Denver!

Things have been hectic 'round these parts lately but signs point to life settling a bit. We are going to keep this blog going but now with slightly warmer toes. Here are a couple shots of Denver to get us up to speed...

Sunset from the CU Architecture school roof patio.

America is Larimer St. 

Cheers,

Fired up!

Due to fortuitous timing, we drove the first two and a half days of the road home with our friend Eric.

We met up in east Anchorage to start the drive...

Hopefully this post looks ok, it's from my mobile.

Cheers,

Moving time!

Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that Jes and I moved to Alaska. At other times, it feels like a lifetime. Alaska is a truly special and unique place and our time here has been just that. We are heading back to Denver in a little over a week. We leave with a mix of sadness and excitement but most of all, happiness that we got a chance to do this.

All our stuff, well what can fit in the picture, piled up and ready for the movers.

Packing for a week with friends and then a week on the road back to the CO.

Cheers, 

Crow Pass Crossing

Our good friend Ryan came up from Colorado to run in the Crow Pass Crossing race. He and I had run/hiked the trail last year when he visited in July. When we learned that there was a race on the trail, we made plans to run it the next year. The course goes from Girdwood, over Crow Pass, to the Eagle River Nature Center, covering somewhere around 24 miles. The beauty of the scenery can't be overstated, it is simply one of the best trails out there.
The night before we had a pre-race party with some friends.

Ryan preparing for the race...

Jes and some friends made sure we saw encouragement everywhere...

We will overcome the bears!

The morning of the race did not go as planned, in short, we were late. Minor mishaps like having enough gas to get to the start and being realistic about how long it was going to take to get there added up to a rather tense morning. 

By a minor miracle, we made it on time. This is me just after registering and on my way to run to the start line, I am very, very relieved. Jes should be roundly applauded for sticking with us through the morning.

Jes and several friends were at the finish to cheer us on. From left to right, Jenna, Jes, Meghan, and Lindsay. Our friends Bruce and Eric were a bit further down, their cheering was much appreciated. 

Ryan at the finish. Note the large blood stain on his hat. He managed to hit a tree that Bruce specifically warned him about. One tree in 24 miles of wilderness, tree lined trail and Ryan nails it, awesome.

Me, rolling into the finish.

Ryan and I post-race, feeling pretty good. It was a great race on a great day, definitely something to come back for. 

Cheers, 

Powerline Pass (Summer edition)

On Saturday Bruce, Ben, and I ran Powerline Pass, starting in Indian and going north to Glen Alps.

A miles or so down the trail looking up towards the Pass. The trail followed the powerlines most of the way with only a few deviations. 

The Pass.

Look, I'm on a rock!

A snowmelt lake at the base of the Pass.

The descent from the Pass, in the far distance you can see Anchorage. 

Cheers, 

Symphony Lakes

This past Friday, Jes and I took off right after work to drive up to the Symphony Lakes trail. Jes had wanted to do the hike since we arrived but we hadn't gotten around to it until now.

We hiked down into the valley of the south fork of Eagle River. 

Giant flat boulder midway down the trail.

The lakes (Eagle is on of the Symphony Lakes) we ringed by a talus field. We hiked to a high point between the lakes and enjoyed some dinner and drinks.

Jes and Eagle Lake.

Talus and Symphony Lake.

Eagle River and Cantana Peak. 

A great hike, cheers.

Unfinished business

On Friday I set out with Jack and Amber to finish up a run I had started at the beginning of summer. My first attempt at Rabbit Lakes was thwarted by snow on the trail and an impending storm. This time it was different, the weather held off and we made it there and back. A great trail and a great run.

Ingo, Jack, and Amber. 

Cheers,