Aspen Does not Stop!!

Photos of This Day and More

The last time I checked here at the blogger terminal I had given a brief description of hiking Elk Camp (one of the peaks of the Snowmass ski mountain - 11,300 Ft.) That day was amazing and excruciating to say the very least. You can find pictures of it on my FB page, here. The great thing about this hike is that my bro's condo is about a 20 minute walk to the base of the climb. We actually took the lift up a little ways because starting from the very bottom was going to take all day, we started around 130pm and we had to book it up to the top. so we rode the gondola/ Lift up and started from there. The hike took right around 2.5 hrs, that is about a hour and 45 up and about 45 mins to get down (we had to book it to catch the last lift down or we would have had to hike like 1500 ft down.) After that I did not feel like doing to much more that day other than going back out to aspen Highlands to get  a A+ cal-zone from the Bro's restaurant. That was about it other than some TV and bed.

As you can see, you really cant beat the view of the Maroon Bells a 14,000 that I will hike partially come early Friday morning. Friday morning my two brother (John and Bill) will attempt a summit, their first. There is some technical ideas going up that will be a challenge for them, like a chimney to climb and some other steeper rocks. 

Yesterday was a bit more laid back than my first 11.300 ft day. Yes, that is my highest assent on foot, but it is not over yet. I am not aspiring to do Maroon Bells, but I am going to try and assen another 14,000 ft mountain that is a bit easier next week. I am just building up to going higher. Baby Steps for now!! My legs are so soar right now you don't know. Another thing about climbing is that it is difficult. You heart rate is so spiked at lactic threshold you have to fight going over it to much. This requires that you set a variable pace and to slow down to slow your heart rate when needed. Believe me, you get a feeling for it. There are times when you are hitting a wall where you can hear your heart beat big beats. Thump! Thump! Thump! And yes, of course you feel it. So it is a incredible experience once you make it to the summit!!!   I will do a hike friday and then another soon after and another after that. Will keep you informed!!! I hope!

So yesterday I took off with John to the city of Aspen. Let me tell you that Aspen is a hustling and bustling little place of activity. There are cars all over the place, parking  is a issue. Then there are people walking and riding bicycles ever where. The real trick when driving around is that the bikes and pedestrians have the right away at all times. The people dont even look before crossing the street, they just dart out into the street car or no car. so you have to be watching every second. It is so bizarre. Then there are nice shops and places to eat, it is a typical tourist trap  of shopping. The most magnificent thing about the city is the view and nice people all around town! I do plan to park my car outside of town, ride in and ride around. That will be another blog day in the future.

Here you can see John and Pete (my Step-Mother's Dog). After we spent a good part of the afternoon in town we went back up to the condo and chilled out!! Fun Stuff!! Till another day!

In Aspen and loving it!!

I woke up Monday morning at my camp sight in santa fe and decided it was to chilly to ride, plus not sleeping, I decided to just drive in to the heart of old town Santa fe and ride my Fixie around the town. I rode around for about an hour, saw all the main points of interest, snapped a few pics, got back in the car and started driving north. Because I had left much earlier my Garmin had me arriving in Aspen just after 4 or 430. I was going to camp in Buena Vista but no, I decided to hit Independence Pass instead and make to Aspen.

Independence Pass was crazy, it climbs to over 12,000 ft, is narrow in places and switch backs galore. I did see a wreck on the way down. I arrived in Aspen around 430 and made my way to Aspen Highlands Pizza Co. where all the brothers were working.

That night I had some food and hydration, then we celebrated Sam's B-day.

Will write more later. I climbed 11,300 yesterday up Elk Camp. Will have more later, I hope, dont hold me to it, there is way to much to get into here. I might chuck the laptop away!!

In Santa Fe for the night

PHOTOS (I ham reporting links to my Photos, so go through the titles of each entry and where you see a photos link click on it and browse the photos.) - No Worries.
I left Little Rock at 5:30 AM in a quick escape. I hardly slept during  the night because I was so enthusiastic about making it to Santa Fe  in one day. It took 13 hours with stops in Oklahoma City, Amarillo and San Jon to accommodate my fuel needs along the way. It was not a bad drive, i guess I am all pumped up on the excitement. I made it into Santa Fe right at 5:30 PM MST. Now I am all settled into my camp ground around 10 miles outside of SF.

Tomorrow I am going to wake up and ride my bike into town and back, take a shower and head into town for some lunch grub. After that I plan to drive up to Buena Vista, ride my Fix Gear Bike around the town and maybe head for a camping spot for a second night.

The thing with my Step-Mother is like this. She has been renting a condo in Aspen since July 1, she was planning to leave yesterday, but was convinced to stay on for another week. Just this past week she learned of my arrival and got peeved that she was convinced to stay another week thinking that John and Sam would spend all their time hanging out with me and not her. I think she feels used and is pissed!!

Until tomorrow! I am too tired to write anymore and there are bugs crawling in and around my keyboard.

It Started!!!

I left for Little Rock, AR today and have arrived with safety on my side. I am not going to write much tonight because I am just a wee bit tired and can type for anything at the moment. I do have some interesting news to report that will exacerbate my arrival into Aspen on I think Tuesday, maybe Monday, not sure yet. It is a family situation that has nothing to do with me but very well could effect me if I let it. I don't plan to let it though!! I will leave you with this: My father called me last night to tell me to stear clear of Aspen because my Step-Mother is there and she is causing a unpleasant roe!! till tomorrow or later!!

Just got off the phone with Bill and John

Yes, I called John first, he was in Denver looking for an apartment for when he starts a Art college there this fall semester. I am curious as to the plans of the mighty three (Bill, John & Sam) during the week I arrive. He said that it is Sam's birthday on Monday so they are going to try and do something for Sam, like party hearty. He also said that he was going work for Bill at the restaurant so Bill can get several days off in a row to spend with me plus go to Denver for the Mile High Music Fest. That is all I could get out of him other than he is leaving the following Sunday, Aug 14th. So I call Bill, he says he does not know anything about Monday, he has to work until close but surely we can come up with something Monday night. That is if I make it, I planned on camping in Buena Vista, I might be stopping because of exhaustion, who knows. I might get really pumped up and just make the two hours from Buena Vista to Aspen. Bill also talked about going to Denver and said they would leave later Saturday afternoon and return early Monday morning. Ok, that is fine, i don't care, maybe I will go or maybe I will stay in Aspen, who knows yet. The other funny thing was John said they have a Hotel and Bill said they were camping...Yep, utter chaos in a way, all over the place. We will see, I leave in five days still.

Taking a Driving Trip

I am traveling to Aspen Colorado this coming weekend to visit my little brother Bill (24). Subsequently my other two littler brothers, John (22) & Sam (18), will be there as well staying with Bill and reaping the benefits of a mountain town. Bill moved out there around two and half years ago to become a one season ski bum working in a rental shop. He told us it was just for the season but when he hung on for the summer and another season we knew something was up. That something was partnering in buying  the now famous Highlands Pizza Company. Where he came up with the money or how he actually did it, I don't know, but he has been self employed with his two other business partners running a restaurant in Aspen Highlands. Some people have to work for the man and some people are just the man.

Today is Monday and I am sitting at work waiting until this coming Saturday before I make my journey. Saturday I will pack my car with two bikes, bike equipment, camping equipment, clothes, a cooler and various electronic items. I also have a slew of stupid things like a tennis racquet, frisbee, soccer ball and other junk. My car is going to be so full of useless crap but what else would I do, not take useless crap, no way. Once the car is packed I will drive 2 hours west to Little Rock, AR to visit with my mom and have a over night stay. That Sunday morning I plan to leave around 5 or 5:30 am and drive as far as Santa Fe, NM.

Do I make it to Santa Fe in one day?? I think I can, the drive from Little Rock to Santa Fe is 886 miles which can be driven at 77 MPH @ 11.5 hrs. Then camp out in Santa Fe out side of town, cook my own dinner and have a few local brews of some sort all in my cozy camp site. Then the next day take a stroll into town on my bicycle which is 10 miles away, come back, shower and drive into town, eat lunch and drive up to maybe Buena Vista, CO. Camp in Buena Vista and drive to Aspen the Next Day.

The camp sites that I have in mind are RV sites that will let me set my tent up and use the running water and electricity giving me access to my laptop and charging my phone. Then they have full Bathroom and Showers with in a short walk. It is not rugged camping but the best of car camping, like a out door hotel of sorts, hope it doesn't rain.

In Aspen, when I get there I will sleep at my brothers condo in Snow Mass. Cheers. Will update soon hopefully.