It was sunny and in the upper 70s the day before I landed in Colorado for this trip. As my Southwest flight touched the runway in Denver, the snow had already started falling. That didn't stop Levi and me from some cold weather camping.
We headed approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes north west of Denver to Lost Lake. As we started our hike, the snowfall was nearly white out conditions. We followed the trail as it guided us along Middle Boulder Creek. The tumbling cascades of water over icy rocks and boulders provided a beautiful soundscape, along with snow crunching under our boots. This snowy overnight in a tent by Lost Lake is such a fun memory.
Our next adventure was 40 minutes north west of Denver at Eldorado Canyon State Park (just south of Boulder, CO). The snow had started to melt and that meant we could squeeze some climbing in. This was a memorable day of climbing because I was able to attempt my first "crack climb," which is when you follow a crack in the rock face and jamming techniques to get leverage as you traverse up the climb. It was a fun and challenging experience.
More climbing adventures in Colorado Springs, CO at Garden of the Gods. This trip was a fun memory because my oldest son, Jacob, got a chance to climb outdoors for the first time. And because we were at Garden of the Gods, he had an audience of tourists cheering him on. Another memorable climbing adventure with Levi on the beautiful red rocks.
At an elevation of 14,196 feet, Crestone Needle is the 21st highest peak in the state of Colorado. If you're ranking by beauty and stunning views, Crestone Needle is often ranked in the top 5. Located approximately 4 hours south west of Denver, this impressive mountain is part of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the Rocky Mountains.
This was the first Colorado 14,000 foot mountain, or 14er as they're known, that I summited with class 5 climbing (technical climbing the rock face with a rope and climbing gear). It's also one of the most challenging adventures I've ever encountered in my life. There are so many memorable stories from this hike and climb, most of which will be kept between Levi and me. The photos look intense and they certainly capture the vibe of this experience. And I'd do it all over again tomorrow.
Boulder Colorado's Open Space & Mountain Park was a fun place to climb with my dear friend, Levi. He's been my adventure partner and someone who has taught me so much about enjoying the outdoors.
I had the privilege of climbing these beautiful, red rocks. Most notably, I completed a fun climb of Montezuma Tower, located in the middle of Garden of the Gods.
