I hiked my first 14er...

Well people as I speak I can hear the Elk bugling and to make it real, today it snowed on Longs Peak. Granted, it snowed at 13,000 feet but still, it's really early for snow to land on Longs and stay for more than 2 minutes. It looks like we have ourselves an early winter! Cross our fingers. Now that we have an all wheel drive vehicle, nothing can stop us from having fun! But enough about that.

Last weekend (August 24-26), I climbed my first ever 14er. A 14er is a mountain whose elevation is 14,000ft or higher. Colorado has lots of these, over 50! So we climbed Longs Peak with a small group of people. We hiked up to the boulder field, made camp and then summited the next day and camped again that night before heading out. I don't know how people hike in and summit and then leave all in the same day! Those people must have drive and better knees than me because that summit was challenging. The pictures probably don't do it justice but some parts were scary. If I wasn't into rock climbing and had no experience with steep drop offs, I probably couldn't have completed the hike.

Longs is a rare 14er because I guess it gets technical and if its wet or snowy, you should not attempt to summit. As scary as it was, going up the mountain was so much fun. I can't wait to make this a goal. Every 14er in Colorado! I think we can accomplish it but with a little puppy on the way, we might need to carry her half the time. Sometimes those hikes are long! Anyways, I've been wanted to hike this since we moved to Estes Park 1 year ago and I finally did it!

 Before shot at 5am

 Longs is the high one in the background

Setting up camp, Kevin Seth and I shared a tent to save weight 

It hailed on us the first day 

The keyhole (the lowest part of the sky) is the way through to the other side of the moutain 

This was a hut built in honor of a climber who died in the 1920's

This was the trough, it was terrible

At the top of the trough before the narrows

The narrows behind Seth

Can you see me?

The Summit!

14,259 feet!

This is the homestretch right before the summit (on the way down though)

Keyhole

Marmot that ate through the side of our tent

 I'm hoping to get some from one of our awesome friends who takes the best pictures ever! Enjoy!

Happy Day!

Yesterday was my birthday folks and let me tell you, it was time well spent. I was so nervous after working 3 night shifts in a row (really 60 hours last week too) that I wouldn't be up for much. After working that many nights, you start to feel like a zombie but I felt great! I met friends at the Rock for some yummy happy hour wine and then the Mr. and I went home and grilled out some corn (ahhh mazing!) and then built a fire. Most of our friends who we've grown to love over the past year joined us and it was a blast. Josh Ritter was playing on Spotify, it can't get much better than that!

Pictures were few and far between but there were a few. Such a fun time! 

Ohh and before I forget, talk about a good birthday present. Our little puppy was finally born on Thursday night! A friend of a friends dog had puppies! You might not know but we've been looking for a companion for Callahan since May. We've been looking at Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue. They hold events on Saturdays and we found some we thought we would love to meet but it never worked out with our schedules. One thing lead to another and good news came our way! We are beyond excited to get another little pup in October and see her and Callahan love on each other. I can't wait to watch Callahan teach her how to swim and chase ground squirrels. It will be darling. So over here we are preparing for her arrival. Callahan doesn't go on walks much now that he has his dog run and dog park but little girl will needs lots of walks so back to walking it is! How exciting! Any advice on getting a second dog?