Adventure

Mt. Princeton

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July 8, 2022: A day I will likely never forget. We started the day at about 5am as we headed to the trailhead for my 18th fourteener. My group included all friends, some of whom have hiked fourteeners with me before, and a few newbies. Overall, we were both excited and nervous about the adventure! I had read that this particular mountain was a class 2, meaning it was on the easier side, but I always remind myself and others that no fourteener is easy. This one had a lot of rocks, more so than a lot of others, so we were prepared to be in the scramble for a while.

We drove up and up. It was a little scary at times as our car felt like it was on the edge of a mountain (because it was), and very quickly the tops of the trees became eye-level. We passed a few cars that were parked on the side but decided to continue up, plus our map told us to keep going. So we did.

And then things went from okay to bad to worse within a matter of minutes.

We reached the end of the map (mind you: this included a lot of really difficult driving up some incredibly large rocks and divets but Lindsay was a champ…and she’s the MVP of this story as you will soon see). The end of the map was the actual trailhead. This is not where we needed to park though. And now we were on the side of a mountain… with a cliff on one edge… with nowhere to turn around. I remember looking over to one of my friends in the back seat and whispering, “This is the worst-case scenario.”

And it was. We were in big trouble.

We looked ahead and saw that the road got about 6 inches wider ahead so we drove there. We had to turn the car around. There was no other option. (I mean there was but that option included leaving a car on the mountain and a lot of money…) What happened next is truly a miracle. We spent the next 1.5 hours turning the car around on a mountain cliff, one inch at a time. The tires got stuck on the dry gravel multiple times, and we pulled the car up to the edge of the cliff too many times to count and enough times to cause us all to grow with anxiety and fear (and maybe a little sick to the stomach feeling mixed in there too).

There was a point where we legit didn’t think this car was coming off the mountain. No one actually said it out loud but we were all thinking it. This was one of those situations where you didn’t have time to truly think about what could happen next. You just had to figure out the best move you had at the moment and put all your chips in on that. At different points I think all six of us prayed out loud, asking God to save us and to save this car.

And then, it worked. We got the car out of the divet and out of the gravel. And it was facing exactly 180 degrees opposite of where it had been 90 minutes prior. It was a miracle. And we still don’t understand how it worked. (Again, Lindsay is the MVP here for her incredible driving skills and the Lord is the big hero for rescuing us and the car!)

The thing is, this was not the end of the journey. We still had to drive the car back down the large divets that we had gone up. At one point we had to all get to one side of the car in order for it to not flip. It was actually terrifying.

Now, you would think that this would be enough adventure for us in one day. But you would be wrong.

We got back down to the cars that were parked where we should have parked 1.5 hours ago (which we also thought previously were insane for parking that far down the mountain… we repented and gave them kudos for being smarter than us). We got out of the car, strapped on our packs, and headed back up the road we had just driven down…now on foot. Walking felt like a relief to us after this whole car endeavor.

Thankfully, we had checked the weather and we had a great weather window for the day, so we decided we could still complete the hike, even with an extra late start. The trail itself was not super fun. It was a ton of rocks and a lot of scrambling basically the whole way. I wouldn’t say it was hard but more tedious than anything. It seemed like the rocks just never ended.

We reached the summit, obviously a lot later than we had planned, but we were all alive and we had a lot to be thankful for.

We headed down the mountain, back to the car (which again, took forever because of the incredible amount of rocks), knowing that we still had a journey ahead of us. We had parked at a good location, but the rest of the road was still not awesome. And now, it was even harder. There were people coming up the road to camp for the night. (Again, this is a single-lane road made of dirt with a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other.)

Lindsay, once again, pulled through for us as she navigated and negotiated with the other cars coming up. We had a few tricky and tight passes, but honestly, after everything we had been through that day, this seemed like not a huge deal.

All that to say, we made it back safely with our lives, the car, and our bank accounts still intact. The car did have some damage, but it was honestly so minimal for what we had put it through, that it was a miracle in my eyes!

So today, as I sit and write this account, drinking coffee and remembering back to this insane adventure, I am thankful that God was with us and helped us turn the car around. I am thankful that I was with friends who did not freak out in a situation that could have been very easy to freak out in. I am thankful for Lindsay, who drove the car and turned it around on the side of a mountain cliff. I am thankful to have not been through this alone. I am thankful to be alive and without any injuries. And I am thankful that today, I am not on top of a mountain.

But don’t worry mountains. I will be back for you soon! Just next time, I think we will all triple-check the map and park in the right location. I prefer to have my adventures on foot.

Deep Survival – Book Recommendation

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If you have been around me at all in the last few months, you have likely heard me tell you a story from the book Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. This is a fascinating book that is full of incredible stories.

Gonzales tells the stories of many people who have been on some crazy adventures. Some lived to tell the story, others didn’t… and you’ll have to read the book to find out who lives and who dies. Most of these stories are about rock climbers, mountaineers, and sailors who simply had all the wrong things happen at just the right time.

What I loved about this book was not only the stories (which are truly fascinating and ones I hope to read again because they are full of incredible detail) but the way Gonzales weaves in these stories with facts about survival. In this book he talks about how the brain works and a various other important things to consider in survival.

One interesting fact he points out is that psychologists have noted the importances of being seen by other humans. This is actually a human need… to be seen by another human! So the big thing about getting lost is the fact that no one sees you, so you feel alone not just emotionally but in your being.

Another thing I learned was that there were multiple people who died who had climbed and summited Mt Everest several times, and then they died in Yosemite or on a Colorado 14er or another “easier” trip. It’s important to always remember that there are multiple factors to survival and just because you have made it to the top of the world doesn’t mean you can make it to the top of the mountain in front of you!

Anyways, I could go on and tell some of the stories in this book, but I wouldn’t do nearly as good of a job as Gonzales does in his story telling, so I will leave you to get the book and read these stories for yourself!

Stay safe out there!

Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales

Backpacking in the Dark.

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I recently went on my first backpacking trip with some friends. I didn’t want my first time backpacking to be with only first-timers like me, but that’s how it ended up. So we did some research, asked some friends, bought some gear, and borrowed the rest. We planned out easy meals, shoved things into our bags, and then managed to cram it all into the back of a car and head to the mountains.

Oh, and we brought spike ball because are you really camping without it?! 😉

(The start of our journey up the mountain as the sun sets.)

We planned poorly because we started our trek into the campsite right as the sun was going down. This was a new trail I had never done and it became dark outside quickly. I had read up about the trail online multiple times and everyone said it was about a 1-1.5 hour hike in and then you arrive at a small, run down, old cabin…which you cannot camp inside of. (That was a key point that everyone made very evident on the trip reports.)

So the four of us were in the dark, looking for a small cabin, with way too much stuff. I’ve heard that everyone packs too much on their first trip though, so I think we were doing it right.

Well, we got tired really quickly. And it got darker and darker. Then we started to doubt our directions, believing we made a wrong turn, but unable to see where we were or where we were going. We came to a bridge that was made of trees just laying across the river. I crossed this bridge first to see if I could tell if it was the right way. There was no way to tell either way, so the rest of the group slowly crossed this bridge and we continued in the dark.

(The bridge was really scary actually. It was wobbly and unstable and looked way longer in the dark…especially with a heavy pack on your back.)

(The bridge! Not that crazy til you have a heavy pack on and it’s dark.)

Anyways, we made it to a good stopping place and two of us continued up the mountain to see if we could find the cabin or at least a good place to camp for the night. We managed to find several other tents and a good place to camp that was decently flat for our tent. We went back to get the other two and then headed back to our prime location… except we missed the spot and ended up further up the mountain.

But…… we found the cabin!! 🙂 This was a joyous moment as we realized we had made it and taken the right trail!

So we set down our packs, set up the tent, and then headed to bed. It was a cold night and we were on a slope so we slid down to the bottom of the tent all night.

But it was all worth it.

Our backpacking trek may have been less than ideal, but it was worth it because we were together, trying something new, as a group of friends. We were on an adventure!! And when you are on an adventure, everything that is less than ideal or things that seem to go wrong, simply make the adventure that much more exciting!

This was the end of our backpacking portion. Yes, it was a short backpacking experience, but it was one that gave us a good taste of what it would be like to backpack for a few days next time…with less stuff, less elevation change, and more daylight.

From our campsite, the plan was to hike some 14ers each day for the next few days and just enjoy being in the mountains. The camping area was right below the treeline, so we had some wonderful evenings of stargazing and incredible views of some of the tallest mountains in Colorado!

Check out future posts about our hiking adventures!

P.S. As I researched some of the info below, I came across a website that said: “Missouri Mountain Trail… is only recommended for very experienced adventurers.” So if you need any “very experienced adventurers” we are now your people! 😉

Trail: Missouri Gulch Trail near Buena Vista, Colorado

Elevation Gain: Approx. 1,350 feet

Time: Approx. 2 Hours

Distance: About 1.5 miles

(Trail on the way back, obviously, during the day and not in the middle of the night!)

How to Hike a 14er

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I love hiking and going on outdoor adventures! One of my favorite adventures has been learning to hike 14ers. 14ers are mountains that are over 14,000 ft in elevation and Colorado has 54 of them (give or take depending on how you classify them, but that’s not a necessary conversation here). Anyways, I have hiked, as of 2019, 10 of these 14ers in Colorado and my goal is to hike them all!

I love bringing people with me when I hike. Yes, that is mostly because it is dangerous to hike alone, but it also allows others to experience something great too! Many times these friends are ones who have never hiked a 14er before, and they have all made it to the top! So in this post, I wanted to give some tips for hiking and preparing to hike a 14er for all the friends that will go with me on an adventure one day!

  1. Find someone to hike with. Obviously you want to find a buddy to go hiking with you, but it is even more helpful if you can find someone who has hiked, climbed, or backpacked before …especially if you have never done those things! This friend will be a major help along the way, both with tips and encouragement.
  2. Get in shape! You don’t have to be in the best shape of your life to hike a 14er. Mountains have a variety of types (or “classes”) of routes. These routes all vary in difficulty meaning that there are easily mountains that are much shorter than a 14,000 ft but are classified at a much higher rank in difficulty. Just because you are hiking a 14er doesn’t mean you are hiking the biggest, baddest mountain out there….just the one with the best view (in my opinion). So prepare for this adventure by getting in shape. Go on a walk every day for a few miles at a steady, quick pace. Going for a run a few times a week is even better! Do some lunges, run some stairs, swim a few laps, hit the bleechers. Anything that is going to get you working at a level with less oxygen than normal is the key. Be consistent with your training and remember the joy you will have at the top of the mountain! That is your motivation!
  3. Drink water! At least one week before you hike, you need to start drinking more water than normal. This is essential for anyone just going to visit a high altitude location, and so it is life saving for those going to an even higher altitude (aka: 14,000 ft above sea level)! Drink lots of water, and then drink more. My coach in college used to tell us, “Drink water like it’s your job.” So do that.
  4. Know the mountain. Before you head out to the trailhead, you need to do some research! Every mountain has multiple routes. Study the route you want to take and know where the trailhead begins. Check out 14ers.com or alltrails.com to see recent reports from people who have hiked. Learn from their mistakes and take their advice!
  5. Gather your gear. Each 14er is different and the length of the trails and difficulties are also different. So for longer hikes you will need to bring more food and a wider variety of clothing. But here’s a general list that should get you through most one-day 14er hikes: camelback backpack (if you have this, it’s a life saver!), 1-2 extra water bottles in your pack, easy access snacks (granola bars, fruit snacks, apple, trail mix, PB sandwich, etc. …things you can eat while you walk), sunscreen, first aid kit, toilet paper, ziplock bags (for trash…pack it and keep it with you please!), LAYERS (tshirt, long sleeve shirt, jacket, rain jacket, etc.), hat/sunglasses, hiking boots (or good running shoes will work if it’s an easier 14er), hiking poles (optional), headlamp, good socks, gloves (if you are like me and have Elsa hands that are always cold) and of course, a sign that has the name of the 14er along with the height so you can take a picture at the top!
  6. HIKE! Now you are ready to hike! Before you head out for the day, make sure to check the weather! Storms tend to roll in around 2pm in Colorado most afternoons. Therefore, you need to summit before the storm arrives. My personal rule is to summit every mountain before noon. So if you are doing a double or triple, you must leave early. The most common call for a rescue from the top of 14ers is due to lightening, so please, please, stay safe and forget about the summit if a storm rolls in unexpectedly early. Now, when I say start early, I mean early. I typically want to be at the trailhead by at least 5am, but that changes depending on the difficulty of the mountain, the number of peaks, and the weather. So just be smart and start as early as you can. (Which is why you need a headlamp because it will be cold and dark.)

So friends, those are my tips for having a great 14er hike! It really is worth it! Our God created these tall mountains, and I pray that as you stand on the top, you would realize how vast and unsearchable our God is! He is bigger than the mountains and yet He knows every detail of our lives! We will never understand all that He is and yet we can know Him personally. And I praise God, that He has given us mountains to enjoy and incredible views to see His creation! May the Lord bless you and keep you on your journey!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:1-5

Emerald Lake

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Estes Park is a great place for adventure, but it also holds one of my favorite winter hikes, Bear Lake to Emerald Lake.

Estes is a cozy little mountain town full of quaint shops, people seeking adventure, and some of the best taffy you will ever try! It is also the entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). RMNP is wonderful and full of life! There are tons of trails and animals! Trail ridge road is also park of the park and is the highest paved highway in the USA, as it takes you over the continental divide. You should try it sometime, but only in the summer since it’s closed all winter due to snow.

Now, let me tell you about my favorite winter hike. Bear Lake is a gorgeous lake in RMNP. Many people travel to see this lake nestled into the mountains. There are trails around the lake but the best one is the Emerald Lake hike.

Emerald Lake is the fourth lake from Bear Lake. Beginning at Bear it’s a little under 4 miles round trip out to Emerald. You also get to see two other beautiful lakes on the way out!

The trail begins with a fairly steep uphill that will have you asking if you are out of shape or need to start working out more (or maybe start working out in general). It’s really not that bad, but you are now at over 9,000 feet elevation so everyone will feel that at least a little. The first lake you come to is Nymph Lake. It’s a great feeling to get to the first lake. Since everything is frozen, you can hike right over the lake! This is the lake you will see the most people at since it’s the closest and shortest distance. It’s a beautiful view, but if the weather is bearable I’d encourage you to continue on.

Once you cross the lake it’s another uphill trail, but by now you are likely getting used to the air and know a good pace for yourself and your group. This part of the trail is my favorite section in the winter! Soon you will be at one of the best lookouts on the trail, and it’s a must see! Stop and soak it in. Take a few pictures but honestly, just look and see. It’s a view that you will want to remember!

Continue on the trail, which has some thin and tricky areas, until you get to the third lake, Dream Lake. This is the longest lake and it’s a stunning view in the winter! You will likely not believe that the view could get better than this… but it does! So don’t give up!

Dream Lake is a fun lake to cross in the winter due to the size, but this is also the place I’ve turned around the most often. If the weather is really cold or the wind is strong, you will start to really feel it out on this lake since there’s no tree coverage and you’ve been hiking for a while now. But if you are able, and the weather is good… snap a pic, get across the lake, and head into the trees on the opposite side for the final lake!

The final trail is the hardest to follow in the winter since you are simply following the snow packed areas made by those before you and this is the least traveled trail. But you can do it! There are a few very steep ascents in this section but it’s not terribly long. You will go through some trees right before the trail opens up to the lake. Take a deep breath, step through the trees, and look up.

Emerald Lake. You’ve made it! And you are now at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, two 12,000+ foot mountains where you could see some adventurous people backcountry skiing down the valley of the Tyndall Glacier. It’s the most beautiful on a clear day with a fresh coat of snow, but sometimes you may not be that lucky. This lake will be very cold so you likely won’t stay long. But please, sit for a moment and just take it in.

Once you’ve taken in one of the most beautiful places on earth (and taken a few sips of water!!), you can begin your descent. Follow the same trail you took to come out and keep in mind that sometimes it’s easier (and more fun!) to slide on your snow pants down some of the hills.

That’s it. You made it to one of my favorite places and I hope you enjoyed the journey! It’s a place I go almost every year and it’s worth it every single time. It should take anywhere from 1.5-3 hours depending on the weather, your fitness, and your group size.

A note on snow shoes and then some final tips. In the winter you need either snow shoes or ice cleats. Both of these can be rented in town before you head into the park. If there’s fresh snow then snow shoes are the most fun, though they are more difficult to manage. I used ice cleats for the first time this year since the trails were packed and there wasn’t fresh snow… and I loved them! They were easy to use and super helpful! But again, fresh snow would need the snow shoe. (The people at rental stores are always helpful with this kind of thing too.) And I always rent poles as well to help make the hiking easier.

Final Tips:

  • Bring a portable charger for your phone.
  • Bring water and a snack.
  • Check the weather.
  • Get out early.
  • Hike with a group.
  • Wear layers and water proof clothing.
  • Plan ahead and communicate with your group.
  • Have fun and meet some new friends on the way!
Emerald Lake 12.27.19
Dream Lake 12.27.19