Francophile in the West

Lots has been happening since O and I went to France! I went home for a long weekend, my parents visited me in Denver for a week, I ran the BolderBoulder 10k for the third year in a row (this time with Owen!), my sister gave birth to a perfect baby boy (whose birth I was able to attend!), we started the summer adventure season with two outdoors-packed weekends in a row, and O and I moved in together (!!). WHEW!  Let's take a look at a couple of those major events...  Welcome to the world, TJR! My sister and brother-in-law welcomed the most beautiful baby boy into the world on Father's Day this year. I was able to run away from work for a few days to be home and with everyone in the delivery room when the little guy was born. It was an edge-of-your-seat whirlwind trip, waiting every day for TJ to make his debut. At 3am on Father's Day Sunday, I got the call - take the next flight home, he's on his way! After a beautiful and early flight into Portland, with...

Life continues to be filled with love and outdoor adventures here in Colorado! With the summer officially at an end and fall sweeping in to take her place, Owen and I wrapped up an eventful hiking/camping/backpacking season with a few more excursions, both urban and wild: Classin' it up at a fundraiser for CU-Denver's summer music camps for teens. We celebrated our six-monthiversary in early August by taking a cooking class together at The Kitchen Table . We had a blast, rocked the kitchen, and came away with full bellies and several days' worth of leftovers of incredible food. I highly recommend this spot for a great evening and good food. Yum!  Thanks, Chef Jorge!  (Free) rented bike adventures in Golden, CO. In early September, we went on a pretty, quick hike up the Mayflower Gulch (out by Copper Mountain), enjoying a gorgeous day, ruins of old 19th century mining cabins, views of local 14ers, and a nice pack lunch along the creek.    ...

Mid-July saw O and I off to the wilderness for the weekend to backpack to Gore Lake, in the Eagles Nest Wilderness outside of Vail, CO. I visited Gore Lake for the first time last fall and instantly fell in love with the spot. I wanted to share it with O as one of my favorite camping spots in Colorado, however, my brain had conveniently blocked out just how tough of a hike it is to get there - especially with a 35lb pack on your back! O and I are both mountain beasts, though, so on Saturday morning, we trucked our way up the 6.2 mile trail and 2,500 feet of elevation gain and made it to Gore Lake at 11,400 feet. Despite the steepness and general intensity of the hike, it's a gorgeous trail along Gore Creek and through aspen groves, and the reward in arriving at the lake is unbeatable.  Columbine flowers My faithful hiking & running hat, caught in action. It was a perfect Saturday at the lake. There were only about a dozen people there, ourselves included....