The picture above is from hiking Mount Washington in New Hampshire April 2022.
It could’ve been warm and sunny at the top of the mountain, or knarly and windy at 6,288 feet. It was pretty perfect. Cold, windy but not life threatening. It’s always a toss up.
My point, and what I’ve been reflecting on lately is there are no ideal conditions. Whatever I am meant to do, I need to do it now. Conditions are always going to be unfavorable.
The term favorable conditions is interesting because I work in the outdoor/travel industry. If you work in the outdoor industry “favorable conditions” is an indicator you are watching the weather.
As an endurance athlete I watch the weather.
As a marketer in the outdoor industry I watch the weather.
But now more than ever it’s about asking myself what am I meant to do and figuring out how to make it happen. It needs to happen. I need to make it through unfavorable conditions to be where I want to be.
The things I can control include: doing the plan, run, bike, hike, learn new skills, walk the dog more, show up, and most importantly do what I say I’m going to do.
A plan for this fall season is I’m going to let go of all the things I can’t control; and focus on the things I can control. By doing this I might just do all the things I want to do.
Sometimes the best vacations are about going home. I love saying I’m from seacoast New Hampshire; I am proud of this beautiful place on the Atlantic Ocean. Many people don’t really even know where New Hampshire is – I’ve encountered people not knowing, in the many places I’ve lived in the US.
Last week I flew into the Portland Jetport and drove an hour to get back home to Rye.
Rye, New Hampshire on the coast, beach town, memory town.
One of the highlights of this trip was heading down to Pirate’s Cove, the beach I always went to when I lived at home. It’s just down the way from Wallis Sands State Beach. My brother and I slipped right back into the feeling of growing up here.
He dove headfirst into the waves first (or maybe it was a back into it situation, but definitely under). I chose the floating on my back option and tried to get ahead of the crashing waves.
We just so happened to be at the beach when there were some of the biggest, most continuous swells I’ve ever seen on the New Hampshire seacoast. We laughed and were alternatively stunned that we kept getting knocked down over, again and again. For a while it felt like I was back in high school and just spending the day on the beach.
The trip wasn’t all lobster rolls and fried clams (yes, full bellies). The day prior we hiked at Gunstock Mountain Resort. I worked there from 2020-2022 and I missed it so much so I was really hoping my brother would want to go.
He did.
Jason usually hikes Mount Major on his past trips home. But I convinced him there were fewer hikers on the trail and better parking. Plus, if we felt motivated we could eat at the Barrel Bar, zip line or mountain coaster-it.
We headed out (from the some-what newly paved parking lot) taking Brook Trail to the summit and then along the Ridge Trail back. The climb gave us views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains, albeit a bit hazy due to smoke from the Canadian fires.
The trail was a mix of challenge and fun, and we hung out at the picnic tables on the summit commenting on the incredible views. And maybe comparing it a bit to the Mount Major view.
But what really made the trip memorable was simply catching up with my brother as we drove around New Hampshire and had drinks on the water in downtown Portsmouth.
I loved watching my parents living their best lives, as they put their life on hold for us for a few days – pampering us with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It was great to be back and visit a few of my favorite places: Rye, Gilford, Portsmouth. It was a perfect mix of ocean, mountains, and family fun. And knowing that everyone is fine. Everyone is Fine.
We are a fun, driven, happy, anxious, loving family. We are the Lodges.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge burned down. The lodge was consumed by a wildfire on Monday, July 14 and a fire still burns on the Kaibab Plateau as I write this.
Here’s a webcam from Kolb Studio at the South Rim looking north.
For me, this wildfire event is a reminder not to postpone my list. A List. Your List. The things-you-want-to-do-before-you-die list.
The list is now a things-to-see-before-they-disappear list.
Staying at this lodge was on my list; but not on my current list.
Here is a stock image of the lodge. I missed seeing this amazing place. I missed staying at this lodge.
Running the Rim-To-Rim (R2R) in a day was on my list (and staying at this lodge the night before), but not on my current list mainly because I haven’t been running or trail running as much lately – I’ve been in a running rut. It was POSTPONED.
If there are places I want to visit, things I want to see, I can’t put it off.
Our world is changing and things are disappearing.
I wish I had made it there.
There are places that are so special in our nation’s history: historic lodges and hotels in our National Parks are big in my book. These are my favorite places. I was so happy to go stay at the Glacier Park Hotel in 2024 after staying close to it on my trip through National Parks in 1988.
I don’t want to say I missed that opportunity to go see something special. I’m working on my NEW list and here is a start, these are the places I want to see before they disappear:
I am eager to see the world, I’m insatiably curious. I’m pretty fit and just love a good plan.
Carpe Diem, man.
And, if you made it this far, not to be dramatic or anything – my thoughts go right to this movie, One Week. I’ve watched it at least 10 times and watching it forces me to remember to ask the questions. You know the questions.
I just watched Along the Way | Continental Divide Trail Documentary | Full Film on YouTube. I searched for videos about the Continental Divide trail after writing my last blog post about how inspiring it was to see two men on the CDT near Hope Pass.
I watched it eagerly awaiting the places I’ve been on the CDT specially last weekend at Twin Lakes but also living near it in Winter Park/Granby, Steamboat Springs, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.
There were no shots from Hope Pass or Twin Lakes, Berthoud Pass or Grand Lake. There was a long section from the grocery store in Steamboat Springs, yes I knew it well.
Regardless a great story and footage of their trek.
I love a good closing epigraph and they served it up well. A lesson to live every moment, take chances and be where you want to be – which is strikingly fitting now. Get ready to be motivated; here’s the ending:
“For soon this experience will be some old photograph, some old story…. You can walk to Canada, congrats Boys ……
Despite doing what I set out to do, making it to the end, passing the final test – those feelings of joy, pride, relief, didn’t fully satisfy me because I wasn’t hiking for Canada or some piece of concrete that marks borders, for the end. It was all for the chance to have those moments in between.
So If you ever find yourself on a walk, far from home, do me a favor make your life happen, be brave, challenge yourself, leave your comfort zone. Go see the grand distance places, let the process run its course.
Above all enjoy the little moments along the way.”
I spent the night in a cabin at Twin Lakes. I have the cabin for two nights and it’s a few miles from the trailhead for Hope Pass, which will be my second hike in two days.
On Saturday morning I was still recovering from the 10 mile hike in RMNP from yesterday and getting used to elevation. Twin Lakes sits at 9,600 ft and today my plan is to finally get to Hope Pass, 12,600 feet, after two Leadville 100 DNFs.
I found a restaurant that was open with a breakfast buffet. Similarly to how I felt last year the morning of my Grinnell Glacier hike, I needed eggs and coffee to get in the right mindset for the hike. The breakfast in Twin Lakes was okay but the eggs were a bit gross with tomatoes in them. The best part was the coffee and the pastry. Regardless, it gave me what I needed to get going.
I drove to the Willis Gulch Trailhead and started hiking. Two years ago I started this but didn’t go much farther than the CDT Trail.
I hiked to the CD Trail and headed south to Hope Pass.
A little way in I saw two bearded men hiking towards me with full packs. I got a bit choked up because I was so impressed that they were doing this super long trail; I wished I could be doing it, too. They wore a CDT badge on their shoulder strap. I asked them how long they’ve been on the trail and they said it’s been so long they lost count. They smiled, clearly happy to be on the trail.
I kept on and hiked slowly like yesterday. I kept thinking “what was I thinking” – when training for Leadville 100 and living at sea-level. I remember what I felt like at mile 38 during the 100 mile race and I couldn’t imagine running this trail to Hope Pass over and back in order to finish. I just never made it this far to know what I as in for. Today when saw runners heading up the Pass, I was in awe.
Hope Pass was fantastic. It wasn’t what it looked like in any the Leadville pictures but loved being there.
I headed down after a break and only wore a jacket to protect my skin. It was perfect hiking weather and only one patch of snow to cross.
I passed many heading up: hikers, runners, kids, dogs. All so happy to be out on the this gorgeous Saturday.
I had to pay attention and look for the sharp left turn to Willis Gulch Trail from the CDT. And it was a mile back to my car.
I was thrilled to make it to the top, and altitude sickness/headache subsided after getting down. The elevation is no joke and 3,330 feet of elevation gain.
I got back to my cabin and didn’t want to stay another night. I booked a hotel closer to the airport so I showered and packed up the car to head back to Denver.
I drove through Leadville and saw all the happy finishers who stuck around town after the Heavy Half Marathon and the Full Marathon race. I remembered when I did my best Leadville Marathon finish in 2019. I loved that year so much.
As I drove through the town, of which I dreamed about for years, I thought how much I loved the town, the race, and training for HARD RACES. I just don’t think I’m that athlete anymore. The athlete who can train hard and do these hard races. And just thinking that I’m done with it all makes me so sad. And writing it for this blog makes it so real.
I was so glad to be in Colorado and hike two big mountains/passes in two days. This trip has been so good for me, and is helping me face reality that maybe I’m more a hiker than an ultrarunner anymore.
Driving to Denver on Interstate 70 I thought how progressive Colorado is compared to Tennessee. Grocery stores in Colorado don’t use plastic bags and so many people have solar panels on their homes. I miss living in Colorado.
I got to my hotel and relaxed for a bit before heading out to find my last dinner in Colorado.
In the morning I ate a $35 breakfast at Elways at the airport. The meal was very pricey but I did enjoy the coffee and little bottle of jam for my biscuit.
As I waited for my flight, and trying to get some steps in, I saw this lighted advertisement at each gate in the terminal. It was a healthcare ad but I found it so true and inspiring for me. Here’s the close up of it – and here’s my sign to what’s next:
