To see more pictures of our hike check out my Flickr account.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hiking

After returning back to camp, stiff, bitten, and only slightly worse for the ware, Cute and I decided to take a much deserved nap. To my delight, when we finally came up to camp I discovered a birthday surprise orchestrated by our amazing group leader, Roger.

Am I getting older? Yes. But through the lens cap of mother nature I am just a little sapling. Perhaps that’s part of what made my birthday so amazing; despite her challenges, nature just has a way of making you feel good about yourself.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

PS – to see more pictures, go to my Flickr page.

Hiking, Out and About, Vacations

Yay! It’s the final installment of My Grand Canyon Adventure! If you are just stumbling over here, I broke the trip down into three blog posts: The Descent, The Bottom, and now, The Ascent.

Below are entries from my travel journal and pictures from the trip.

Day 5

- Woke at 5am. Packed up camp and hit the trail by 6 or 6:30.
- Today = 4.7 miles, 1320 vertical feet. Lord help me.
- This is going to sound crazy, but I am so relieved to hike uphill. 14 miles downhill was harder on me than I expected.
- I ended up taking Chris’s recommendation and duct taping my pinkie toe (with red duct tape ) to cover/protect my blister. It worked out great.

- I hit my stride early on and never faltered. Carb loading and lots of rest while at Phantom Ranch definitely paid off.

- “I love Devils Corkscrew.” This is what I sang, or rather chanted to myself the entire way up. It wasn’t a lie either. I hiked steadily by myself and power housed my butt all the way to the top. Felt damn good about it!

- Chris and Breanna double power-housed up so that they could drop their packs and come half way back to get Shelly and Christine’s packs. I was not that hardcore.

- When we finally got to Indian Gardens campsite I led some of the group through stretches (as well as a random stranger). It felt amazing.
- When we found our camp we set out our sleeping pads and took a much deserved group nap. I never wanted to move again.

- There are so many squirrels and lizards that it is no longer exciting to see them. Squirrels are pests. We have to hang our packs at each site and lock up our food or they’ll get into them. One actually did chew through Shelly’s pack when we went to the waterfall.
- There is a tradition of going out to Plateau Point to have dinner. Was tired and didn’t entirely feel like going but sooo glad I did.

- Plateau Point is magical. I could see the entire path that we had hiked and where we still need to hike to, all from one vantage point. The view is better than anything from the top. Completely breathtaking.

- We brought our camp-stoves with us and ate dinner on a ledge. Best dinner ever.

- It was hard to get alone time, but I was able to steal a few minutes away from the group to just meditate and take it all in. I cried. I couldn’t help it. Less than a year ago I was on crutches – now I am in the Grand Canyon. I am so proud of me. So few have seen what I am seeing.

- Last night to sleep on the ground.

Day 6

- Up before the sun. Packed in the dark using headlamps. Got very little sleep. Again.  Note to self: bring earplugs!

- Today = three 1.5mile hikes. All uphill. All ridiculously difficult.  They divide it into three hikes to keep you from the feeling of holly-shitness you get when you look straight up at what is left to hike.

- At the first resthouse I felt good. Confidant.

- At the second resthouse I felt deliriously good. Only 1.5 miles left to go!

- Saw a ram. Like a real life, curly horned, hood of a Dodge Ram ram! Holy shit!

- The last 1.5 miles Bre and I kept encouraging each other and saying things like “It can’t be too much further now.”

- It was.

- The ring around the top of the GC is called the bathtub rim. A bathtub has never been so damn difficult to climb out of.

- Forgot to tape my ankle…on the hardest day.
- Energy goo, shot blocks and powerbars helped save me from the never ending stair stepper which the last mile and a half is made up of.
- Tourist kept asking if we backpacked all the way. We proudly told them yes, rim to rim, but you should meet our group leader, he is 80 years old!

- Found out later that some of the same tourists stopped Roger and took a picture with him saying that he is their inspiration. Truth is, he is all of our inspiration.
- When we got to the top I went straight to the visitors center and bought me a clean t-shirt and hat. Went to the restroom and changed/”washed up” because I knew just how bad I must smell.

- Posed for pictures as a group.
- Turned on my phone and let my family know I was alive. My mother told me she was proud of me which, of course, made me cry.
- Ate breakfast with the group. Best breakfast in the world! I could have licked my plate clean.

- Long drive (4 hours?) back to the North Rim to get our cars followed by another long drive to a hotel where I was finally able to shower. It felt like heaven.

- Got to talk to my cute Jaron. It felt like home.

Well folks, that’s pretty much the end. I have never felt so accomplished or proud of myself. The Grand Canyon is more amazing than I could ever possibly put into words. I suppose that’s why I choose to post my journal entries. There is no way a short narrative blog post could do it justice. The beauty is everywhere you turn. As I would hike, I would constantly stop to look around and remind myself where I was. Through any pain, discomfort, lack of sleep, or blisters I may have gotten, I never once wished I had not come.

Less than ONE PERCENT of people who go to the Grand Canyon actually hike down to the bottom. I feel so honored to be in that group. I am also incredibly grateful to Roger, our group leader, for inviting me to come, organizing the entire adventure, and keeping us all safe. I am indebted to him forever for sharing this experience with me.

There are tons of pictures in all three of my Grand Canyon posts, but if you’d like to see more, check out my Flickr account.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hiking, Vacations

For those of you just wandering over, start your reading with The Descent.

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for the second chapter of my Grand Canyon Adventure, I apologize for taking so long.

Day 3 (cont.)

- We have an amazing camp in the corner of two rock walls with lots of big trees. There was a deer in camp when we first walked up.

- After settling in, Bree and I played in the river. It was cold but we still fully submerged ourselves. Such a rush. Felt like a kid again.

- Around dinner time my Endo kicked me in the nads. I was almost doubled over in pain. Had to miss out on the ranger presentation on Condors. On the plus side, I got to watch the mountains glow as the sun set.

- Christine luckily had packed Tramadol – a prescription that I happen to have. I felt safe taking it. But truthfully I would have taken just about anything.

- Started my period. First period in FOUR YEARS and in happens in the Grand-Fucking-Canyon!

- Slept outside. Bats were flying around and there were critters everywhere. I took an Ambien and listened to music to help me sleep. It started out a warm night but I got cold in the morning hours.

- VERY rough night. Despite the mixture of narcotics and Ambien, couldn’t sleep through the chorus of snores. What sleep I did get involved nightmares of devil goats.

Day 4

- Woke with a major headache (Ambien and Tramadol don’t mix? Who knew?), lots of pain (Endo), and muscles so sore I could barely walk. Didn’t get much sleep.

- Wasn’t sure if I would be able to make the 1.7 mile hike planned. Took lots of Ibuprofen with breakfast.

- Felt better. Well…good enough anyway, after breakfast to go along for the hike. The group has been patient, encouraging, and understanding. Seriously love these guys.

- The hike was beautiful. We saw river rafters (Colorado River), Indian ruins, two bridges and a FOX. Very glad I sucked it up and went.

- When we got back to camp we went to the lodge to refill our cups with lemonade/iced tea. I had to bite the bullet and buy tampons. At the bottom of the Grand-Fucking-Canyon!

- Still in pain but pushing through it.

- After lunch I took my boot off and had a huge blister on my pinky toe. What is with my luck?

- Had to drain the blister to keep it from popping. It is wrapped up with duct tape but tender.

- After mending my toe I took my sleeping pad down by the river and dozed in the shade until a rude couple woke me. I joined the rest of the group and played in the stream.

- Sorted through my remaining food and ate all afternoon in preparation for the next day – (dun, dun, DUN) uphill!

- Seriously, ate so much. At dinner I had to force down the last bites.

- Made it to see the ranger presentation tonight about geology. The GC is 1 mile deep, 10 – 20 miles wide, 270(ish) miles long, and really, really old. I feel so smart now.

- Slept outside and used Rogers bivey sack (a sleeping bag/tent). It gave me claustrophobia. Woke and took anther half of an Ambien. Another restless night. More nightmares, this time about a stabbing fight but I did make out with Jared Letto in water too, so that was a plus.

- Animals seen while at the bottom: momma deer & 3 baby deer, fox, Ringtail Cat, squirrels, lizards, and a scorpion.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

PS – One more GC post to go! If you’d like to see more pictures, check out my flickr account.

Hiking, Vacations

What can I say? The Grand Canyon was fucking amazing (if every there was a time to use “fucking” to describe something, this is the time).

My trip ended up taking seven days, two of which were travel days. From sunup to sunset, my days we packed with amazingness. However, in an effort to share my trip with you and not come across like the annoying relative who makes you sit through an hour long slide show presentation of their vacation to (fill in the blank), I am breaking things up into three posts: The Descent, The Bottom, and The Ascent.

Furthermore, I am transcribing my trip directly from my mini travel journal. This is in part because a) I am lazy and b) if I don’t I many never get this sucker up!

The Descent

Day 1

- Car one: Roger, Christine, Summer

- Car two: Chris, Shelly, Breeanna

- Stopped in Salina, UT. Ate at Mom’s Cafe. Yum!

- Stayed at the Kaibab Cabins (#7 & #8) just outside the North Rim of the park. Sorted and weighed our packs (mine was 30lbs with water!).

-Drove to the North Rim. Saw the GC for the fist time. Was giddy with joy! Felt like a kid again.

- Winds were gusting at 36mph. So cold, yet exhilarating! Literally took my breath away. Couldn’t stop smiling.

- Impossible to take in just how large it is (TWSS).

- Ate dinner at the North Rim Lodge. Consumed half of a chicken.

- SNOWED on the drive back to the cabin.

- Overnight temps were below freezing.

Day 2

- Woke up to 2″ of snow.

- Took a VERY warm shower.

- Decided to pack a tent and extra layers, although I don’t have many. Worried I might freeze.

- My pack now weighs 34lbs.

- Started at North Kaibab trail head.

- After 1st lookout we were able to shed clothes. Slow moving with 6 hikers all fussing with clothing, cameras, and heavy packs.

- Clear blue skies. Breezy. I was the only one in the group to keep a long sleeve on for the entire hike.

- Stopped at Roaring Springs for lunch. Sat on a rock in a spring. Ate lunch with small bullfrogs.

- Outhouses and water stations all along the way. Started spotting out of nowhere. WTF?

- I have the start of blisters on the first day. Going to tape my toes in the morn.

- Ankle did great the entire time. I taped it.

- So far it is very green and lush. It reminds me a lot of Zions. I keep stopping to look up and take it all in. It’s unreal to think I am actually here and that all of the surroundings are real.

- People hike “Rim to Rim” in 1 day. At first I thought that sounded fun. Now it sounds crazy!

- Lizards are everywhere. All sizes and types. My fav so far had a blue belly.

- My group is great but I am often hiking alone. I like the solitude and non-existing conversation of it all.

- We are staying overnight at the Cottonwood Campground. There are only 7 sites. Ours is fairly sunny. It is by a beautiful river where we can soak our feet and get some semblance of clean.

- Tonight I eat my first freeze dried camp dinner.

- We must lock all food up to keep varmint out and hang our packs on metal t-shaped poles provided.

- Christine snores. Sharing a tent should be fun.

- We hiked 7.2 miles today.

- I miss Jaron.

Day 3

- Last night went smoother than expected. Took an Ambien and slept until 3am when Christine woke to pee. Glad I got up though, no moon and a million stars.

- Woke around the time it started to get light (5am?) because Roger, Shelly, and Chris were up.

- Sore as can be, mostly my calf muscles and knees.

- Ate breakfast, packed, waited for Christine and headed out.

- Chris adjusted my pack so it wasn’t as painful on my shoulders.

- Knees started hurting right away. The last 3/4 mi I wore Breeanna’s knee brace.

- Hiked to Ribbon Falls. It was BEAUTIFUL. Wished we had more time. Roger was rushing us.

- Found out why the rush. The GC is not forgiving in the middle of the day.

- “The Box” is a narrow canyon area that feels like an oven when the sun is directly overhead.

- Our hike was 7 miles down hill. The last mile my knee hurt so bad I didn’t know if I would make it.

- I hiked with Breeanna and Roger for most of the hike. Their company helped keep me entertained and my spirits high.

- By the time we reached Phantom Ranch, my knee was aching and my calf muscles were so sore I could barely move. But no matter how bad I was, I was still 100% better than Christine who suffered extreme dehydration and a sprained muscle from a previous injury.

- Christine, Shelly, and Chris arrived to PR 1 hr later than us. When they got there we celebrated with beer and lemonade.

To be continued…

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hiking, Vacations

The event I have been preparing for over the past several months is finally here.

My Big Grand Canyon Adventure!

Here is a snapshot of what I will be doing while the rest of you go about your day to day lives (suckas!).

Day 1 – Drive 390 miles to North Rim – Stay at a humble lodge and take my last hot water shower for five days.

Day 2 – Backpack 6.8 miles down from the North Rim. Try not to trip over my feet and plummet to my death. Arrive at the Cottonwood Campground. Take Ambien and sleep under the stars.

Day 3 – Backpack 7.4 miles. Try not to die from heat exhaustion or passing pack mule farts. Arrive at the bottom of the Grand Freaking Canyon and stay at the Bright Angel campground by the Colorado River. Take another Ambien and pass out under the stars.

Day 4 – LAYOVER DAY! Smaller day hikes to waterfalls and drinking at the Phantom Ranch. Yes, there is a place that serves booze in the Grand Canyon.

Day 5 – Backpack 4.7 miles, this time uphill. Camp at Indian Gardens campground. See amazing waterfalls!

Day 6 – Wake up at 4am to hike the rest of thef way out of the canyon, 4.6 miles straight up, before the sun makes it nearly unbearable. Emerge on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, celebrate by going to brunch and having a shot of whiskey. Take a 6 hour shuttle ride back to the North Rim. Drive 80 miles to Kanab. Take a much needed/deserved hot hot shower.

Day 7 – Drive 310 miles back to home. Arrive home sore, sunburned, and feeling victorious!

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hiking, Vacations

I’m not sure where to start. Right now I am in so much pain, but I am also happier than I have been for a long time.

I suppose I should start at the beginning, only I am not sure exactly where that is. The Grand Canyon invite? My hatred towards large box gyms? The combination of hell, accomplishment and immense pain that has become my new passion?

Yep. That about sums it up.

OK. OK. The beginning…

The Grand Canyon!

Each year The Grand Canyon only allows a certain number of people to backpack from the North Rim to the South Rim of the canyon. You have to enter a lottery system and be randomly selected to go. Well, one of the members of my hiking group entered the lottery and hit the jackpot (thanks, Roger!).  Since I have NEVER BEEN to the GRAND CANYON (practically a sin greater than drinking coffee or masturbating when you live as close as I do), I was invited along with four of my comrades to accompany him on the grueling hike through the most magnificent canyon ever.

I’ve never backpacked anywhere.

We leave in, um, 1,2,3…7 weeks!

Did I mention my pack will weigh roughly 30-35 pounds?

So I figure I best be hitting the gym a bit more diligently, right? Only I hate, nay, detest my current box gym. It is always packed, the machines I know how to do stuff on are always taken, and no one is there to tell me what I should actually be doing outside of the one good intentioned beefcake who told me I was over-extending on a movement I’ve been apparently doing wrong for years.

One night after leaving said gym all disheartened and secretly praying for a better option, I pass by a building I have passed by hundreds of times and think, hmm, I wonder what this Ute Crossfit place is all about?

I research, I attend the free trial class where I all but puke (the first time skipping breakfast has actually worked out in my favor), I am unable to move for two days, I sign up.

Before beginning Crossfit they have you go through two weeks of “On-Ramp,” their classes designed to teach you the proper form for all of the ridiculously challenging movements you will be doing.

I graduated from On-Ramp last week so as of this week I am now officially a full-fledged Crossfitter person.

Pros?
I feel like I could take on the world I am so high on adrenaline. I am happier and more productive than I have been in years. I love that there is always a trainer present who comes up with the workouts each day, and that they encourage you throughout your workout. They even put challenges together which incorporate healthy eating and getting more sleep too. It has already helped me become more structured with my life (with work and school already taking up so much time I kinda have to be to fit this in).

Cons?
I hurt. I hurt in both the good way AND the bad way. Sore muscles are one thing, I actually love that feeling, but having my recently-released-from-rehab ankle feeling like it is regressing and my Endometriosis stabbing my abdomen relentlessly, well, that just sucks monkey balls.

I realize the cons are kinda big deals, but truthfully I don’t want to give up my new found high. I’m working with the trainers to scale back my workouts and have “make PT appointment” on my to-do list. As for my stupid Endo pain, there is nothing that can be done. I just have to hope my body adjusts and that in the meantime my heating pad doesn’t give out.

So there you have it.

Beginning, middle, and cliffhanger to my Grand Canyon-Crossfit-I’m-in-so-much-pain-I-want-to-cry story.

Who knew beating up your body could be so much fun?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Anklegate, Crossfit, Hiking

Sheesh I’m late at getting this up…

Every year President’s Day holds a very significant meaning to me.

Hiking.

Over the long weekend my hiking friends and I hit the road to destinations far more beautiful than the tired looking Salt Lake City– all soggy and clinging to one inversion after another.

The past two years we have gone to Moab, UT. You can read about them HERE and HERE.

This year our hiking adventure took us to Zions National Park.

It snowed on us pretty much the entire time. But…holy shit was it ever beautiful!

Here are a few highlights from the trip.

You can't go on a River Walk and not get a picture by the river, right?

Group shot of my hiking group in front of Weeping Rock.

But after every storm, the sun eventually comes back out. This is the view from our hotel that night.

The next morning on our way up Watchman, we found out the sun was a tease.

But that didn't keep us down. Staci proclaimed that every picture must have a silly pose.

Like this...

And this...

After a huge storm rolled in with snowflakes the size of cotton balls, we decided the only logical thing to do was drink.

We took the long way home and Staci insisted on stopping every quarter of a mile to take a picture. This is me in the car taking a picture of her outside of the car. Who is the smarter sister I ask you?

But even from inside the car, it was hard not to get an amazing picture. Every direction you turned was breathtaking.

More pictures from the our Zions trip can be found HERE.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hiking, Vacations

I’ve made it snowshoeing four times this season.

FOUR!

My goal and motivation throughout what has felt like never ending physical therapy to rehabilitate my ankle has always been to be healed enough to 1. snowshoe, 2. ski, and 3. drop it like it’s hot.

Lately my slacker skills combined with a certain gentleman distraction and of course, American Idol,  have taken over my productive writing skills, but I would be very remiss if I didn’t take the time to at least share some pictures from my adventures. They are, after all, huge accomplishments for me.

Snowshoe # 1 – Scott’s Pass

AKA – Snowshoe heaven, ankle hell.

For my first venture out I traveled up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was sunny and beautiful for most of the hike. My foot hurt like hell – especially on steep inclines and declines, but I couldn’t have been more thrilled to be up in the mountains. I had been bugging my physical therapist for weeks to clear me to go. When he finally did, I almost hugged him I was so happy!

Snowshoe #2 – Donut Falls (in the snow)

AKA – The Blue snow phenomena.

My second hike was also up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was snowy and magical. Picturesque? Sure. But snowy and magical also increases the difficulty factor exponentially. It was of course totally worth it, but I came home afterward and crashed hard. As in dead to the world to tired to move yet alone shower. During the hike my friends and I kept marveling at pockets in the snow that reflected the most amazing shades of blue. I guess it was some sort of light phenomena caused by the weather, but it was something we had never seen quite so defined.

Snowshoe #3 – Pioneer Trail (above Little Dell Reservoir).

AKA – Too hot to handle

Hike number three took us up Parley’s Canyon. You’ll notice in the second picture that one of the members in my hiking group is only in her bra. That member was not me. It was a very sunny day (although the pictures do not seem to show it) and, well, I guess some people run hotter than others.

Snowshoe #4 – Donut Falls in the sun.

AKA – Life doesn’t get better than this.

It’s amazing just how different a trail can be depending on the wheather. Hiking this well worn trail with blue skies and the sun overhead was simply breathtaking. It was the first time my friend Tammy joined me and my snowshoeing friends. We all had a blast and when we finished we rewarded ourselves with a much deserved apres-snowshoeing beer (or three).    

I think it’s safe to say I’ve accomplished my goal of snowshoeing. I’ve even made is skiing a few times this season. I can wear (low) heels and my pain is now very minimal.

I guess all that’s left to master is dropping it like it’s hot.

Adventurously yours,

Summer

Anklegate, Hiking

Last weekend I went on my annual Hiking adventure to Moab, Utah.

It was a-freaking-mazing!

The night before my friend Heidi and I hit the road, it snowed. Not just a little flurry either, we are talking serious inches here. Fortunately we were about an hour and a half shy of our original “get a jump start on the drive,” so the roads were fairly clear for us.

The drive from Salt Lake City to Moab is magical. With every passing mile you watch the mountains turn from brown dirt to red rock, or in this particular case, the parts of the mountains peeking through through the snow.

It’s as if the rest of the world, all of your stress, worries and responsibilities, just fades away and you are simply… FREE!

The drive home is nowhere near as fun.

For our first full day of hiking we kicked things off with a three mile round trip hike to see the beautiful Corona Arch.

The trail had the sun shining directly on it and was fairly dry for the most part. We lucked out in weather with sunny clear skies and a brisk temperature in the low 40′s.

Our second hike was a six mile portion of the Porcupine Rim, a trail normally reserved for mountain bikers. I’d have to say over 60% of the trail was covered in snow. The last mile or so had not been traveled since the recent snow fall so we broke trail through 4-6 inches of slushy snow.

Hiking through the snow is actually quite fun. Mostly because I got to try out crampons for the first time, which surprisingly is nowhere nearly as kinky as it sounds.

For our second day of hiking we decided to try something a little off the beaten path. Our group leaders spoke with a ranger about a hike to see Tunnel Arch and Ring Arch. We followed the rangers instructions as best as possible, but the ground was so covered with snow it was difficult to find the defined trail. We ended up playing hopscotch from one patch of snow to the next to avoid destroying the cryptobiotic soil for portions of the hike.

It was about a five mile round trip hike. The payoff was not worth the large potions of bush whacking (again, not nearly as kinky as it sounds) it required and I don’t think we will do this hike again.

When we stopped for lunch, my feet were soaking and I had blisters, but with two hikes still to go, I bandaided up and carried on.

The second hike was a short one and a half mile round trip, through a very snowy hike into The Devils Garden to see Landscape Arch. The crampon’s were lifesavers on this hike.

It was beautiful! Breathtaking actually. It’s hard to describe the pure magicalness of it all. Most people associate Moab with warm weather and dessert scenery. To see it snow covered is such a rarity and it may sound funny to say, but I feel privileged to have been able to see it.

The final hike for our Moab trip is always to Delicate Arch. A semi-grueling three mile hike to see one of the most well known arches of Utah.

Even though the trail was icy in parts, muddy in others; and in spite of the fact I had blisters and was more than a little exhausted from the previous 16 or so miles, I still had to run down the Delicate Arch trail back to the car. Just like I did last year.

People look at you like you are crazy when you are running full speed down a sandstone trail, completely unable to stop, yelling at them to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, but the feeling is so exhilarating I just flat out didn’t care. I ran. Down the sandstone, through the mud, across the bridge, to finally collapse in the back of a truck bed with a huge smile on my beet red face.

When the rest of the group got back to the cars, we all had a beer in the parking lot to toast another year of amazing hiking.

To say I love my hiking group and the time I spend with them is an understatement of mass proportions.

How many days until next years adventure?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

PS – For more pictures of my Moab adventure check out my Flickr page.

Hiking, Vacations