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You are here: Home / Archives for Headline

Hiking the Four Pass Loop in Colorado

December 20, 2015 By Jillian

It was probably an hour or so after midnight.  My feet had already gone through a freezing cold stream and were quite wet inside my waterproof boots.  I needed to stop and pee about every 5 minutes.  My head was pounding, as it does when I exert myself at high altitude.  I had more than 12 hours to go before I was finished.  Did I mention that it just after midnight?

Something about being in those situations always makes me wonder why I get myself into those situations in the first place, then I remember…finishing is awesome!

All in, the hike would be 28 miles long, going over four passes all over 12,500 feet just outside of Aspen, Colorado for a total elevation gain of over 7,500 feet.  We left town at 10pm for the short drive to trailhead, doing the majority of the hike in darkness to avoid afternoon thunderstorms as we finished.  Most tried to sleep beforehand but I failed in that endeavor.  

As we started to approach the first of the four passes, West Maroon Pass, I found myself in a small group of 3, and then 4, hikers.  As we began to ascend the steepest parts, far above tree-line, I began to notice how spread out the group was with some hikers over 30 minutes ahead of us, just a few hours into the hike, and others over an hour behind us.  At this stage I was dealing with the worst of the altitude sickness I was likely to feel but it didn’t help much.  Had I not ‘fallen-in’ with these members of the group, by luck, I might have turned back after attaining that first pass.   

The group I was hiking with was over 30 strong with nearly twenty setting out with us at the start of the night.  (The other third of the group was starting a little later and going counter-clockwise to our clockwise hike.)  This group, a bunch of executive types from the financial services industry, has pretty much committed itself to doing something outlandish like this every year.  This year was the fourth such hike for the group, my second, with last year’s hike a trip up Yosemite’s Half Dome.  

With a quick refresh at the top, having just climbed about 3,000 feet in elevation, the four of us began our descent into a small valley before starting our second ascent.  This next leg would be just an hour or so long, our shortest leg of the entire hike.  Timing was important, we knew that if it took us more than 7 hours to reach that second pass, affectionately named Frigid Air Pass, we’d need to turn back because it we wouldn’t be able to finish the entire loop in time. On the way to that second pass, we encountered another hiker who had been in front of us but who had slowed down.  That hiker, Kevin, joined myself, Eric, Steven and Jessica.  We’d be together for the rest of the hike.  We made it to Frigid Air in less than 6 hours, so we were on track.

Our next descent was a big one and took us almost to the altitude we started at, but not quite.  As we approached tree-line we were greeted by a trail runner, a member of our group, who had been well behind us with his father who ultimately turned back, and was now on a course to finish hours ahead of us.  The way he continued running (walking already seemed difficult for us) with a sandwich in his mouth was something of an inspiration to our small band of hikers and kept us all ho-humming along.  We made our descent, thought some moving shadows (the effect of our head-lamps on some logs) were actually bears, ate some breakfast and enjoyed a cloudy sunrise.  There was a beautiful waterfall and incredible fauna and mountain scenery all around us and it was finally bright enough to actually stop and smell the wildflowers!

This was the time to speed up and make up some time but instead we found ourselves slowing down and feeling the affects of fatigue.  A river crossing gave us a lot of down-time, forcing us to change socks and actually sit down for more than a minute.  We decided it was probably our half-way point, right around 7am, and the rest was needed as our next uphill segment, named Segment Soul Crusher by our leader, was set to be a doozy.  Thankfully, as we moved on and got ready for that climb we were followed by some Elk, or perhaps deer, on the other side of the valley and up the hill.  Other than porcupines those would be our only major wildlife encountered.  (NOTE:  After turning back at the first pass several other members of the group encountered campers dealing with a momma bear and her two cubs.  Although it sounded like a unique experience, I was glad to not have shared it!)

We quickly found that Segment Soul Crush was aptly named.  It was some of the steepest hiking I’ve ever done and it seemed to go on forever.  Thankfully, unlike the final hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the trail was pretty solid and not made of scree, a big plus.  Still though it went on and on and even had a tantalizingly cruel false summit but we kept walking, mostly in silence.  Our biggest break came when we encountered members of our group going the other direction, right about when we should have encountered them, meaning we were all moving in a timely fashion.  On the false summit, my group stopped to rest and me, feeling bad as they kept stopping to wait for me, kept on moving.  My mental state was one of needing to move forward, constantly, but at my own slow pace.  Everyone else was moving a little quicker and enjoying breaks to let me catch up.  By me setting off ahead just a few minutes we all moved much quicker.

Approaching the third pass, Trail Rider Pass, we were well above tree-line and the wind was howling at us again.  I encountered three women who were running the same route I was hiking, but in the other direction, and they were joking that they decided to ignore the weather forecast for the day and look at Florida’s forecast instead.  When I told them I was actually in from Florida they were blown away that my sea-level lungs were still pumping…they were in from Denver for the day.  We took eachother’s photos, the rest of my group of 5 quickly caught up, and we were off again.  Now though, we were looking at the clock as it was already past 9am and we were expecting some serious thunder around noon.  We picked up the pace as we headed down.

It was a shame, this next segment was the most beautiful we encountered in the sunlight and were unable to spend  much time enjoying it.  First there was the insanely beautiful Snowmass Lake, inviting for a swim much as Odysseus and his men were called by the sirens of old.  Our bodies all ached and 20 minutes of that frigid water would have made my body blissfully numb for the final climb up Buckskin pass.  

Alas it was not meant to be.  We had another 500 feet or so to descend before beginning our final ascent, another 2750 feet uphill.  This time we were under the cover of trees for much of that hike and able to enjoy the scenery and shade as the sun became stronger.  It was ironic, the sun was finally out in force, the first time all hike, and yet we knew it would not last long.  The sunlight though did allow us to witness what must be the grandest dam built by beaver’s I’ve ever seen.  I think it was easily twice the size of my first dorm room!

That final ascent was rough, mostly because we were all practically sleepwalking at this point. Still, we knew we  needed to keep walking and it took all the energy we had to see it through.  Those of us who had felt stronger earlier in the day were now feeling much weaker and it took the 5 of us as a team to really push one another up that final hill.  Thankfully, once we left the shelter of the trees we could see the pass the entire time.  The little shadows of people up there only helped to make it feel closer and eased the mental stress quite a bit.  One hiker, John, who had passed us an hour or two earlier was now hurting and we caught up to him and finished as a group of six.
At the top, we rejoiced for about three minutes before starting what felt like the world’s slowest  sprint down that final hill.  Our group splintered on the way back to the parking lot with two of our members getting there and to shelter before the thunder started.  The rest of us finished quite water-logged and cold.  Still we finished and were safely below the tree-line when the thunder began.  Others in our group were not so lucky, one shedding his hiking poles (a.k.a lightning rods) as he ran down the hill. In the end, everyone survived and enjoyed a raucous dinner together before departing town the next day.  

Filed Under: Headline, Hike, USA Tagged With: colorado, hiking

Family Travel Planning with Tw-oddlers

September 3, 2015 By Jillian

For more than two years we went where we wanted, when we wanted as we traveled around the world. Compromise was relatively easy as a traveling couple, especially since we have the same interests. Fast forward five years and travel with children in tow, let alone two year old twin girls and another on the way, is a whole different story. In fact, those family holiday spots we used to avoid as a couple are looking awfully appealing these days. Marketing slogans like “something for everyone” and “family fun” not only catch our eye, but also factor heavily into our planning family vacations.

11923334_10103173098262494_3867469051792587250_oAlthough we avoided these places as a couple, we’ve found they really aren’t bad at all. In fact, the travel industry seems to be adjusting quite well to active, millennial parents, who want the family vacation, memories and the whole shebang as well as a little adventure and excitement.

As we put together our family travel plans for next year there are some options that have caught our eye.

Travel by Ferry. Believe it or not, ferry travel is not only adventurous, but also relatively inexpensive for large families and a great option for covering distance or getting beyond the typical tourist track. Did you know that you can see the Alaskan coast by ferry, getting off whenever you want to do some fishing, hiking or even camping in seaside villages? You can even camp aboard some of the ferry boats. For those of you eyeing the other side of the pond, Brittany Ferries family holidays, which run between the UK and France, even offer booking assistance and excursions once you are in France. Yay for less planning with twin toddlers in tow.

Family Resorts. When the twins were six months old we went on a 11427234_10103083496460224_3363179687881814894_nfamily vacation to a Club Med family resort to celebrate a milestone birthday for Danny’s grandma. Admittedly we were skeptical, but even though our kids weren’t old enough for the kid club activities, we could totally see the appeal. Plus some of these places have activities that go above and beyond sailing races or sand castle contests – like zip lining, river rafting or ocean kayaking, sparking interest in our more adventurous side. For family travel inspiration check out family adventure activities at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks or places like River Riders outside of our old stomping ground in Washington, D.C., both of which are TripAdvisor award winners.

Sure our two year olds may a bit too young to battle for dominance in floating gladiator style orbs, but we certainly aren’t…

Have you joined the family vacation club? Been to any of the places listed above? Let us know your thoughts, tips and support.

Filed Under: Headline, Travel & Planning Tagged With: adventure travel with kids, family travel, travel with twins

A Hotel Room When You Need It

August 26, 2015 By Jillian

Visiting a new city can be daunting, but even if it is familiar territory, you may still have some trouble finding a place to stay. While there are a few factors to consider when choosing a room, there’s no avoiding the fact that you need a place to call home base in your new city. Nine times out of ten, that’s going to be a hotel. For business travelers, having a quiet and comfortable place to work before your next meeting or conference is essential.

While standard hotel reservations work for travelers on longer trips, there’s a gap in availability for short-term options. Or at least, that was the case until recently. With new booking platforms like Hotels by Day, hotels are beginning to accommodate a broader range of options.

It’s a place to rest, freshen up, and stay productive for the afternoon. Whether you’re submitting a report, or putting together a presentation, you’re able to get it done more efficiently when you have the space and the resources to do so.

Day Stays – The Ultimate Solution

Regardless of where you’re headed, there are short stay options at some of the best hotel properties in cities around the world. From London to LA, hotel managers have started to recognize the opportunity to increase their booking revenue by offering guests day stay options. Those valuable guest rooms were going unoccupied for half the day, wasting tons of money on underutilized space.open-208368_640

You can easily find great hotels to book a short stay for the morning, mid-day, or afternoon. If you need more information about services and amenities, you can easily check out the website and browse the catalogue of properties. There’s a range of available options from budget-friendly accommodations to rooms and suites with luxury amenities.

These rooms give you the ability to book ahead of time and pay when you arrive at the hotel. You can easily make your reservation on an iOS or Android mobile device in just a few taps. In addition to that, you can cancel up to 24 hours prior to check-in, giving you complete flexibility in your traveling schedule.

What to Expect

Because hotel rooms with daytime booking options are a fairly new phenomenon, there is some uncertainly about what it actually entails. To help clarify things, day stay guests have access to the same range of property-wide amenities that an overnight guest of the hotel would enjoy. Whether that’s a rooftop pool, and on-site gym, room service, you name it, it’s available to day guests as well.

Obviously if you’re in town for business, you’re going to want to check ahead of time about availability for free Wi-Fi, work spaces in your room, a complimentary business center, and maybe on-site meeting rooms if you’re hosting clients. It never hurts to do a little due diligence beforehand so you know what to bring along with you on the trip, even if it’s just for a day.

With a day stay, you have a quiet place to work, all the amenities you need, and most importantly, a place to comfortably unwind in your down time.

Filed Under: Headline, USA Tagged With: day stays, hotels

Wings for Life Run: Where are the zombies?

June 3, 2015 By Danny

When I first heard about it, I thought it would be like running from Zombies.

There were no Zombies.  But there was running, lots of running.

At a race expo in February of 2014 I approached a booth with wings all over it.  The volunteers in the booth told me about their race, Wings For Life World Run.  There was no distance to the race.  You just started to run and 30 minutes after you started the finish line would start behind you and chase you.  Your race ends when the finish line, a chaser car, catches you.  I decided the chaser car was probably driven by Zombies.

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The race was happening simultaneously in over 35 locations across the globe.  All at the same time.  I was complaining about our 7am start and the guy quickly pointed out how much worse it was in Denver and Los Angeles.

Cool…but it would be better with zombies.

The guy agreed, and offered to take my entrance fee and my advice all at the same time.  I paid up, went to the race which was biking distance from my house, and had a great time.  There were the big TVs up showing the racers all across the globe on a live feed.  I just ran until I couldn’t anymore, not for any set amount of distance, and it was just fun.

I decided then that I would do this race each and every year, but at a different location.

For 2015 we had initially planned to go to Poland to run in Poznan, but we ultimately had to cancel that trip and stay closer to home.  Somehow we ended up choosing the race in Niagara Falls, Canada.  We roped a couple of friends into joining us and off we went for a lovely weekend with a giant waterfall and some scheduled running.

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The race itself is also interesting for yet another reason.  All of the fees go to support spinal cord research.  Let me repeat, all of the fees go towards research.  The race itself is sponsored and run by Red Bull and some of their corporate friends.  This year they told us they raised €4.2 million.

The run itself went smooth enough.  I saw Niagara falls with my friend early in the morning when nobody was there hogging the views.  I ran my butt of when I saw that chaser car behind me.   I managed to run a little further than I ran in 2014.  I met a Red Bull BMX athlete, competing a few weeks from now in the X-Games.  The crisp air felt nice and we all spent the rest of the time relaxing and enjoying ourselves.

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This years winners ran 79.9km (male) and 56.6km (female).  I ran 14.4km.  That seems a decent distance for outrunning zombies, some of them anyway.

Now the question remains, where are we going next year…and will there finally be zombies.

For more information about the Wings For Life Run, please visit: http://live.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/en

 

Filed Under: Headline, photos, Running, Weekend Warrior Tagged With: running, weekend warrior

Dishing it up Croatian Style

April 7, 2015 By Jillian

One of my favorite things about traveling is the food.  I LOVE trying new foods, spices and dishes from around the world, and I especially LOVE bringing new things into our kitchen.  That’s why when we were contacted to take part in the World On a Plate campaign with Expedia I was all too excited to find something delicious from the focus country – Croatia.

Sadly, Croatia has not made it onto our list of “been to” countries.  It is high on the list of places we still want to go, but despite the fact that it is a pretty huge tourist destination these days, we still haven’t found a way to get there!  While most people probably dream of it’s sapphire waters and seaside, I’m really more focused on exploring the Paklenica mountains and Plitvice Lake area further inland.   Alas those dreams are going to be set aside for the moment thanks to two very active toddlers and our ever growing family.

Until we have a chance to go, we brought a little of Croatia to our kitchen.  I present my masterpiece:

 

Rizot od sparoga or asparagus risotto

Asparagus Risotto Croatian

 

Always fearful of making risotto after living in Italy, I was a bit nervous to try out this new recipe. Risotto everyone had told me is hard to make right – if you overcook the rice it turns into mush, if you under cook it, well let’s just say an Italian grandmother somewhere will roll over in her grave.  Fortunately Croatian risotto isn’t as scary as it’s Italian cousin.  (Don’t ask me why, it is the same grain!) That’s right, it was surprisingly easy and turned into the the perfect use of some left over aspargus.  Oh, and it was pretty much toddler approved from the moment it landed on the plate.  In fact these little girls couldn’t eat enough.

Croatian Asparagus Risotto Toddler Approved

 

I found this easy to make and perfect for spring recipe online at: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/asparagus-risotto-rizot-od-sparoga (Note the Australian measurements if you are US based before you attempt to make the dish.)

Filed Under: Food, Headline, Journey

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