and has been blowing for nearly a week straight. Yesterday the weather was PERFECT. Sunny, warm, a slight breeze, just perfect. So I says to myself, I says, "You can't stay inside today!" I've been scheduled for 10 days in a row, which I won't complain about since it means I'm getting lots of hours and therefore lots of money, but I couldn't stay inside after work either. So I went back to my apartment and put on my running shoes. That's right: I was going running through the Garden of the Gods. Now, I was worried about the lack of oxygen, but I just figured I'd do what I could and just enjoy the views and the sun.

The Garden actually is quite huge, so I was fearful of leaving the roads since I'm unfamiliar with the hiking trails, and I didn't want to end up wandering the Garden until 4 in the morning looking for my car (especially since I had to be at work at 5am), so I stayed on the road for a while until I found a trail that followed the road pretty closely, and that I was pretty sure I could find my way back on. All was well and wonderful for the first half of the run. I did get tired pretty quickly, but was able to run for longer than I had anticipated, so I was pleased about that, and of course happily distracted from my wheezing lungs by the beauty around me. The trail is made up of red dirt, so my shoes were very quickly covered in red dust as I made my way around the twists and turns.

Speaking of twists and turns, there are a lot of those on the trails, as well as quite a few protruding rocks, not to mention the piles of horse apples you have to watch out for. Lovely. But while I was confidently jogging around the rocks, up the hills, and over the drop-offs, happily staring up at the huge red monoliths all around me, I failed to see a small rock about the size of my fist protruding from the path in front of me. Yep, I bit it. Hard. My ankle turned out from under me and I fell face first down on the trail.

Luckily: Other than a few scrapes, I wasn't hurt.
Luckier: No one had seen me do it!
Luckiest: I had not fallen face first into a pile of horse crap. Cue sigh of relief.

After shaking my head at myself and dusting myself off, I started back the way I had come, thinking that maybe this was a good place to cut my losses and make my way back through the Garden to where my car was parked. I've spilled my first blood in the Colorado dirt...I suppose I'm making myself more and more at home everyday. :)

I took some pictures on my run, since I use my blackberry as my mp3 player as well, so here's a few to enjoy, including one of my lovely trail burn. :)

Oh, and P.S....Emily, I got your card in the mail today, so thank you for making me cry on my way from the mail room to the laundry room. I got a few curious looks from fellow Altamira residents who now probably think I am deeply aggrieved by my dirty clothes. :) But thank you all the same, and I miss you too.

Karin's incredible painting. I just love the expression on the man's face...it could mean so many different things.
My run in the Garden started out so great...

Surrounded by beautiful red rock formations.

But alas, ended with these lovely slices in my knee and shin.

But you're so beautiful, Garden of the Gods, I can't stay mad at you. :)

Stay tuned!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

2010-05-10T15:28:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the creepy tag line, I promise this has nothing to do with The Shining (so it's safe to read, Jamie. :) ).

After Sylvia and I had worked ourselves into near comas for 2 days and my apartment was finally not only livable but complete (yay!), we now had permission to play! First stop, COFFEE. We visited my new place of employment, the Starbucks at 31st and Colorado ave. A very busy drive-thru store, it will take some review and getting used to from the sleepy pace of my Clarendon Hills store (except on Soccer Saturdays. ARGH Soccer Saturdays!).

After caffeinating ourselves, I took Sylvia straight to the Garden of the Gods. All of you who visit shall be taken there as well. Do not argue; you have no choice. It is a magnificent place that I am deeply in love with. I love every part of it from the bright red rocks, the incredible views of Pike's Peak (which is NOT a coffee; get it together people), the fun trails that wind around huge rock formations, to the tiny cacti plants that sprout up randomly throughout the park. Sylvia and I drove around the park, stopping every now and again when (I saw something I wanted to climb...because I'm perpetually 6) we saw a place that looked like it would make a good picture...which is nearly EVERYWHERE. We climbed some random rock formations, and I climbed some bigger rock formations while Sylvia stood and shook her head at me because I was being an idiot. It was an awesome time and I even got some sun on my face (which is apparently very easy to do here since we are 7000 feet closer to the sun than most of the country. And don't worry, Livi, I put spf on. :) )!

After the Garden of the Gods, spent a while shopping around downtown Manitou Springs where Sylvia found some beautiful pieces of art for her room. Then, after seeing that the activity we had planned to do next was closed, we just got on highway 24 and drove west into the mountains to see what we could see. After about an hour, our cell phones both lost service and Sylvia began to get very worried when the pavement ran out and we found ourselves on a dirt road in the middle of NoWhere, CO, where the population was only us and a few deer. The deer were quite friendly, however, and stayed by our car looking at us curiously for quite some time. So before the sun started to set, we turned around and made our way back to my apartment, satisfied with our adventures for that day.

The next day, we decided to get up at the crack of dawn to secure two spots on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway: a train that drives people to the top of Pike's Peak. It's the tallest of its kind in the world, and definitely one of the must-do things for first timer's to Colorado Springs. Sylvia, brave heart that she is, took on the train like a champ. She doesn't necessarily enjoy heights, so her agreeing to go with me to the top of a mountain is a pretty big deal. :) Though we didn't see any mountain lions (next time, Syl!), the views were breath-taking...literally. We couldn't make it to the peak because there was still too much snow, and the 60mph winds were blowing it over the tracks, but we climbed to an astounding 12,500 feet where the air was thin enough to make us dizzy and the views incredible enough to make you not notice. I can't wait to go again when the train will make it all the way to the top!

On the train we met 2 hikers who had only purchased a one-way ticket. The train stopped halfway up the mountain and let the hikers off. They were to hike threw the woods to Barr trail which leads to the summit, spend the night, and then hike all the way back down the next day. The conductor said some people buy a one way ticket up, hike the 7.5 miles up to the summit from the halfway point the train leaves you at, then buy another one way ticket and catch the train back down. That sounds like the smartest plan I've ever heard, and once I feel I know enough about the mountain and am acclimated enough to the elevation, I'm definitely going to try that! Any takers?? :)

After our high altitude experience, we got back to my apartment and changed clothes (since it was 70 degrees in Colorado Springs, and we were dressed for the 30 degree weather we'd just left on the mountain), and made one last trip to Target for some end tables I'd seen advertised online. After making Sylvia build one more thing for my apartment, we went to dinner and then home to prepare for her departure. I took her to Denver International airport and said goodbye. I knew it was going to be hard, it was the moment I'd been dreading the most since our arrival3 days earlier, but I was proud of the both of us for keeping it together. I spent a mostly tear free drive back to Colorado Springs....back home....and spent a low key night watching movies and getting ready for work the next day. I expected a break down to come at any moment, but it didn't. I think I'm just so happy about this new place and all my new future adventures that I can't find it in me to be upset about anything right now. I know the possibility for sadness and loneliness still looms in the background, but for now, I think that's where it will stay. My new home is beautiful, and though I miss all my friends and family very much, I can't wait to strike out and explore this new frontier on my own.

More to come, enjoy the pictures!

The view as you drive into my apartment complex.

My new Starbucks!

...and the view from my new Starbucks!

This is the famous 'Balancing Rock' in the Garden of the Gods. While I'm sure it did 'balance' for a while by itself, it now has a healthy helping of cement under it to help it stay put. ...cheaters. :)

Sylvia and I in front of the balancing rock.

Syl with the beautiful mountain vista. :)

Sylvia shot this picture while we were hiking a random trail in Garden of the Gods. There are even people on horseback! So authentically western! :)

Syl and I with the lovely mountains in the background.

Climbing things I probably shouldn't. I know none of you are surprised.

This picture looks a lot higher and worse than it is....really.

Sylvia and I in another beautiful area of the Garden of the Gods.

While in downtown Manitou Springs, we found this amazing pizza place. Kelly, this one's for you! And when you visit, we're totally going here. :)

The view on the random drive west Sylvia and I took. Not bad, huh?

One of the deer Sylvia made friends with! I was happy she got to get up close and personal with nature. :)

They hung around for a while...

...and watched us leave!

This pic was taken from the Cog Railway, on the way up to Pike's Peak.

When the train stopped at 12,500 feet-as far as it could go that day- I dizzily walked to the front to take a picture as high up as I could. See the swirling snow? That's the reason we couldn't get to the summit: too windy and too much snow.

Another lovely view from the train.

The Cog Train.

This pic is kind of fun because I'm standing straight, but the train is at such an uphill angle that it looks like I'm leaning. This is when we stopped at the top of our journey and I wanted a better look out the front windows.

Syl and I halfway up Pike's Peak. I had a fantastic time, friend, and I miss you tons already!

More to come!

The Apartment Build

2010-05-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here's what you all need to know about my friend Sylvia: she's amazing. Now, many of you already know this, but it needs to be reiterated. She's super duper amazing. After spending the last 30 hours constantly within 3 feet of me (whether it was in the back of my dad's truck, a restaurant, or the hotel) she still chose to stay for 3 more days at my side in order to help me unpack and set up. Brave, wonderful girl.

Tired from the drive, sore from the lifting, but excited and refreshed by the beautiful mountain views, we set off to use all the gift cards I'd received (you're all the best!!) to buy the things I needed for my apartment. We filled 2 carts at Target (can't even describe my elation), hit up Best Buy, and then struggled to the grocery store just so we'd have some food to eat the next morning (we ordered pizza that night, and I think the sight of the delivery guy pulling up was the sweetest sight Sylvia had ever seen).

We worked late into the night building chairs, arranging rooms, hanging clothes, putting up shower curtains, organizing kitchen cabinets, setting up electronics, and planning our moves for the next day. Finally we collapsed on the couch and relaxed with some pizza and Avatar. We struggled to muster up the energy to make the couch into a bed for Sylvia, and then finally got to sleep. It was a majorly productive day, and I can only say if Sylvia hadn't been there to keep me focused and on task I probably would have sat around all day staring at the boxes and feeling completely overwhelmed.

The next day was more of the first, though a little more surreal in that as we built shelves and tables we watched it snow outside my living room window. Snow. On May 2nd. Awesome. Nothing could bother me that day though, because the apartment was organized enough that I could start to decorate it, and I love to decorate! As the shelves were finished we dragged them here and there to see where they looked best. Sylvia was a great sport and a huge help. Whenever I tried to hold things up the wall and ask here what she thought, she'd just bat my hands out of the way and say "Let ME hold it, and YOU look at it and see if you like it." Again, she's super. And a professional center and level finder, also. By the end of the day she'd slap something up on the wall and it would be perfect. So she's a good hire if you're redecorating. :)

I did continue to apologize to my neighbors all day long, much to Sylvia's amusement. After pounding in nails to hang a shelving unit up, Sylvia commented that my neighbors may not be so happy with me right then. I snorted and replied: "What? It's not like it's early. What is it, 11? 12?" I then proceeded to turn around and see that the clock in my kitchen read 9:34am. On a Sunday.

Sorry, neighbors.

That became my mantra every time I placed a nail or a screw in a wall that day, but hopefully they understand that it's a one time thing. I am setting up a new apartment after all.
Well we managed it in just under 2 days. I filled up the dumpster outside my building, but my apartment was set up, clean, and ready for living! It really is quite nice if I do say so myself. The picture tour is compliments of Sylvia who documented our progress. It's nearly finished, only a few finishing touches remain, but I'm quite happy with it.

The next two days of her visit were all reserved for play! Those stories coming up next!

Finishing putting the last of the shelves into the wall. Sorry neighbors!
Now that the shelves are up, what to put on them? Hmmm....

This is the view from the font door. My TV/entertainment center.

My kitchen and table.

The lovely IKEA couch and my fireplace!

Bedroom wall decorations (from Target of course).

Vanity and bathroom. The Hawaiian curtain was free from my sister. I bought bright orange and pink towels to match. :)

The view from the kitchen: My living room and into my bedroom. That large opening is not a mirror, but a half wall that has vertical blinds across it to further darken my room if I close them.

Done! And modeling how I shall relax on my lovely new couch.

The Long Road Home

2010-05-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

The adventure began the moment my dad pulled up in front of my LaGrange residence towing a trailer behind him that was meant to carry my car and possessions across the country side to Colorado. My first heart pounding moment was seeing the trailer and thinking: "Dear Lord my car will never fit on that thing."

I had already packed my car to the gills earlier that day (or so I thought until Rob, my sister's fiance, hopped in and proved he was the king of packing Tetris. Thanks again, Rob. :) ) leaving only room to hop in a drive it up and onto the trailer. Which brought on heart pounding moment #2 as I slowly pulled my car up onto this tiny trailer, watching as the back end of my dad's huge truck LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, and waiting to hear an awful screech and scrape as the sides of my car hit the sides of the too-small trailer. The sound never came, the truck settled back to the ground and the car fit. Hallelujah.

I will never forget the sight of all my stuff in the back of my dad's truck. The Beverly Hillbilly jokes started and didn't stop until the truck was unloaded in Colorado Springs. Because of the huge favor everyone was doing me in helping me to move 995 miles away, I just smiled and laughed along...all the while thinking in my head "Excuse me, but I believe my stuff is a little better than that. After all, most of it is from Target."
Heart pounding moment #3 hit when, while driving down the expressway away from Chicago and towards the Quad Cities, my mattress decided it didn't want to go and made a mad leap for freedom. I screamed, Sylvia smacked me and told me to settle down, and my dad just rolled his eyes and pulled over.

The mattress never made it out of the back to the truck, but it did give a convincing show of trying. After stopping at a Target (yay!) along the way home and buying some more securing devices, we settled in for the trip to my parent's house: our rest stop before the long journey, and where we would pick up another lovely volunteer for the trip, my Uncle Jim.

The next morning we were up with the dawn securing my stuff once again and plastic wrapping the bejesus out of things. Settled in the back of my dad's truck with Sylvia, I said my goodbye's to my mom and to the log house I love so much, and started my journey out west. The trip was long to say the least, and all of us got close to cracking at one point or another. Before I knew it, I was standing in my apartment with Sylvia, looking at the amazing IKEA couch my dad and Uncle Jim had finished wrestling into submission and saying my thank you's and goodbye's to them as they drove off to start the long journey back to Illinois.

The apartment set up is another story entirely, and that's coming next. :) Enjoy the pictures

In LaGrange, packing up. *Sigh* Go on, the Beverly Hillbilly jokes are just bursting to come out of you. It's fine. :)

Sylvia took a picture of my house so her city friends would believe that I really did grow up in a log house.

Early the day of the long trip! Wrapping my mattress with the 45th or 46th layer of plastic. I was just being thorough.

While packing I had discovered many 'lost' sunglasses and had stashed them in my purse for easy access. Then I wore them all at once. UV protection is important!

While driving through Kansas we came upon fields and fields of these massive wind mills. They went on for miles. Beautiful and impressive, we need more of them!

"Hey Sylvia....guess what?"

"We're not in Kansas any more!!!"

*Groans and sarcastic laughter*

Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes. ~Henry David Thoreau

2010-04-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

A weekend surprise!

Almost 2 years ago, one of my best friends, Livi, moved to Virginia. Me, Sylvia, and Kelly, best friends since college, threw her a very bittersweet goodbye party full of laughter, tears, chips, cookies, and penis shaped balloons. It was a good time, if a bit sad.

This last Saturday morning it was time for MY goodbye party with my besties. Kelly and Sylvia came over early and the plan was to go to breakfast and hang out for the day, then they'd come to my show that night. Well, I thought that was the plan anyway. Just after Kelly and Sylvia had arrived, who should calmly and casually stroll into my room but LIVI! She said "Hi!" and I promptly burst into tears. These are the kind of amazing friends I have, and I couldn't be more grateful for them!

The day was a blur of good friends, good food (organic even, right Livi? ;) ), animals (we went to the zoo...because I am perpetually 7 years old), music (can we get some Gaga?), and memories!

Every time I see my friends, I am in more awe and disbelief of their kindness and love. They tell me how happy they are for me, how proud they are of me, and how much they wish for my happiness even as their eyes tear and they hug me close. I've said if before and I'll say it a million times: I am a lucky, lucky girl to have these friends in my life. And I promise them that I will never for a single second forget that, or take them for granted. As brave of a face as I put on in front of them, I know that I will miss them desperately and beg them to visit me every day. :)

Sylvia, brave and wonderful girl that she is, has volunteered to make the 2 day drive out there with me, my dad, and my uncle. She'll stay with me for a few days after they leave to help me get set up and settled in. As much as I'm looking forward to having her as my first guest in my new place, I am already dreading dropping her off at Denver airport, and making the drive back to my apartment...back home...alone for the first time in a new place, a new city, a new state.

...I hope my neighbors don't mind loud singing. :)

9 days!

My last Chicago show! (for at least a year)

The HUGE pile of gift cards from my friends. You guys really shouldn't have...I can't wait to use them! :) :) :)

Colorado, you have some serious competition...

...because I'm pretty sure these girls have hearts bigger than your mountains.

The mountains are calling, and I must go.

2010-04-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

That's written on a clock I bought for my mom and dad (hi mom and dad!) as a gift. Hardly stands up to what they've done for me...but it's cute, so it's a start. But more than the call of the mountains, I felt it was appropriate because it's also time.

While moving to Colorado seems a thing full adventure and exploration, to me it means something even more: freedom and possibility. Possibilities lead to adventures and adventures lead to discoveries about places and about yourself. To have an opportunity to go somewhere full of possibility in a place that is mine is very exciting. To live on my own while making my own way in life and in my future is really all I want at this stage of my life. Sure I love the added backdrop of beauty and adventure that the mountains offer, and I think the new landscapes and hobbies I'll pick up because of that environment will only add more dimension to the next part of my life.

I hesitate to call this a 'new start'. In order to have a new start, I feel that something old needs to end, and I don't want the things that I've had in my life up to now to end. I love my family, I love my friends, and I have no regrets about anything I've done while getting to this stage in my life. I love all the memories and experiences I've collected and will guard them jealously. It's not even that I feel I have no opportunities left for me in Chicago. There are millions of opportunities for me in Chicago! I also believe they will still be there when and if I decide to come back. There are opportunities for me everywhere if I make them, and I plan on making some in Colorado for the next 12 months.

I will be working for Starbucks there, a shift supervisor at the store on 31st and Colorado ave. I expect to have tons of adventures in that store with my new coworkers and fellow partners (they have no idea what's coming. :) ) and plenty of adventures outside of any walls too. I'll put the more interesting ones down here, and you can read about them if you like. I'm so excited to start this next phase in my life!

To my family, my friends, and the great city of Chicago: I will miss you.

To future family, future friends, and the city of Colorado Springs: Ya'll ready for this?

Phase 1 of adventure: Packing.