Shenanigans of Late

It’s been a while since I posted anything so here is a photo journal of the last few months. I’ve been fishing in Maine, cycling in Breckenridge, CO and on the Monarch Crest, which is part of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and climbed my first Colorado 14er.

This year was my 15th year in a row going to The Pines Lodge in Grand Lake Stream, Maine. If you ever want to get away The Pines is your place to go.

My biggest Smallmouth Bass ever! 4-5 lbs, 20.5″.

Lunch Break Beach

Me about 200 yards off shore wadding on the point at The Pines Lodge.

On the same day as catching the monster above I caught two Smallies on one lure!

Just the first weekend back from going to the East Coast I attempted my first 14er. I choose Castle Peak which is near Aspen, Co. After a very long dirt road walk approach I turned around about 400′ below the summit. The recent snow and ice was freaking me out and without any hiking under my belt I wasn’t feeling sure on my feet.

View of the extremely long road approach.

Another great view of the valley.

Looking up the to the summit.

The view back down the ridge.

After my defeat at Castle Peak I tired for some thing smaller and in my backyard. I climbed and summited Mt. Sopris which is 12,965′. It’s a double summit, so of course I had to do both. As I went for summit number two the weather rolled in and I got snowed on a bit and then had lightening off to the east for the rest of the descent.

Oh, I forgot to mention I rode my bike 1.5 hrs to the edge of the Maroon Bells Wilderness to start.

Ridge to summit

Summit #1

Weather coming in. This is the view from Summit #2 looking at #1.

Looking down the north side of the mountain. You can clearly see it just fell off making this giant slide.

More views of the Maroon Bells Wilderness.

The storm moving in.

Below is a view of Mt. Sopris from the North looking South from the Northside Loop on Red Hill.

Mt. Sopris, 12,965′

Following the hike up Mt. Sopris I drove to the Front Range to watch a cyclocross race in Boulder. I ran into friends I knew would be there and some that I didn’t. It was awesome to see the likes of Craig Etheridge, Clark Rider, and Jim and Heidi Wood. I got the beta on a great rogue camp spot in Frisco for Saturday night and spent Sunday on the bike, riding some classic high alpine trails. These were the kind of trails I first saw in Mountain Flyer magazine so many years ago that made me want to live here.

Next year I’ll post another pic at this same spot. I’ll just be a lot hairy.

Miners Creek Trail in Breckenridge

Views for days

I felt like this, to reach the first two pictures.

Wheeler Trail, Breckenridge

The Miners Creek Trail pictured above is both the Colorado Trail (CT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Below are pictures of the Monarch Crest Trail which is further south on the CDT. I was excited to ride both of these as it gave me a taste of what I’ll see next year while hiking. Monarch Crest was amazing with view after view.

Monarch Crest

Fall colors

The Crest

Stopping to pose

My last adventure of late was another trip east. I was supposed to spend the weekend with my friend Jill, but she crashed her bike and I had to go solo. The weather was crap for most of saturday so I went to the movies in Silverthrone to kill time. Due to lack of sleep and feeling a bit dehydrated I was nursing a headache most to the day. Dinner at the Breckenrdige Brew Pub was probably the worse decision I could have made. Number one loudest eating establishment ever!

I spent the night camped near the trail head for Mt. Quandary, which I hoped to summit. I slept okay in the back of the car but I need a better car/truck for car camping after the CDT. I got up at 5:30 to get an early start. I started in the fog and cold but had clear, yet very windy summit. Quandary was my first 14er in Colorado.

Low clouds rolling through the valleys.

Same view without clouds on the descent.

View up the summit ridge.

View to the south and all the fresh snow from the night before.

SUMMIT!

The map

Selfie on the descent.

Since the adventures are over it can only mean one thing, Cyclocross season is here. Since late September I’ve been racing four times. Two wins, a fourth and a third. Not a bad start to the season. Promoting the Aloha Shaka Cross once again is proving that promoting and racing on the same day is very hard.