Busy Busy

Sorry for the lack of a post lately….I haven’t had any free time. I’ve either been with the dogs or working. It’s nice having my days filled with puppy playtime and conversing with happy people on vacation. I’m either in the back office answering phone calls from customers excited to learn about our rafting and zipline possibilities, or I am at the front desk joking with the new arrivals. In all honesty, the majority of my time is actually spent talking with my coworkers. Not counting the owners, everyone who works at the resort is in their 20s, so I’m making friends quickly.

I also got an interesting offer this morning. One of the managers asked if I would be willing to head up group events this winter. They need someone to stay on to plan family reunions, boy scout trips, etc….want to know the best part?A key part of this job is to become the wedding planner. I would be in charge of coordinating with wedding parties to plan their event at our resort. Awesome? I would say so! The manager has already started giving me the information needed, so I'll dive right in.

Working a full time job, plus a morning and evening shift at the kennel, plus an independent contracting position delivering phonebooks has not given me much time to breathe, but it will all slow down soon. I want to get back out on the trails and out on the water and even up into the sky. More adventures are sure to follow shortly.  

A Puppy by Any Other Name Would Be As Cute...

I have got to get internet at my place. My starbucks gift card has finally run out and now it's just a pain to drive into town for wifi. Also, I need satellite back. It's been down for about a week now, due to a puppy chewing a cord...oops. In the meantime, I've read 3 books and watched a couple movies, I guess I shouldn't complain too much.
Life is pretty much the same here. Lots of dog time, lots of work time, and hopefully some exercise in between. The puppies are getting bigger, cuter, and funnier every day. I've been given the great honor of naming the female puppy (I kept silent on the fact that I had already named them all). I don't think I want to keep calling her Athena; so I've been running through a whole bunch of different names. For instance, Maple, Noon (for Marion), Cane (dog in Latin), Poppy, Pico, Snow, etc. If anyone has any suggestions, please send them my way. I try a different name every day and I'll keep going until I find the right one!

Pismo (aka Bacchus)

 Bill leaves in a couple weeks for Alaska to start finalizing details on theIditarod. He'll go up there about 4 times before he brings the dogs up in December. There's still so much to do....like train the dogs. We're going to start training in September and I can't wait! I'm really starting to form relationships with each individual dog and it'll be exciting to get them going as a team. I'm especially looking forward to training the puppies....they're going to be little terrors.

Kiana

A Workin' Woman

I am tired! These next few weeks are going to be long and full. At first, I thought the job I took on at Glenwood Canyon Resort was going to be part-time; turns out, the owner really likes me and keeps trying to give me hours. I won't complain, I need the money, but I'm going to have very little free time.
I start my morning at 6:45am and I'm out with the dogs by 7am. Now if I'm in a hurry I can be out of the kennel by 8:15, but more often than not, I spend some cuddle time with them until about 8:45. Then it's off to the Resort at 9:30, where I work from 10-6pm. Then back to the dogs from 7:30-9:00. And then bed! I thought I was going to get bored in Colorado, ha!
It's so nice to start and end every day with the dogs. They're always happy to see me. The Resort is fun. I've started as a reservationist, which means I'm mostly in the back office answering phone calls; tomorrow, however, I'm running lodging and front desk. The boss, Kathy, is training me for everything so they can give me the most hours and so I can help wherever needed. The Resort is constantly busy, so the time passes quickly and it is ALWAYS beautiful!
So, I will continue with my long days, hoping for a day off here and there. Until then, I'll earn some money so I can go on fun trips later with the dogs!

The view from my office

When You Can't Run....

If you ask me if I want to run, chances are you'll hear me say no. If you ask any one of my dogs, they will jump up and down until you agree to take them. These dogs live to run. They practice running around their barrels; they eat so that they have enough strength to run; they dream about running; they look at you and tilt their heads as if to ask, "can we go run?"
So what about the dogs that can't run? I have spent the past few days getting to know the dogs that can no longer run. These dogs still look at you with that expectation, that hope, and it breaks your heart every time to know that they can't go. There are the older dogs in the kennel, Maverick and Pinks. These two are still in relatively good shape for 12 years old. They have some hip problems and Pinks had a tumor removed this spring. Unfortunately, they'll never race again. Both were incredible lead dogs, running all 6 Iditarods with Bill. Old age gets us all eventually.
While Mav and Pinks had their glory years, there are a few dogs in the kennel that had to end their runs early. Dylan is a sweet 7 year old who was a champion racer. Two years ago, in the Iditarod, Dylan's front foot went into a narrow ice crevasse. His ankle was shattered. Since then, he has been unable to run. He can lope around in an awkward gait, but he can't travel distances or speeds. His physical pain is manageable, but his emotional pain is unbearable. Last winter, while the other dogs were being trained, Dylan had to stay behind. His love for running was so deep, that he stopped eating or even getting up. Bill had to spend hours with him, trying to lift his spirits and give him some personal attention. Two years after his injury, I can still see sadness in his eyes. When he watches the puppies screaming around the kennel or the other dogs jumping over barrels, he cannot join in. He can't have the freedom of running: the carefree tongue out of the side of the mouth, the grin form ear to ear, the slight twitch of the nose as they take in every smell.

Dylan

So if you ever come visit, I'll make sure you take the time to visit Dylan. And if you don't visit, make sure to pet an old dog or an injured dog. They might not be able to jump over trees or run for miles, but they'll still appreciate a little love.

Glenwood Canyon Resort and Adventure Center

Well this has been a busy weekend! On Thursday, after my last blog post, I received a phone call from Glenwood Canyon Resort asking if I would be free for an interview the next morning. Of course I was....I was desperate for a job at that point. Next thing I know, I'm being offered a job for an adventure company!
Glenwood Canyon Resort is located in No Name, CO (yes, that's a real place). It's a campground, also providing luxury cabins and suites. Along with the resort, an adventure company runs whitewater rafting, zip lines, ropes courses, biking, and horseback riding. I have been hired as a receptionist/reservationist for the adventure company. My first lesson on the job: since I will be discussing the different adventure trips with clients, I have to experience them all myself. Therefore, on Saturday, my friend Laura and I went whitewater rafting. For free. I can go whenever I want, wherever I want. My life is so hard...
The rest of the weekend was also devoted to fun time. Laura and I shopped, watched Harry Potter, and went to weekly yoga in the park. I think I'm fitting into Colorado rather well. For the next few days, I am training and working, on top of taking care of the dogs.
Speaking of the dogs, they're cuter than ever. The little female puppy, Athena, has started a new game. It seems to happen whenever I am carrying buckets of water; she comes up behind me and pushes her head against the back of my knees, squeezing her body through so that I inevitably trip with all of the water. She's too adorable for me to stay mad at her.
With puppies tripping me in the morning, whitewater rafting during the day, and more puppies playing at night, I'm staying very busy. But this just means I have all the more to show people when they come visit! (hint hint)

Maverick and Me

Today was my first day off!!!! However, I still woke up at the same time, went straight up to the dogs to say hi, and then stole one of them to go hiking. I guess I'm not very good at staying away from them.
Bill and I had a long talk last night about hiking dogs. All 37 of them have separate personalities and some work better than others. For instance, Lynx would be great, but he is the main lead dog in the kennel; I would be in deep trouble if I lost him or he got hurt. Also, Luma's a good hiking dog, but if you take any of her neighbors, she'll get insanely jealous and start fights. Therefore, Bill and I picked out about five dogs that I can choose from (it's just like Christmas!). Pinks is a sweet old girl that should really only be taken on short, easy hikes. Fury is small and hyper; great for the steep and rocky stuff. Joa is calm and will stick right by you. Sasha just wants exercise all the time. And then there is my boy Maverick.
Maverick is about 12 years old and is only beaten in age by Pinks. He was one of Bill's first sled dogs and his very first lead dog. He has run all 6 Iditarods, leading the team with authority. Even though he is an extreme sled dog, he also loves attention. I spend at least five minutes every night just loving Maverick. Today, when I first loaded him into my car, he preceded to climb up from the back and snuggle all 75 pounds of himself into my lap. Needless to say, I couldn't drive with a massive husky sitting on me, nor could I really breathe.
We went exploring on the Thompson Creek Trail. This is a canyon-filled, wildflower-covered haven. The trail is fairly easy, just following the slight dips of the canyon, but it has incredible side trails working up into the rocks. Maverick was so excited to be running again; it didn't take me long to realize he preferred a sled dog trot to a walk. This dog was made to run.

Love

One of the rock fins in the canyon

Afterwards, I headed to my first day of work at an ice cream parlor. I'm going to pick up a few shifts here and there; I'm trying to fill in my time as much as possible. I've also started as a private contractor delivering phone books. And, I have just received a call that is beginning by doggie daycare career. I'll be a private contractor working with a local company to care for animals as my schedule allows. More dog time! So, with some possible interviews in the works and lots of part-time positions, I think I'm doing pretty well out here. I'm getting puppy time, hiking time, ice cream time, and people time. What else could a girl want?   

Paragliding

Today, I hiked up Red Mountain. This mountain rises up from the edge of town. The mountain used to host the local ski area from the 1920s to the 50s. It was a small mountain; where a day pass cost $2.50 and a season pass cost $32.50. If only that were still true.
The hiking trail has two options. You depart from the edge of Glenwood Springs and can either walk up the twisty road or head straight up the mountain. I headed straight up the mountain, of course. The trail is lined by wildflowers and aspens. Every now and then, a meadow opens up to give views of Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley. Near the top, paragliders soar overhead. They take off from the top of the mountain, gliding along the ridge line and down into town. One of the guides yelled down to me and we started having a conversation. He suggested that next time I hike the mountain, I should get a ride down with them. I agreed with him.

Paragliders over Roaring Fork Valley

Glenwood Springs from the top of Red Moutain

6,600 Feet

Bill told me today that the house is at an elevation of 6,600 feet. To put this into perspective, I looked up some other elevations:

Glenwood Springs: 5,763 feet
Mount Mansfield: 4, 393 feet

Mount Washington: 6, 288 feet
Vancouver: 2 meters

Yes, I live higher than the tallest mountain in New England. After living in VT for 22 years, I have a deep and unwavering love for the Green Mountains and all of New England. Living now amongst the Rockies is instilling a new kind of appreciation in me. I am used to rounded, old tops of the Green Mountains. Here, there are sharp, towering peaks. In VT, the air never gets thin. In Colorado, I can climb an extra thousand feet and feel a drastic difference. This is Vermont on steroids. Bill was telling me how it even affects the dogs. On the Iditarod trail, the highest elevation is at 3,160 feet. His dogs sleep, eat, and train at double that. Therefore, they are faster and stronger than they would be in Colorado. I only hope that this applies to me when I return to VT.

Today, I hiked to Mushroom Rock on the Red Hill. This spot gives a gorgeous view of Carbondale, Mount Sopris, and the Roaring Fork Valley. It was a short hike, only 0.6 miles up, but also gaining over 1,000 feet in elevation. I think I'm starting to get used to the air here, hopefully it'll just keep getting better from here on out.

Lunch on Mushroom Rock

Carbondale, Mount Sopris, and Mushroom Rock

Dog Yard

I took a quick video of the dog yard. It just gives you an idea of what it looks like. If anyone would like a video of puppies or group howl, just let me know. I'll take any chance to show them off.

Snake

I saw my first snake in Colorado yesterday. I did not handle it well....

Yesterday, I decided to hike into the canyon again. There is a popular trail called Grizzly Creek that leads into Glenwood Canyon about 3.5 miles. I do not recommend this trail; rephrase....I recommend the trail to a certain point, then you should just turn around. The popular part of the trail is a wide, well-worn pathway with several picnicking spots. The creek is basically a long waterfall, with crystal-clear, ice cold water. Fields of wildflowers line the trail, with the cliffs soaring on either side. After this, the path becomes narrow, overgrown, steep, and leaves the creek. Hiking up onto the cliff side is a good workout, but at times I thought I was going to lose the trail it was so overgrown. Being my usual stubborn self, I refused to turn around until the designated end point. It was a disappointment. The trail descends back to the creek, first requiring a scramble over a rock field littered with poison ivy, where at the end it is just a calmer part of the previously gushing water.  Having the trail to myself was nice, but also made me a little nervous since I didn't know the area. A quick lunch and I headed back down through the canyon.
On my way back, my worst nightmare was realized I was alone in the wilderness and lying on the path home was a giant snake. It was twenty feet if it was one foot. But really, it was really big; at least as thick as my wrist. It was lying it's full length across the path, with it's head shrouded by bushes. I first saw it about ten feet away...instant paralysis. For those that don't know, I am terrified of snakes. I will run and scream. The only way I finished the Long Trail was by having my friend, Laura, take care of the snakes for me. Anyway, this blasted snake stopped as soon as it heard me whimper. I started backing up, but realized this was the only way to go....down the mountain.I started throwing small rocks at him, hoping he would slither away ("slither" is an awful word). Finally, after much cursing, screaming, and jumping uncomfortably, the snake moved into the bushes. I waited a few minutes and then sprinted full out with a giant leap over the spot where he had lain. I realize this is ridiculous, but I had to keep running for about a quarter mile. It was made worse by the fact that from that moment on, every rock, root, and butterfly looked like a snake. I was jumpy the whole way down. Therefore, I do not recommend Grizzly Creek Trail.

Athena likes eating cactus flowers

My pants after brushing out Zion...

Mount Sopris at dusk

Being with the dogs last night calmed me down from that traumatic event. They would probably eat a snake if they saw it. That's certainly one of the reasons why I like dogs. After they had sufficiently managed to calm me down though, Kobuk got loose. The puppies were exciting him and he broke his chain clean in two. After a few minutes of overexcited- I'm Free!- running around, he came right back to me and I was able to hook him up to a new chain. This is my life now; feeding dogs, chasing puppies, listening to barking patterns, and laughing a lot. It's not too bad!    

Home Sweet Home

Hello!

As I am writing this, another severe thunderstorm is moving through the valley. The past 2 days, one after the other has come through. Up on the mountain, where I live, the the thunder shakes the house and hail pelts the windows. Each thunderstorm seems to only last 20 minutes or so, but they keep coming; rolling down from Mount Sopris. Last night, I had to outrace one to take care of the dogs. I could see it over Sopris, quickly blowing towards me. The dogs could have cared less when the wind started picking up, but I didn't really like standing on an open mountainside with a metal bucket full of water. As soon as I reached the puppy pen, it started to hail; I booked it back into the house. That experience taught me that I am not yet used to the altitude to run up and down a hill...either that, or I'm just out of shape. A couple minutes later, the eye of the storm seemed to open up and sun came streaming through. A massive double rainbow stretched across the valley in front of the house. It was incredibly bright, a spot of light in the middle of torrential rain. These storms are violent, sudden, and supposedly typical of the area. I'll have to get used to them as I have gotten used to everything else.
Glenwood Springs is really starting to feel like home. I can find my way around town; have met several locals; and with my first visitor, I have a certain sense of pride. My friend, Laura, came to visit me for a night this week. She attends school over in Colorado Springs and we are both very excited to live so near to each other now. We started our day by taking a gondola ride up to the top of a nearby peak. At the top there is a view of the entire town and the canyon down below. Also on top of this mountain is a cave network. We took a tour of the extensive tunnels. They were discovered in the 1800s and several of them are still "alive" with water. The rock formations were spectacular and I have decided that when I grow up I want to take up spelunking (as long as I don't have to go into the really really dark places).

View of Glenwood Springs

Afterwards, I showed Lo the town and then, of course, the dogs. Showing her around and giving her a sense of my job, I really felt at home. I felt as if I belong here. It is an incredible place with very interesting people and even more interesting adventure opportunities. I hope to show this place off to all of you at some point.

My house!

Dining room and living room

Living in Paradise

I hope everyone had a fabulous July 4th! It certainly was beautiful here.
I started my celebrations with a loose dog. Luma's chain had broken in the night, most likely due to rust and wear and tear. I didn't realize it until I went to feed her. She had stayed in her circle, just sleeping in her barrel. Whenever I go to her, she tries to wiggle between my legs; well this time, we both noticed at the same time that she could reach me a little sooner than she should have. She looked back at her chain and tilted her head...I guess she hadn't realized she was free. Lucky for me, I could distract her with food while I prepared a new chain and hooked it to the post. Success! My first near crisis averted.
With the dogs all taken care of, I decided to go for a hike. It was about time since I had already been in town for a week! I had recent;y bought a book and map on local hikes, so I opted for a very popular trail called Hanging Lake. Since it was July 4th, the trail was packed, but it was more than worth the crowd. The trail runs up from the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon.The entire way up is basically a stone stairway with towering cliffs on either side. At the top, a boardwalk lines Hanging Lake. A lake formed of snowmelt; therefore, a crystal clear bluish-green pool with a waterfall as it's source. Colorado had a late snowmelt, like VT, so the waterfall continues down the entire trail. Above the lake about 1/4 mile is a waterfall called Spouting Rock This waterfall appears from the canyon clifftop and pours into thin air.

This was certainly on of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It is moments like this that keep me excited and happy to be in a new place. I am always up for a new adventure and there seem to be so many possibilities here. There are mountains, ski areas, rivers, and plenty of dogs to keep me occupied!

And Then There Was 1....

Hello all!
The past few days have been wonderful in CO. On Friday, my mom and I went for a bike ride in the afternoon. There are several bike paths in Glenwood Springs, catering to all different abilities. One of the most popular, through Glenwood Canyon, is currently under several feet of water since the Colorado River is very swollen. Therefore, we went on the Rio Grande Trail, which runs the 40 miles from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. As soon as you get out of downtown GS, the bike path stares straight at Mount Sopris. This enormous mountain rises out of the valley with snow covering the ridge lines.Along the pathway, wild sage bushes offer a strong scent. We biked for about 3 hours down the path before heading back into town for lunch. This path is certainly worth some more exploring.

Mount Sopris from the bikepath

Yesterday, it was time for my mom to leave me. We met her friend, Deborah, in Frisco. Frisco is on the other side of the Rockies, tucked into the eastern side of the Vail Pass. It is an old mining town and had several festivities, on account of the July 4th celebrations. A massive art show was taking place on one of the streets; local artists showcased their talents and creativity. I wish I had money to spend on art (Actually, I wish I had money to spend on anything).
I think my mom and I were both trying to drag out the time we spent in Frisco. It was a hard goodbye. I have been alone before of course and I do consider myself to be an independent person. However, this adventure seems very different from the others. This really is the beginning of a new life, a new home, a new job, and a new sense of independence. I do not have contacts here; I don't have friends surrounding me like I did at St.Mike's. It is a completely different way of life. It's going to take some getting used to, but I think I have a chance at something really great. It may be scary, but it's really exciting too.
I took my first step into the community today by going to a yoga class. On Sunday mornings, a local yoga studio offers free classes in the park. I'm so glad I heard about it. It is a great way to energize on a Sunday and I already met a lot of interesting people. I have something to look forward to every week now.
A little bit more exploring today, a night with the dogs, and maybe a hike with the puppies this evening. Being alone isn't all that bad....

Lynx: an excellent lead dog and an even better cuddler

Puppies

It doesn't matter who you are or what your day has been like, puppies will make you smile. They will love you with such abandon and want nothing more from you than a little attention. Puppies are happiness.
There are 5 puppies at the kennel. They are all from the same litter and are now about 6 months old. These puppies are no longer sleepy, tiny little things; they are wild, jump-in-your-face, attention hounds. And I love it! As soon as I walk up the pathway, they start howling and jumping in their kennel. When I open the gate, they are all over me, licking my arms, winding through my legs, and otherwise making it impossible for me to do anything but pay attention to them. They follow me through the chores, constantly seeking a pet. If they're lucky, I'll put down the water bucket and rub their stomachs (it happens a lot).
The five puppies are already very different in their personalities. There are 4 males and 1 female. They don't have names yet, but I have secretly begun calling them by names of Roman gods...Zeus is the biggest male and he's just fine exploring the outlying land. Athena is the little girl and she loves sticking to my knees. Apollo is the most adventurous male; he'll say hello to every dog in the kennel. Ares also really likes attention; usually that involves pushing his sister out of the way. Bacchus is a fool; he just runs around trying to jump on top of his siblings.

View from my hiking spot

These puppies make me smile every morning and again every night when I take them on a little hike. I look forward to watching them grow!