Up To 14K Feet

[This was early June] From the Denver airport, and after visiting my daughter, I drove west on the interstate to Georgetown. There I checked into its Super8 motel, ate and went to recon the winding but excellent 12-mike fresh-paved road up to the trailhead to Mt Bierstadt, atop Guanella Pass.

I found the unlabelled trailhead at an unlabelled parking lot right after a sign indicating the top of the pass (at about 10K feet up, as expected). The unlabelled trail started left of the outhouse on the parking lot. Upon walking a hundred feet into the trail, I found a trail sign (which said 7 miles, as expected) and a Mt Evans Wilderness designation sign, and I was ready for the next day's excellent adventure... I identified and could see my 14K quest.

- © 2012 by Willy

14-er and Wedding

Yes, I climbed my first Colorado fourteener, and the daughter got married, a couple of weeks ago.

 

The wedding went just fine, but there was a funny... we started the wedding without her mother. I walked daughter up to the altar and was in the pew before she noticed... then we had to stop and get on a cell to the cousin in charge of the pick up and found out that the ex just wasn't ready: she stood up the wedding. I'm glad I'm not married.

Of course, 14-er Mt Bierstadt was the easiest one so as to not risk drama to the daughter's wedding. Up 3300-climb-feet in 4 miles in 3 1/2 hours, then back down slow with a couple of interesting geezers in 4. In these 8 hours, I drank 2 quarts of water and ate lunch at the top (which was cold and windy), but it was a walk in the park. I even took crampons (which I did not need), but not the ice axe the daughter wanted me to carry (which would have been ridiculous). I'm glad I'm trained.

Life (ALL of it) is about training and conditioning. Next I do a hard climb, like Long's Peak, 6K ft in 7 miles and technical. I'm trained for it... life, solitude and Long's. I like what I am.

She made a lovely bride, and had a great party.

- © 2012 by Willy

Life is a Decision

Life!

That was an easy decision.

Many runners say that life is just putting one foot after the other. The trick, unlike running, is that a decision has to be made for every step. Life is complex. Plans are changed for us. Many decisions have to be made very quickly... about as quick as when running.

The trick is to be prepared for opportunity... and trained for obstacles.

Personally, I keep to a schedule... doing the same things at the same time in the same way... so that I can deal with the all-too-common perturbances that life throws at me... those I can't control... the "incoming."

This weekend, I was glad I cross-trained well to both hike and lift heavy weights, because I had to physically bring down an ailing hiker with vertigo who fell backwards, twice. I was worried that he was going to split his head open, so I side-hugged him, grasped his shirt, physically held him up straight and marched him down in lockstep. I gave him encouragement, even though I was scared. Afterwards, I was exhausted... it was squats-while-walking for six hours... my legs and right delt are still burning.

I have often mentioned that I made a decision to go solo... to do a simpler life with far less drama... which allows me to do what I want to do.

Life's about training and conditioning... in many ways.

I can't be young again but I decided for life... that I'm going to be a REALLY-tough old man. The old is easy, but the really-tough is... tough!

- © 2012 by Willy

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger?

To me, there is no doubt that this statement itself is a strong and healing antidepressant.

But is it right? Like everything black-and-white, the answer is usually a shade of gray. There are many things that are not readily apparent but eventually kill. Physical and mental illness are not immediate like a car wreck, but in time can result the same.

In hindsight, what made me stronger was simple, heartfelt affection, a sweet word, a tender touch, a kindness... some people made it better. What keeps it better is that other people walked out and did no further harm. Continued and sustained drama and depression almost got me. So, one of my goals is to outlive the itches and astards. I figured it out: What it took to make me stronger was people's kindness but what keeps me strong is giving up people... and embracing solitude.

That was the decision of my life... it seems so simple now... to live a rich life but veer away from those that can kill you. I decided for life..

- © 2012 by Willy