2021 was the year of trying to be thankful for what I have. Easier said than done when plan after plan was cancelled due to weather, health issues, or the everlasting Covid-19. But I was still able to go on a few short trips with friends, and of course hike a ton. January - my …
We decided to take it easy on Sunday and explore some of the local sites near Allie's parents' house in Alma. First up was the Magnolia Mill and Montgomery Reservoir. This site is right off Highway 9 between Alma and Breckenridge, just below Hoosier Pass. I have driven past countless times without stopping, but it's …
Continue reading The Magnolia Mill & Montgomery Reservoir | Colorado | 06/06/21
Antora Peak (13,269') | Rio Grande National Forest Villa Grove, CO | 06/05/21 | 5.86 miles | 2,621' gain | YDS Class 2 It was dry, dry, dry down in the southern half of the state, so Allie and I planned to hike an easy 13er down by the San Luis Valley. Antora Peak was …
Continue reading Antora Peak (13,269′) | Colorado | 06/05/21
Chicago Lakes | Mount Evans Wilderness & Arapaho National Forest Idaho Springs, CO | 06/03/21 | 10.04 miles | 1,862' gain Mid-June typically marks my transition from low-elevation winter hikes to high-elevation summer hikes. There's usually still a bit of snow to contend with, but this spring was pretty dry and early June was already …
Mount McConnel (8,020') | Cache la Poudre Wilderness & Roosevelt National Forest Livermore, CO | 05/27/21 | 4.98 miles | 1,577' gain | YDS Class 2+ Although it's not all that far from me, I hadn't explored very far up the Poudre Canyon (SH 14). It seems that it's always been my friend Tori suggesting …
Continue reading Mount McConnel (8,020′) | Colorado | 05/27/21
Black Elk Peak (7,242') | Custer State Park & Black Elk Wilderness Custer, SD | 05/22/21 | 7.86 miles | 1,651' gain After a cold and foggy hike to North Dakota's high point, Diana and I hoped for clear weather the next day when we would hike to South Dakota's high point. Even with all …
Continue reading Black Elk Peak (7,242′) | South Dakota’s State High Point | 05/22/21
White Butte (3,506') | Little Missouri National Grassland Bowman, ND | 05/21/21 | 3.44 miles | 451' gain We had a little bit of a rough start to our trip, but hopes were high that the weather would improve and allow us to do some high-pointing. After all, Diana and I had planned this trip …
Continue reading White Butte (3,506′) | North Dakota’s State High Point | 05/21/21
Toadstool Geologic Park Interpretive Loop | Oglala National Grassland Harrison, NE | 05/20/21 | 1.07 miles | 89' gain Phew, what a day. Diana and I had driven up through Nebraska, visiting both Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments. We had one more planned stop just before the South Dakota border and we …
Continue reading Toadstool Geologic Park | Nebraska | 05/20/21
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | Harrison, NE | 05/20/21 After a short drive from Scotts Bluff, Diana and I reached our next stop: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Our history tour was moving from ~150-200 years ago on the Oregon Trail to ~19-20 million years ago when large prehistoric mammals roamed this land. Back …
Continue reading Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | Nebraska | 05/20/21
Scotts Bluff National Monument | Gering, NE | 05/20/21 It had never crossed my mind to visit Nebraska. Nebraska was just the state I drove through to get to other places, a flyover state full of flat cornfields and open prairie. This trip didn't start out much different. Diana and I were heading to the …
Continue reading Scotts Bluff National Monument | Nebraska | 05/20/21
Colorado Chelsea 