Climbing Waterfalls and Jumping off Cliffs

I cannot turn back now. I have begun the life of an adventure enthusiast and it has quickly become my passion. From now on, I will climb as many mountains as possible, explore as many canyons as the land offers, and participate in all extreme sports currently invented.
This past weekend was an excellent start to this new goal. Laura accompanied me, once again, for some exploration and fun. On Sunday, we joined a group hike into the Seven Castles Waterfall. This hike is located on Basalt Mountain in a protected parcel of land. The only way to access the canyon and waterfall is through private land that requires a permit. Therefore, with about ten other people, we journeyed into what is known as a gateway of the Utah Redrock Desert. From the Roaring Fork Valley, seven gigantic sandstone towers rise from the mountains. A small canyon is formed in between each structure. Our hike led through one of those canyons. A small creek- at this point in the season, only a few inches deep- wound it's way through the canyon. The walls are 100 feet high, attesting to the strength the creek must have once held. The red sandstone was soft and sparkled in the sunlight. We followed the trail about 2 miles into the canyon; at times, it was only 3 feet wide. Finally, we emerged into a basin with a large waterfall running smoothly down the rocks. With the aid of ropes, the few adventurous ones in the group, climbed to the top of the waterfall. From there, we climbed up 3 more waterfalls before reaching the end of the canyon. It ends in a large circular arena, carved out by the water of a 100 foot waterfall. The water pours over the edge of the canyon walls; a truly magnificent spot.
Laura and I lingered here longer than the others, appreciating the steady roar of the water as well as the peace of the canyon. We were eventually forced to leave, however, as a small rock slide started on the edge of the canyon. As we hastened down the stream, we looked over our shoulders to see if anyone was stalking us from the canyon rim. It could have been a chipmunk that started the slide, but then again, it could have been a mountain lion. We were certain it was a mountain lion.
It took some time to rappel back down the slippery waterfalls, but we made sure to take advantage of the cool water. Out of the entire group, I believe Laura and I were the only ones that came out soaking wet. I suppose that's what happens when you stand in a waterfall. The Seven Castles hike is such a wonderful place because it is so secret and private. I will certainly be returning to ski and dogsled the canyon.

After the excitement of the waterfall canyon, it was unlikely that we could have an even better day...but we did. Yesterday was a thrill. Ever since seeing the paragliders on Red Mountain about a month ago, Laura and I have been planning on going. We set the date and started working up some courage. Yesterday morning, we were all set to go, except for the sudden rain storm. It never rains in Colorado in the morning, unless apparently we're planning on flying. The guides suggested we cancel, but we were determined to see it through. Thankfully, about half an hour before our flight time, the skies opened up to a beautiful sunny day. The wind picked up, making it perfect for paragliding and the guides instantly got everything set up. I didn't even have time to think from arriving at the launch site to jumping off of the cliff. We were strapped into a harness, clipped into the parachute, and told to start running. The parachute pulled me backwards as I ran, but then we were swept forward, off the edge of the cliff and into thin air.
The wind current swept us over the ridgeline, high above the pine trees and hiking trails I had come to know so well. My guide was very informative, explaining the technicalities of paragliding and how he got started in the sport. For 20 minutes, Laura and I floated hundreds of feet in the air. The entire Roaring Fork Valley to Mount Sopris was open below us. Slowly, we began edging out of the current to begin our descent. When we arrived directly over town, we had an option: a slow, lazy descent or a roller coaster ride. Definitely, always choose the roller coaster ride. By shifting our weight and taking sharp turns, we were able to go into a corkscrew. At times, we were parallel to the earth and I even went upside down a few times. Even the most exciting roller coaster in the world cannot compare to the thrill of flying upside down with only a parachute attached. After that, gravity pulled us towards land. With a running start while still in the air, we thudded to the ground.
I could have flown for hours and never tired. The cool wind and bright sun were the only things that mattered during the flight. Jumping off of a cliff is one of the most peaceful things I have ever done. This will certainly not be a one time thing in my life....they may even be willing to train me as a guide next summer.
I'll have to take a little break from adventuring, as I am returning to VT for a few days. I'll just have to convince some of my friends from back east to come out here and experience the wonders of Colorado.

All Puppies Have to Grow Up Someday

Big day at the kennel today...the puppies joined the big dogs.
This morning, Bill and I spent about an hour fixing up houses and chains, collaring puppies, and introducing them to their new homes. I quickly found out that I have been spoiling them rotten. Every morning and evening, I have let them run for a few hours. They have had free reign around the dog yard, the house, and the fields. No longer.
Putting the collars on them was difficult enough. They rolled in the dirt and jumped around trying to get them off. however, I thought they looked quite dashing in the bright colors. Next, we attempted to lead them on a leash. They liked that even less. After being able to run free, the leash seemed very restricting. Finally, we introduced each pup to their individual area. It was hard watching them struggle with this new idea. Bill reassured me that it will take a few days, but they will come to like it as the other dogs do.
Throughout the day, Pismo or Apollo would start up howling. I found them all this evening, laying low to the ground and whimpering. My poor puppies; if I could have them live in my house all the time, I would (but they would pee on my carpet).
It will be interesting to see how they adjust over the next few days. I'm sure there will be some crying, on both my part and the puppies, but I have to let them grow up. Soon I'll be training them...even better.

Morning Run

For the past few weeks, I have been running every morning before I take care of the dogs. I usually wake up at 6:45 and head out down the dirt road. At this time of morning, the sun has not yet crept up over the opposite ridge line, so the valley is cold and quiet. As the sun begins to show, more blue birds fly above and chipmunks scamper across my path. I am barely ever disturbed by a car and, even then, they pass with a friendly wave. The dirt road underfoot is forgiving, although the many potholes require extra attention.
The only downfall is the unsufferable uphill climb. For the first mile, it is beautiful downhill; but as soon as I turn around, I have to climb several hundred feet in elevation.
I have never really enjoyed running, but this is a necessary addition to my life. Not only do I want to look good at my friend's upcoming wedding, but training will inevitably start in a few weeks. As soon as this hits, I will be running up and down hills to harness dogs and push the sled. If I can't keep up with the dogs, I'll be left in the dust. Hence, training for me has started in earnest. I'm hoping to possibly take the puppies out with me tomorrow morning. They're becoming more adventurous and are always curious about my morning jog. I wasn't responsible for the dogs today, so when I came back, they were waiting for me about halfway down the driveway. All five, lined up across the path, with tails wagging and tongues rolling out of their mouths. I was just as excited to see them as they were to see me.
The morning run also gives me an opportunity to enjoy my surroundings. I am constantly amazed at the beauty of my little valley. The sage brush dots the red hills and Mt. Sopris continues to dominate the skyline. At one point this morning, I was actually listening to 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole when several bluebirds flew right in front of me. Having the sun rise over the hills while blue birds fly overhead and the dirt crunches underfoot is an invigorating start to the morning.

Another beautiful day in Glenwood Springs. I have a day off from work, so I am enjoying the sun and getting some much needed errands out of the way.
The dogs are doing well; I'm sure they'll be excited when Bill gets back from Alaska tomorrow. He has spent the past week up north taking care of some logistical issues for the race. He has to get the food ready, bring all the gear up, sign all the paperwork, etc etc. I usually hate people that dress their dogs up, but I'm not going to lie....my dogs look stellar in their booties and down jackets. They instantly got excited when I brought out the jackets and harnesses. They know  this means cold weather is coming and with it, running.
I said in my previous post that I have been feeding them more. I figured out the other day that I am going through about 36 pounds of dog food a day. That's around one pound for each dog plus another 4 for the puppies. Their different reactions to breakfast always makes me laugh. Pinks does this little dance that involves a sideways shuffle. Osiris will stand on his hind legs and bark for the solid ten minutes it takes me to get to him. Attla sits next to his dish and licks his lips at least 5 times. And then there's everyone else who basically just run in circles until I get to them.
I can't wait to start running them....they'll be even more excited by that. But that journey doesn't begin until after I get back from VT.
Until then, I'll keep working, playing, and having adventures. Not a rough life.

Lo feeding the pups

   

Cantaloupe

Fun fact: sled dogs like cantaloupe. Well, actually, the like to eat the rind of a cantaloupe. For the past few days, I've been eating the melons for breakfast and lunch (they're delicious out here) and cutting up the rinds. As soon as the dogs get a whiff of the stuff, they go nuts. It is the perfect deal; I eat what I want, they eat what they want.
At first, the puppies didn't get it. I handed them a piece, but they would just sniff at it and turn away. However, as soon as an older dog showed enthusiasm for the fruit, the puppies instantly got excited. They learn their habits from the older, wiser dogs. I hope they don't learn too many habits though, because a few of the big dogs almost took my hand off for that little piece of melon. Thankfully, I was wearing my work gloves; without those, the bruise on my thumb would be a lot worse. Sled dogs aren't necessarily trained etiquette or manners. The dogs do not daintily take the melon from my fingers. If I was holding it in the palm of my hand, they were more likely to take my whole hand in their mouth than to grab the melon in their teeth. Some people would be mad that a dog is attempting to bite them, but I know that they're just after the fruit, not me. It didn't really hurt, just made me smile to see their happiness.
Another trick in my back pocket....cantaloupe for sled dogs.

Loose Dogs

When I first arrived at the kennel, Bill told me that maybe 2 or 3 times a year a dog will get loose. A rare occurrence.
Since I have been here (almost 2 months now), five dogs have gotten loose. Luma's chain broke; she didn't even realize it until I came to feed her and nothing was holding her back from jumping on me. We were both surprised by that one. Kobuk's stake came out of the ground. I found him in the upper dog yard socializing with Fury, who he is now staked next to. Colfax is usually attached to a 5 foot pole. Somehow, beyond my understanding, he jumped so high that his chain slipped right off of the top. When I put him back on his pole, I thought to myself, 'there is no way that he can manage to do that again'. Wrong. He did it the next morning where I found him jumping around with Jumper. Chena, the puppies' mom, also broke her chain. I found her at the puppy pen, staring at her kids. Finally, last night, Qjoa (pronounced Jo-a)broke loose. Her chain snapped right down the middle. She only made to Pinks, the next dog over, before I got her.
It has gotten to the point where I can hear a different tone in the barks when a dog is loose. It is not the same bark that announces food is arriving, nor is it the same bark to welcome the moon; it is a frantic, "come visit me!", bark. Thankfully, it has only happened when I am at home and can hear them going crazy.
It can be a serious problem if they are loose for an extended period of time. Bill often says that they'll either fight or mate. The females are more prone to fighting. If something happened a year ago to piss them off, they'll remember it and go after that other dog. However, the males are more interested in love....I always found that funny.
Since I apparently have a curse, I have decided to take a preemptive strike and fix all of the chains tonight. Hopefully that'll help...

Betrayal

For the past few days, Bill and I have begun discussing training. We have had to hold off because of the extreme heat here. It has been a consistent 90 degrees throughout July and August. With this type of weather, it is better just to leave the dogs alone so that they don't get all worked up and overheated. We'll most likely start training when I get back from Vermont in mid-September. I am so excited to get those dogs out running.
To prepare for this, I have started feeding them a little extra each morning. They need to build up muscle and fat since they'll be burning it like crazy in a month. At that point, we'll have to start feeding them twice a day, as much as they can shovel down. Right now, there are 3 or 4 dogs that just need a little extra food because they're crazy. Take Oly for instance: Oly enjoys running 24/7 with a Kong toy in his mouth, Oly does not stop. Since he is excessively hyper, he tends to burn more calories and always needs more food. As a consequence, I have begun feeding him, along with Spit, Ahab, and Lynx, a little extra food at night, so as not to upset their stomachs with so much food in the morning.
Unfortunately, all 37 dogs recognize the kibble bucket. They jump in anticipation as I walk into their areas with the food and stare dejectedly as I walk away. Their faces are awash in the utter betrayal. How could I dare to give their neighbors food but not them? I try telling them that I don't have a choice and that they're going to get fat, but they are too hurt to listen.

Ares and Niva

The betrayal obviously ends the next morning when I arrive with the food once again. It is a constant cycle with these dogs. It's just a good thing that a quick scratch behind the ears can placate them...

Thomas Lakes

Yesterday, I went for a wonderful hike. I took Fury, the smallest dog in the kennel, up to Thomas Lakes. This trail is about 9 miles round-trip, leading to two lakes at the base of Mount Sopris. Many campsites dot the trail as this is a common place to camp out before ascending the 12,000 foot peak. The trailhead itself starts at 8,200 feet. From there, a steady climb through a pine forest leads to a mountain meadow. The meadow was filled with yellow and purple wildflowers. Also sharing the meadow with Fury and I, was a large herd of cows. Big cows with big poop. Poop that Fury enjoyed rolling in. Awesome (sarcasm).
From there, the trail climbs into Aspen groves. With views of the valley peaking through the trees, the top of Sopris quickly growing closer, and Fireweed leaning into the path, it could not have been more pretty. On second thought, yes it could; add a mountain stream to that list, about a half mile from the destination, and you've got a winner. Coming out of the Aspen groves to the lakes is a spectacular view. The lakes are formed from ice melt and are, therefore, a brilliant clear blue. They lie 10,076 feet in the air, tucked right into a bowl of Mount Sopris. This was the highest I have hiked so far and it felt so good! We explored for awhile, had lunch, and lay in the sun for a long time. Sometimes life is just so good.
On the way down the mountain, I began thinking about my little Fury. She's a small husky, the smallest in the kennel, even in comparison to the puppies. Fury is also very timid. When I first let her off the leash, she didn't know what to do with herself. Quickly, I found that she was most comfortable being right on my heels. For the majority of the trip, I could feel her little black nose against the backs of my knees. At first, I attributed this to nervousness. She's not used to being loose or away from the other dogs. However, even after gaining some confidence and exploring on her own, she was still sticking to my heels.

I fell in the stream right after taking this picture....it better have been worth it.

My little Fury

Thomas Lake

My second theory is that Fury does not know how to be the lead dog. She has been trained, from birth, to be a part of the pack. She is a follower; a runner; a puller; but never a lead dog. She was much more comfortable letting me lead and set the pace because that is what she knows. When I went hiking with Maverick, the differences were apparent. He was in charge and he knew exactly what he was doing. Every know and then, he would look back to see that I was keeping up, but otherwise he was leading the way. Fury does not have that instinct. It is fascinating to watch these dogs and learn their personalities. She's going to make an excellent little hiking dog as long as I'm ok with a wet nose on the backs of my legs.

Some Late Night Tennis and Homeade French Toast

Ares likes to go for the ears...

Niva, Big Brown, and Whitey

Thank god I have an old friend living so close to me! Ms. Putnam came to Glenwood Springs once again this past weekend. Even though I had to work, we managed to have a great time. I could definitely manage to have a housewife around....Getting home from work on Saturday, a beautiful dinner was set on the table, candlelight and all! After our romantic meal, we went out to visit with the dogs of course. By now, they're best friends with Lo. After the appropriate amount of puppy kisses and barking, we headed into town to play some late night tennis. By this time it was 8:30, but that didn't stop us from turning the lights on at the community center and failing desperately at volleying the ball. I'm a little rusty at tennis I suppose. It was the perfect way to spend a perfect night. With the full moon outlining the mountains, we laughed at my lack of skill only as two old friends can laugh.
The next morning I slipped away to take care of my pups. When I came back, the house smelled of french toast and tea. Yep, I could definitely get used to this. She even does the dishes! 

And It Begins....

With the fall approaching, the mice being to approach as well. They have begun looking for more luxurious homes after their time in the fields. Unfortunately, that means that they have come to live with me...
A few days ago as I first woke up, I spotted a dead mouse in my kitchen. Being a squirmy girl, I had to call Bill to save me from the obviously very ferocious dead baby mouse. From that point on, they have made more of a presence. Every now and then, I will spot a fuzzy little brown dot scurrying across my living room. While I do admit that they are cute, I do not want them in my house. Therefore, I have begun thinking of taking drastic measures. A cat.
There is a stray cat that has taken to living at the house. Bill and Jodi named her Midnight, started feeding her, and just recently began letting her into the house. This cat is a killer. At first I didn't know if she hated me or liked me because she was leaving decapitated baby rabbits on my front door. In cat world, that can be taken as a serious threat or as a present.
Anyway, I'm hoping to win Midnight over so I can hire her as a mercenary. She'll show those mice why they ever learned to fear the word 'cat'. Until that point, I have had to enlist other help. Sculpin, a 7-year-old, blue-eyed beauty has been guarding my house. She is one of the sweetest dogs in the kennel, at least towards humans; towards all other manner of small animals, she is terror. Last night, Sculpin bravely lay on my couch, getting her stomach rubbed, as she surveyed the living room waiting to strike. We didn't see any mice last night. I'm taking that to mean that she did her job.

Sculpin

The war with the mice will continue on and I swear to use any and all measures necessary to eradicate them from my lovely home. Here kitty kitty.

12,050 Feet In The Air

Rocky Mountain Valley

Top of Independence Pass

My car is such a good sport!

So the drive through Independence Pass the other day was perfect. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and a cool 60 degrees, 12,050 ft up in the air. About a month and a half ago, when my mom and I drove through the pass, there was three feet of snow on the ground. This time around it looked like a tundra oasis. The only snow left clung to little shaded areas and dips in the mountain allowed for instant ponds. Being the highest thing around, there was no runoff to destroy these pristine ponds; the bright green grass, tiny purple flowers, and crystal blue water completed a scene so perfect that I spent an easy 30 minutes just sitting and watching.

After breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face I decided to explore the area. There was a path that led away from my fellow travelers and up into the snow of the mountain. Although the breathing was certainly difficult, the air felt so light and clean; it was good to have a little physical exertion. As I hit a ridge on the mountain, my perfect scene become even better. In the background, 10,000 foot peaks towered, covered in wildflowers and water. In the foreground, a mother goat and her little kid grazed. They were tucked behind the ridge, protected from the wind and the cameras of the tourists. I sat and watched them for a long time; 12,050 feet in the air and it was just me and the goats. It was a wonderfully peaceful moment.

Rafting Browns Canyon

GREAT DAY! I drove down to Colorado Springs yesterday; beautiful drive through the Rockies....and of course stopped to do some shopping on the way. I spent last night with Laura and some of her friends. It was good to get back in the college vibe for a night.
Bright and early this morning, we drove to Buena Vista, CO. I don't know if I've mentioned this recently, but I can go whitewater rafting for free....yeah, it's sweet. Anyway, I signed Lo and I up for a full day trip down the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon. This trip is rated one of the best in the nation and I now know why. The scenery is unbeatable; the rapids are killer; and the guides are adorable. There were only 5 people on the trip, so we just took out one boat. Lots of other companies were on the river, but it was nice to be our own little party. For the first 3 miles, it's a simple river float with views of the Collegiate Peaks. After that, you enter into the canyon, where the water gets deeper and faster. We hit mostly Class III rapids today, with a few Class IVs. For 12 miles, the canyon walls tower on each side as you shoot down crystal clear water. After hitting the Seven Staircases and the Widow Maker, we pulled onto a little beach and had lunch. My company doesn't bother with sandwiches(please); we had Top Sirloin Steak, vegetable stir-fry, baked beans, and macaroni salad. I don't know what was better, the rafting or the food (that's the Giroux in me talking). After lunch, we rafted a little further before getting to a good cliff jumping spot. Again, so fun! The next few hours were spent rafting more Class IIs and taking in the scenery. Now, Lo and I are enjoying some iced coffee in Buena Vista before we part ways. I've already convinced her to go rafting with me again this weekend :-)

Headed down the Zute Shoot

We got a little buried.....

It's going to be about a 2 hour drive home, straight through Independence Pass. The last time I did this drive, I was just arriving in CO and I was scared for the unknown. Now I'm going over the pass after a great free day of rafting, to a home that I know I love and dogs that will be welcoming me back!

Puppy Games

So it is common knowledge that I spend every evening hiking with my puppies. After I have watered all the older dogs, the pups and I head back up onto the ridgeline behind the house. It's one of the most beautiful times of day since the sun has turned all the mountains golden and pink. Usually, we just hike around, sniffing dirt and eating grass. Lately though, I've started some new entertainment.
I have begun playing Hide-and-go-seek, as well as Tag, with the puppies. While I convince myself that these games are great training opportunities, in reality it just makes me giggle. Hide-and-go-seek basically involves me hiding behind a bush or a tree and whistling until they find me. Sometimes, I find a great spot and watch their confusion. Most of the time though, they find me right away. And it always ends in licks on the face and paws pushing me down....which means I always laugh. They love playing; you can see the smile on their face when they finally spot me.
Tag is less competitive. I can usually last 0.2 seconds before they run me down. The only way I last longer is if I trick them and double back, but it doesn't happen often. As soon as I start running, I can hear thundering paws begind me quickly gaining. Without fail, one of the puppies will decide to run into me instead of running around. Again, it always make me laugh.
They're growing quickly, but they're still puppies at heart. I like the excuse to be a little kid again too.

Night and Morning

Last night was by far one of my favorite nights with the dogs. I got out of work pretty late, so I didn't make it up to the dog yard until 8pm. By then, the light is just starting to fade and the air has cooled down enough to offer a perfect evening escape. The puppies were so excited to be out, jumping around the older dogs, wriggling their whole bodies to tease them. I stayed out longer than usual; I stayed as the light on the mountains faded and the eyes of the dogs started to glow. Usually I head in way before the light disappears, but it was so beautiful last night, I was tempted to stay. Everyone was energized with the cool night air; they were each calling to me to pay attention to them. I ended up brushing everyone; much to the disdain of my pants. Every now and then, a puppy, hidden by the dark, would come screaming into my legs. I would get hit full force and they would just bounce off to keep running around. I couldn't help but laugh at their antics.
As it grew darker, the wind picked up. I suppose it was a good thing that the dark drove me inside because I was only in for 5 minutes before a massive storm rose up. The wind whipped around the house knocking out the power; the wind was so loud, I could barely hear the thunder bouncing off the mountains. Storms like this have become part of my routine; they just call for a little candlelight reading. 
The calm after the storm came this morning when I woke up to the house surrounded in fog. It was eerily quiet, except for the distant sounds of the dogs barking. When I got to the upper yard, I couldn't see any of the lower dogs. Their calls were drowned in the fog, making it seem like they were miles away. Slowly, the sun began to burn off the fog, so that shortly it appeared as if I was atop on island in the clouds. Only the peaks surrounding the house were visible, with the valleys all socked in. It was a perfect way to start the day; the quiet early morning sun rays, the cool touch of the clouds, the dogs huffing impatience. Perfect.

Group Howl

One of my favorite parts about working with the dogs is the phenomenon known as "Group Howl". Most sled dogs consider this an important part of life; a part of the daily routine. After working for a month with the dogs, I've started noticing that they're howling more. It'll start with one lone dog, howling to the skies. Quickly, another dog will join in, harmonizing and inflecting with the original howl. Eventually, all 37 dogs join in, creating a song that echoes through the mountains. I have started to acknowledge the individual howls; the way Colfax begins his high-pitched yipping is very different from Luma's long souful call. The puppies, especially, stand out with their quick excited barks. It all comes together to form a perfect melody, rising and dipping with the excitement and life of the kennel.
I asked Bill and Jodi why the dogs seemed to be howling more; I was worried that there was stress in the kennel. Quite the opposite, they told me. For the past few weeks, the dogs have started howling every time I leave in the morning and especially when I leave at night. Jodi informed me that they're doing this because they're happy. Apparently, they do not howl for everyone....don't I feel privileged! Jodi said that this is their way of communally saying goodbye to me and to converse with one another in the process. It brings the pack together, puts them all on the same ground. It's also really fascinating to listen to the dogs howl to the coyotes in the valley. At night, they coyotes will start up, inevitably getting the dogs all excited. They'll go back and forth, back and forth, telling their stories.
For the first time last night, they did a group howl while I was still with them. I was playing with the puppies when little Pismo started it up. Everyone quickly joined in; standing on barrels, wagging tails, and throwing their heads back to the sky. It was amazing to be surrounded by that energy, that happiness. I might even have to admit that I kinda sorta howled along myself....

Along with enjoying the group howl, I have finally decided on a name for the female puppy. She is now called Niva. It is the Latin word for 'snow' and seems to work for her just fine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another litter so I can come up with more fun names!