For Father's Day this Sunday, I brought a picture of my dear ol' Dad up to Navajo Peak! Navajo is one of the more challenging hikes in my book as the final scramble to the summit is exposed and a little scary; it would be hard to blow it but if you did, it's good night Irene (to quote Tom Servo). Add to that, it was mighty windy on the summit ridge (as well as the picnic-table sized summit proper). Think of that full-cheeked cloud character from olde time maps, blowing down onto the corners of the known world and you'll have a good idea of what it was like.
Back to Dad. Through all my travails out here, he's always supported me and has been one of the few people who has never tried to talk me out of my dreams (even when it seemed like the logical thing to do). There comes times on the trail when the legs and the mind sag, times when it feels like going on is a futile effort. The first person I always think of when my own spirit wanes is my Dad. His quiet confidence and determination in life slowly take over that emptiness and somehow my feet keep moving. Without him, none of the crazy ambitions I have would even be a remote possibility. To know my father believes in his son gives me that extra support when things seem most grim and the absolute dedication I have to do this book right and to the best of my ability is a reflection of his work ethic. I love you Dad, thanks for everything--this isn't the last journey you'll help me through in this life. Sorry for the silly chef picture :)
The day before, Saturday, Jody joined me for the bike to Bison Peak. This wild peak is one of Colorado's truly hidden jewels! After a good climb through pine forests, the plains open up and reveal a huge amphitheater of wild shaped rock formations. They look like giant drippy castles, and the bizarre symmetry and placement puts Stonehenge to shame! It's a scrambler's delight--there will definitely be more pictures of this unearthly place later on this site!
Yesterday was another epic climb up to Clark Peak, a 12,994 Ft. peak in the remote Medicine Bow Mountains in northern Colorado. The drive might have been the most tiring part of the adventure, taking 3 hours from Boulder (a long way for a day hike). The neat thing about Clark is you can't see it until you are literally on top of it--high shoulders of mountain plateaus guard the elusive peak. Clark doesn't have many visitors, evidenced by the fact there are no trails to the top. I had to ascend a grassy, flower-festooned slope to ascend. It was an awesome feeling--on the top you could barely see any traces of mankind. Oh, and for the Colorado folks: you get a view of the northwest face of Longs Peak! Longs is prominent throughout the Front Range, but normally the east and south faces. I saw the distinctive summit block minus the normally-seen profile of Mount Meeker. Today was a "writing day", though all I've done is busy work until now! ALSO: thanks so much to all the people that have donated to the mountain project! You have been WAY more generous than I would have expected and believe me, your kindness will not be forgotten!
