Leadville Trip Report Part 1: Hope Pass

The Coors Brewery.

Not in Leadville. In Golden.

Thanks to a direct flight from Nashville to Denver we got into Denver at 7:45am local time. We picked up our rental car (without a hiccup for the first time in Denver in 3 years. Yay for Alamo!) and headed out of town. We purposely didn't really plan much for this trip in general. It's a vacation, I like to have ample time to do whatever the fuck we want. 

So, we decided... what the hell, let's check out the Coors Brewery and I am really glad we did. It was a nice little tour and being a Regular Coors drinker, I was quite happy to enjoy the 3 free drinks you get to enjoy on the free tour.

After the Coors tour, we started to make our way into Leadville and stopped at a beautiful lake outside of town, that I had always eyed on our trips in and out of town.

Too bad it wasn't fucking scenic or anything.

 Colorado: Where every picture looks like a postcard.

We hung out at the lake for a little bit, enjoying the early moments of slowing down for a week and enjoying our vacation.

And like the basic bitch I am, I took a selfie.

We got into Leadville, changed clothes and headed to the Mineral Belt Trail for some walking/panting/jogging/running/walking/panting. Fun times.

There were two things that we had kind of planned on doing during this trip. One was hike up to Hope Pass from Twin Lakes (a route that is apart of the Leadville 100 trail race) and the other was to hike 4 14ers. Doesn't that sound impressive as hell? And it would have been, if we had done it. Even though, all 4 would have been done in one day. Oh well, best laid plans, right?

We DID hike up to Hope Pass though.

Folks, all these photos of hiking up to Hope Pass are part of the

Leadville 100 course.

 Seriously, WTF?

We started at the Willis Gulch Trailhead and after about a mile of hiking straight up, we got to the part of the route where the race course meets up and then we went up 3.5 more miles. Straight up.

And keep going up...

The roundtrip trail is 9 miles. And it tops out at over 12,000 feet. I loved it. It was a hard hike, for sure, but, I felt like at 12,000 feet, I was able to keep moving ahead (albeit slowly) without having to stop and catch my breath like I did when hiking to 14,000 feet. It was so enjoyably hard. But, I was out there on fresh legs and I cannot imagine hiking up that beast after running 40 miles and then going all the way down the other side and then back up and over the whole damn thing again. Seriously, WTF Ultra Runners? You guys be cray.

It took me 2 hours to hike up to the top. 

A time that I was VERY proud of.

That lake behind John is one of the Twin Lakes, and essentially,

where we started the hike (and exactly where the race starts up Hope Pass). 

 Obligatory photo from Hope Pass.

Since it took 2 hours to go up 4.5 miles, I figured, ohhhh, we'll be down in 1:15. 

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

 Nope. It took me 1:40 minutes to get down.

Sheesh.

 

But it was an amazing hike and I really enjoyed it. Next year, I want to hike up it from the opposite side!

After that hike, we went back to Leadville and got wasted at Periodic Brewing. Helluva time. But, probably not the best idea at elevation.

Oh wells...

Trip Report: Leadville Part 3

Aside from the obvious reasons of wanting to go to Leadville (KoB's favorite place, it's freaking beautiful, who doesn't want to go to Colorado in July, etc), one of the major draws for me was to experience higher altitudes. Leadville advertisers itself as the highest incorporated city in the US.

10,200 feet, y'all.

And on top of that, Leadville is centrally located to MANY 14,000 peak mountains. Including the highest one in Colorado...

 Hello Gorgeous.

Mt. Elbert, 14,440'

Actually, I think this is Mt. Massive.

But you get the idea. It's a fucking mountain.

One of my dreams is travel to Nepal and do a trek to Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp sits at around 17,600'. And while I realize that additional 3,200' is a HUGE DEAL. I wanted to make sure that I could at least handle 14,000 feet and not feel like my head was going to explode. So, I wanted to climb a 14er while we were in Leadville and of course, why not climb the biggest one??

In the beginning I'm taking pictures of everything.

Not so much by the end.

The KoB had done the hike lots of times before and like a good Eagle Scout he suggested that we get up and head out early. Just in case. From the start, this hike was already 100% smarter than any other hike I've ever done. My friends and I are notorious for happening upon a trailhead and saying... ohhhh... an 8 mile hike, that's nothing. And then 15 hours later we limp back to our cars after having survived a thunderstorm, no water or food, and one time... someone had a stress fracture. (slight exaggeration, except for the stress fracture part, that was real).

The trail starts out innocently enough. And then once above the treeline it becomes a real HIKE. Straight up.

 

The trail goes straight to the top of that peak.

And then back down it and to another peak.

Yup, that's a false summit. 

Mt. Elbert has a sick sense of humor.

Instead of the trail winding around switchbacks, it literally goes straight up. I actually preferred that to switchbacks. Sure it sucks and is way harder, but I could climb for 2 minutes and turn around to gaze below me and catch my breath and see the people that I just passed wayyyy below me. It was awesome.

Yup. Stopped to "take a picture."

AKA: Stopped to catch my breath.

After about a zillion false summits (that thankfully The KoB had warned me about)...

Nope! Not it!

We finally summit-ed!

Totes Adorbs.

It was spectacular up there.

I mean. Really.

We saw a few dogs making the trek.

This guy's name was Luther and he LOVED the snow.

Someone had left a sign from the previous day up there

so, we had our picture taken with it. In case ya know, Wikipedia

ever dies and we can't figure out how high Mt. Elbert is one day.

(Since I just finished The Stand, I totally believe that could happen).

Another view of her.

We started back down and while it did take significantly less time to get down than it did to get up, the down hike wasn't all that easy either. I actually jammed up my big toenail pretty bad and by the end of it, it was killing me.

A little rocky.

This is what the trail looks like below the treeline.

Finally we emerged back at the trailhead. It had taken us a little longer than we had anticipated, but it was a beautiful hike and I'm ready to tackle another 14er.

We headed back to town after the hike and after showering and relaxing for a bit, we both realized that we were pretty wasted. I felt pretty terrible and had some caffeine and took some pain pills. We went to a delicious restaurant and I ordered a plate of nachos and I could barely eat 1/3 of them. THAT IS UNHEARD OF. Seriously, normally, I will eat the entire plate of nachos, no problem. But, ugh, I just didn't feel well.

That is actually one weird thing I noticed on the trip. I was hungry and wanted food like I always do, but once I started eating... I got full MUCH MUCH quicker than I do at sea level. This should make me happy, because... yayyyy! not a fatty mcfatterson for once in my life. But, actually it kind of made me sad. I was on vacation, I wanted to stuff my face and eat all the things and enjoy it. Oh well. 

After the pain pills kicked in and I laid down for an hour or so, I was able to wallow down into town for ice cream (because... DUH vacation!). And I woke up the next morning feeling pretty good and normal!

Fantastic setting for a little town.

 Such a beautiful little "main" street.

Operation: 30 minutes at 14,000 feet was a complete success! Am I ready for Everest Base Camp? Meh, probably not... but at least I know I can hang reasonably well at Colorado's highest peak!

How to...

How to party prepare the week before you run back-2-back marathons.

Lesson # 1: Start the week prior to the marathons off in style with a round of tequila shots (approximately 30 minutes after stepping foot off the airplane). Followed by a pitcher of beer and $1 beers at a college bar where you could easily be mistaken for a middle-aged cougar. Go to another bar and close it down.
Lesson #2: Get in a trail run while extremely hungover. Also, pick a gorgeous place to run this trail run, to try and distract you from the fact that your head is pounding and all you want to do is puke and lie down instead of run/walk 6 miles. Also, freak out that it's the altitude and not your hangover that is causing you to be unable to run for more than 7 minutes straight and contemplate ways in which you can get out of running 2 marathons in a few days. Decide that there's no turning back now.
See a sign for a waterfall on trail run and try to cleverly convince running partner to take that route, so that you can rest for a bit.
Lesson #3: Start your diet for this week off right... by eating a cinnamon roll as big as your head for breakfast and eating nachos for dinner. Also, take in a minor league baseball game and drink lots of beers while playing... "would you?" with the crowd (The answer for me? always no).

Lesson #4: Get in your last run of the week on a long, hilly gravel road. Take in the beautiful Montana scenery and constantly keep your eyes on the road for snakes. Hear Vandy-Montana
mumble something about a dead one on the side of the road and throw up in your mouth a little.

Lesson #5: Go to a bar for lunch. Share a bottle of wine. Find out that you've been living under a beer rock for the past 10 years, when you see something called Pear-infused vodka behind the bar. Immediately order some. Then allow Vandy-Montana to "phone-a-friend" for our next drink order. 2 rounds of Long Island Iced Teas later...

Lesson #6: Go to the fair. Watch Vandy Montana eat things like deep fried jalapenos and deep fried meat on a stick. Also ice cream. Decide that a liquid diet is fine by me. (Regret that decision a few hours later when my head is in the toilet.)

Lesson #7: Act like a total city girl and ask for your picture to be taken in front of some hay bales at the fair. And then totally not remember that whole scene the next day when looking through your pics.
"Why did you take a picture of me in front of some hay?"
"Because you asked me to."
Lesson #8: While incredibly hammered go back stage for a pic with Rodney Atkins, before you make a complete fool of yourself at the concert by stumbling all over the place trying to get back to your seat after buying some beers. Hey. Carrying three beers is hard!

Lesson #9: Start getting sad drunk for no apparent reason (aka... because I've had 300 ozs of alcohol and barely any food) on the way home from fair, start crying. Have a friend like Vandy-Montana who saves the night by knowing exactly what I need:

A red beer of course!

Lesson #10: Immediately perk up at local bar. Engage in some kind of weird dice game that I never got the hang of that involved 4s and 6s and lots of dollar bills. Apparently... Vandy-Montana knew how to play.

Lesson #11: Engage in more shots. Look through pictures the next day and not remember taking this shot...
Lesson #12: Puke your guts out when you get home, so that you'll feel well for the drive to Missoula the next day.

Lesson #13: Realize that there's pretty much no way out of running two back to back marathons now that Vandy-Montana has been interviewed by a local paper about it. Shit. Go to bar, eat 3 pounds of burger and then nachos and a pitcher of beer.

Lesson #14: Spending all day hiking in Missoula 3 days before running 2 marathons is probably not the best idea. Good for acclimation, though probably. And totally justifies eating a french dip sandwich, onion rings, and milkshake for lunch.
Lesson #15: A bar that has a cover charge of 7 dollars and all you can drink draft beer is going to be AWESOME. It is also going to be a college bar. Beware of kids who look 17 saying that they are 25 and relentlessly hitting on you. Leave this totally awesome bar (even though you've essentially pre-paid for your beer) because kid won't leave you alone. Go to another bar where the bartender is hammered and pouring vodka all over the floor. Order the one and only round of Irish Car Bombs of the trip. Close the bar down.

Lesson #16: Eating a huge breakfast of pancakes, sausage, hash browns, eggs, and a biscuit is probably not the best idea 48 hours before marathons. Even the waitress will make the comment to Vandy-Montana... "her plate makes your plate look wimpy." Awesome.

Lesson #17: Playing a drinking game at Testy Festy will get you hammered. And make you look like the life of the party.


Lesson #18: Rocky Mountain Oysters are not good for carb-loading.

Lesson #19: Not only that, they're pretty freaking nasty.

Lesson #20: The rest of what happens at Testy Festy stays at Testy Festy. (Particularly if you can't really remember what happened).
Lesson 21: Wake up in a tent 24 hours before your marathon with a wicked hangover and realize: SHIT. I have to run 2 marathons in the next 48 hours. I've been existing on a diet of fried foods, cheese, and beer for the past week. Decide that your lucky pre-race meal of pizza will save the day. Go to bed early and pray that you're not going to die the next morning when you line up at starting line to run 26.2 miles.

Race Reports to come...

Springs of Hotness

My sixteen year old sister, Clara, begged me to take her on a vacation for about a month. I explained to her that I didn't have a whole lot of vacation time left, but that maybe she could come to Memphis for a week. Her response was, "no, that's ok." Apparently Memphis is not cool enough and spending time with big sis is not enough to bring her here. Thanks so much! But, because I love her so much and I know how crazy mom and dad are making her this summer, I agreed to do some brainstorming on where we could take a weekend getaway. I came up with Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Now I know what you're thinking...Arkansas? Really?

But, since moving to Memphis, I've heard many people say how delightful a town Hot Springs is. Ok, so maybe they didn't say delightful, but whatever. It's a nice place to visit. Like, people even have vacation homes there and go on honeymoons in Hot Springs. So last Friday, Clara and I hopped in the car and headed south (ish).

We had a great time! We did a little shopping downtown...

Checked out the historic bathhouses on bathhouse row...

Partook in some spa treatments...Clara still hasn't given me the pics from her camera so I'm not able to post the really cute one of us in our white fluffy robes. However, I will tell you a funny story about our spa experience. Friday night, we went to this really nice Italian restaurant and had a waiter named Giovanni. Well turns out that Giovanni is multi-talented, as he was Clara's masseuse the next day! What a hard working guy, that Giovanni!

We played some pirate putt putt (again...pics on her camera).

Went out on the lake with some friends...

And since I'm more of an early riser than she is, I woke up early to do some hiking and running in Hot Springs National Park.

The natural hot springs that gave the city its name...And the view from the top!

Hiking at Shelby Meeman Forest

Amy's visit to Memphis to see me was a last minute thing. Sometimes those are the best trips-the spontaneous ones- cause they are exciting and you don't have to wait forever for the fun times to arrive. Anyway, since we are both currently dieting and I'm getting back into my daily running and working out, she had the idea to make the weekend a healthy/spa kind of weekend. We had plans to do homemade facials and nails, cook healthy, wholesome foods and exercise all weekend long. It was quite a concept for us since our usual visits contain much debauchery.

Surprisingly, we followed through with many of our plans. We cooked healthy meals, chock full of veggies and protein and we ran and hiked about 10 miles on Saturday. We never did any kind of spa treatments, but there simply wasn't enough time, especially since we had to leave pretty early on Saturday for our trip to Tunica.

What? You didn't think we would devote the ENTIRE weekend to health, did you? I thought you knew us better than that! Of course we had to reward ourselves with a little partying it up at the Phil Vassar concert!

But...back to hiking. We decided to explore a few miles of the 13,467 acres of Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in Millington, TN. Running was first on the agenda and then we would hike for the remainder of our time. However, the first trail we chose was the red trail and the red trail was pretty hilly, and so much of the time was spent walking (or hiking, rather) up the really steep parts. It was a serious workout and I was feeling the burn pretty darn well.

The best part of the whole day was when we got started. We checked out the map and made our plans to set out on the red path. We were pumped to begin our adventure and we started the path ahead of us...

...Until we realized that the path did not take us into the woods, but around a small loop back to the parking lot.

Major buzz kill.

However, we thought the whole thing was pretty dang funny and wanted to share with you a play-by-play account of what happened. So we reenacted the scenario and took pictures just for you! Enjoy the slide show:

We did eventually make it to the REAL red trail and had a really good 4th of July hiking trip.

The End.