Backpacking Music Pass!

This was amazing... the highlight of my summer, maybe my year... I can't believe I don't get out and backpack more often. We will definitely squeeze another trip in before summer is over. About a 10 mile roundtrip with packs, plus a nice little day hike to get up to some pretty cool views.

Anyway... here are some pics to tell the story:

State Games Tri

Me and Jamie and Holly and Celeste Higbee did the State Games Triathlon a few weeks ago. Max would have done it with us, but he missed the age cutoff by a few months. We should have a much bigger group next year. Alisa... you should come up for this. It's a great event. We'll be going back every year.

Hiking the Manitou Incline

We made a spur-or-the-moment decision late yesterday to hike the Manitou Incline with our friends the Hansens.

This is a straight shot that goes up over 2000 ft in about a mile distance. Up a bunch of railroad ties. It's about an average 40% grade.




And a little over an hour later... here we are at the TOP!

Here's a little video I took. But it's kinda hard to capture the steepness with pics or video....



To come back down, you jog-hop-trip-slide the Barr Trail, cuz it'd be too dangerous and tedious to down-climb those incline steps.

The kids hike-climbed like champs. What a cool hike... can't believe we have lived in the Springs all these years and just got to this...

Cass and Teri mtn biking Kipps Loop

Max 50m breaststroke - first swim meet

Mama don't 'low no guitar pickin round here...

Buena Vista Bike Fest - CANCELED

May 15 in Buena Vista, CO... after months of preparing for my first "century" ride (100 miles)...
But, consistent with Colorado weather, about an hour after the event was officially canceled, the sun broke through and roads dried off. So, after fueling up with ham, eggs, hash browns, green chili, and griddle cakes... I got out for a 70 mile solo ride along the base of fourteeners between Salida and Buena Vista...


Totally worth the trip.