Hiking to Lake Awosting

After several weeks of being stressed from work and this move, I needed some ChristyBel time. With that, a hike was is in order. So I hiked over to one of my favorite places on the Ridge - Lake Awosting. It's a good 4.3 miles from the Lake Minnewaska parking lot (one way). So hiking out my angst, negative energy, and stress on a 8.6-mile hike was the perfect medicine to getting me back to feeling like TheChristyBel. Since it was super cloudy and chances of rain, there were not many people on the trail. So it was great having the area to my self. :) 

TheChristyBel

Enjoy some of the pictures I took of some pretty cool nature finds:

A FOUR-Flower Star Flower

High Bush Blueberry in Bloom

Orange Hawkweed

More Pink Lady Slippers

A Lightning Struck Tree?

A Vacant Lake Awosting

Gorgeous Views of the Catskills

Adirondacks: Avalanche Lake

First Painted Trillium of the Season

This morning, Marc and I woke up around 4am to get up, pack, and go hike up in the Adirondacks. The drive took about 3.5 hours to get up to the trailhead that we wanted to get to. Our goal for today was a day hike up to Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake in Keene, NY. It is just north of Mt. Marcy. The weather was pretty poopy - cloudy, cold, and potential possibilities of rain. But we still wanted to try and go and hike; at least get out of town for awhile. This was not one of my best hikes - my allergies were getting pretty bad, so breathing was not so fun on this hike. I kept having to stop, blow my nose, or shoot snot (sorry if that is too graphic). But along the way, I noticed that phenology up here is a little bit later than what we were seeing in New Paltz. Super cool to see things 'all over again.' Trilliums were out and Pink Lady Slippers were still developing their flower buds...definitely want to come back later in the season to see things in full bloom.

View From Marcy Dam

As we were approaching the Pass, there was still snow in some areas. We did not prepare for that - so I was definitely slipping and sliding from lack of microspikes. But when we got to Avalanche Lake, it seemed as if winter was still up here. Nothing was really in initial growth and everything was just cold and wet. I would definitely want to come back to see this place at its fullest. The lake was super cool; it is wedged between two huge mountains. I believe Mt. Colden and Algonquin? If you continue farther south (as the direction we were hiking), you can get to some campsites and extend your visit. This is definitely something I want to do when we decide to hike up Algonquin or Marcy at some point.

Avalanche Lake

The Rockettes Rocked the Ridge

My Race Bib Number

Today, I ran/hiked 13.1-miles of 50-miles with the Rockettes at Rock the Ridge! I am beyond proud of my teammates, three other wonderful ladies from the Preserve that totally kicked ass in the rain! Yes, we hiked and ran this race in cold, cloudy, rainy conditions. Gretchen, our Director of Communications, took on the 1st leg from the Testimonial Gateway to Spring Farm; Amanda, our Social Media Associate, relieved Gretchen and rocked it through Spring Farm, up to Sky Top, and met me to the southern part of the Preserve at Lyons Road; I hiked and ran the third leg through Minnewaska State Park & Preserve up to the highest part of the race at Castle Point and back down to Lyons Road; Megan, our anchor led us back to the Testimonial Gateway. We started at 6:00 AM and came in at 7:43 PM and a finishing time of 13-hours and 34-minutes. Super proud of these ladies!

I am not going to lie, but I was a little hesitant about joining the team as I am not at all a racer of any sort. But to be on a team that is not in it to race, but to support the Preserve at any pace, was very comforting. I had trained for this race by hiking my leg in all elements (rain, snow/ice on the ground, cloudy days, and sunny days). I usually finished my leg in 4-hours just hiking. So when I got to the race, I gave myself about 5-hours to complete. To finish my leg in 3-hours was pretty awesome! And the best part: my knees felt great! I taped them and stretched them before and after the race. Super proud of them for killin' it in the race! I know this is too early to determine, but I would not mind doing this again next year...maybe even doing two legs...

I say that now...
...we'll see.

TheChristyBel

The Pass Off From Leg 2 to Leg 3

Overlooking Gertrude's Nose as I hiked to Castle Point

After Passing Castle Point - Passed Lake Awosting

Passed Lake Minnewaska for the Second Time - about 2+ miles to go!

Last Landmark Before the Switch to Leg 4, Awosting Falls

The Rockettes' Times!

Celebrating with a Hot Toddy!

Medals with the Rockettes
(From Left to Right: Me, Gretchen, Amanda, and Megan)

Catskills 3500: Devil's Path (Classic Route)

Today, Marc, Alex, and I hiked up four Catskill Peaks (Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf (Mink), and Plateau). When hikers attempt to summit all four in a hike, they travel along the trail called Devil's Path. Devil's Path extends beyond these four mountains to three additional mountains and 23-miles. For today's hike, we only did the "Classic Route" of about 12.4-miles. I can see why they call this "Devil's Path." It is supposedly the most difficult hiking trail in the East - there is little water, difficult scrambles, and sheer cliffs. And if done in the winter, there is ice, steep ascents and descents, and lots of scary moments.

Our ascent going up Indian Head (looking back)

Lots of Climbing Up & Down Things

So many up and down-hill climbs

Alex Crushin' It!

This hike really challenged me...hard, and pretty much hurt me to almost breaking me. Actually, it did break me. There was a lot of pain - physically and emotionally with this one. I had taped my knees, used trekking poles, and took pain killers. But these four peaks still broke me.

We started at the Steenburgh Road parking lot trailhead. After hiking and ascending 2.2 miles, we summitted Indian Head (3,573 ft). When we were ascending up to Indian Head, there was this one part where the trail literally went straight up, like 90 degrees. I wish I brought some mountaineering crampons instead of just my microspikes. Even a harness with some rope should have been brought. It was scary trying to climb my way up smooth, slippery ice. But we made it and my knees were just getting tired, but not in pain (yikes, and this was the first peak). 

After summitting, you descend down into Jimmy Nolan Notch, but only for a short moment, as you begin to ascend again up to Twin Peak (3,640-ft). There were a lot more intense ups and downs getting on and off this mountain. Before getting down, we run into our car switch team (my colleague, David, and his brother). When you hike this trail, it is best to involve two cars, so you do not have to hike back to your car to get home. We switched keys, told each other which car it was, and where we would meet up when we all finished to switch our cars back. 

You then descend into Pecoy Notch and then here comes Sugarloaf Mountain. I think we had lunch before or slightly after this mountain. Sugarloaf is about 3,800-ft. The decline from this mountain really started to trigger some pain in my left knee. I was not quite sure how I was going to finish this last mountain. We descended into Mink Hollow and then began our last ascent. The last ascent was the steepest ascent of them all. That is when Devil's Path broke me. I was trying to climb over a huge boulder thing and my knees just about had it. I literally cried from so much pain. I felt such defeat and embarrassment for my weakness. After a little bit of rest, I conjured the rest of the strength I had and got to the top of Plateau Mountain (3,840-ft). The other part about Plateau that also pushed my patience, its length. Hence its name, Plateau's top is long. When we finally got to the descent, our daylight was dwindling (we were already pushing 9+ hours of hiking) and had maybe 1-2 more hours of hiking to go. The descent was painful for my knees and I think the last mile I was pretty much sledding down the trail on my behind. But around 6 and 7pm, we finally made it to the other car (after starting around 8am). 

This was a hard hike for me and I definitely pushed myself to it. I am proud that I did the most challenging hike in the East and to do it in the winter. I am definitely not discouraged of continuing my trek to accomplish all the Catskill peaks. I think that I may not try and do four-peaks in a row again.

TheChristyBel

Taste of Rock the Ridge

Well, I have been convinced to join a team with three other co-workers and participate in the Preserve's annual "Rock the Ridge." This event is a 50-mile race up and down and around the Shawangunks Ridge! I know...what was I thinking! We are signing up as hikers and each solo racer or group are given up to 24-hours to complete this event. This morning, Marc and I participated in a "Taste of Rock the Ridge" where we joined other racers and hiked or ran on the carriage roads that make up the route of the race. It was super nice to get out on the land and be with some great people. TBD on more information on the race! Join me in wishing me luck (which I'll need) and hearing more about it!

TheChristyBel

Starting Out at West Trapps on Undercliff Road

Getting Out Near Glory Hill

Group Shot of the Fellow Hikers!

Kaaterskill Falls - Pt. II

This morning Marc and I travelled back to Kaaterskill Falls. It is sooooo different from when we went back in April. Bastion Falls (the falls at the base of the trailhead and off the road) was completely dried up with no pool and the two tiers were barely trickling. Below are some pics from back in April to now. It's really amazing and very scary to see how much can change when we have not gotten a lot of rain and had very little snow from the winter to create enough snowmelt for the falls to feed and flourish. Very scary! I really hope that since this winter is not an El Nino year, we get a snowier winter and that we can get enough precip to get these falls flowing again.

TheChristyBel

Bastion Falls (April)

Bastion Falls (October)

Tier 1 & 2 of Kaaterskills Falls (April)

Tier 1 of Kaaterskill Falls (October)

Tier 2 of Kaaterskill Falls (October)

Selfie with Fish

Took a Selfie with Fish After We Finished the Lemon Squeeze at the Mohonk Mountain House

Brain Breaks at Lunch

Right now, my work load is at a low peak. School programs and Pond Keepers have ceased until March, so most of my work has been stationed to a desk. It is pretty different from many other outdoor institutions I have worked for where we are in the field all year long no matter the season. But today, my co-worker, Erica, convinced me to go on a lunch walk with her. Sometimes you need a brain break and some time to stretch your legs. It was totally worth it! We hiked up from the Visitor Center, up the stair-master, along Undercliff Rd onto Overcliff Rd. Once we got onto Overcliff, we totally scrambled up this uplifted slab of conglomerate. It was hard and slippery, but the views were worth it!

The Top of the Slab and Overlooking Lost City!

Thank You Erica for Getting Me Outside!

Hikes Help Clear Your Head

I had been working and leading tours for about nine-ten days straight. I think being sick with that terrible cold really got the best of me to the point where I was not at the top of my game. Today, I was finally given a day of rest to 1) sleep in of course, 2) get some errands done, and 3) do something for me. So, today, I was able to sleep in past 8am (which is something I never get to do), I bought a new phone (finally upgraded!), and then go on a hike with my friend, Jamie.

Jamie ended up taking me to Ski Lake in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. I had never been there, so she said it would be a good 2-3 hour hike to get out of town and clear my head of all things. She was totally right. The hike was awesome! At parts challenging and totally made me realize I need to get out more (a little out of shape), but when we got to the lake, it was just glorious views!

Look at this Beautiful Lake!

As we sat on the lake edge, we could hear Pika chirps and meeps. So, we decided to explore over to the other side of the lake in search of them. Along the way, we totally found some fossils! How cool is that?!?? So we totally switched focus and found some fossils to take home in our packs. There was one rock that I wanted, but it was literally the size of my torso. Too big to carry home, but I did get a whole bunch other ones to cover my desk with! 

Crikey! We got shells in the mountains!

So stinking cool! Usually I find these in the store!

Today's hike with Jamie was pretty awesome. I am really glad and incredibly appreciative of taking me and letting me come on this hike. She's a great person to hike with and it was awesome to nerd out and look for these fossils. It was definitely a good brain break, way to clear my head, and to not think about working. :)

TheChristyBel

Geo-Nerding Out!

Finally Hiking in Laramie!

Now that I have been given the OK to try hiking again, I am getting as much outdoorsy time as possible before that snow comes. So, exploring Happy Jack and Vedauwoo are pretty much a priority! I was told about the Summit Trail at Happy Jack starting at the Headquarters Trailhead. It's a pretty steady incline up to the top and not that bad on my knees! Takes about 45-minutes to get to the top. It continues on over and down the other side, but I only had a 2-3 hour time period before meeting Brady for dinner and then going to the Mountain Film Festival on campus. So, I got a good hike in! Got to see the fall colors, collect some leaves for an art project, and stretch out/test out my new and improved knees! Want to know the best part: my knees were not hurting! 

Physical Therapy is Paying Off...Yea, $1,500+ of PT! Worth Every Penny! haha.

TheChristyBel

Summit at the Top of Summit Trail at Happy Jack

Adventure Film Festival in Boulder, CO

So we found out this weekend, that the Adventure Film Festival was in town; well in Boulder, Colorado. Marc has been to a few film festivals before and said they are really cool and fun to go to. Since Boulder is about 2-hours away from Laramie, and I had finished a lot of my work ahead of time, we decided to have a 4-day weekend down there. Leaving right after one of my meetings, we packed up his van and drove down to Boulder.

Seeing Bigger Landforms Along the Drive.
Reminds Me of The Tetons...Sort Of.

Passing through Fort Collins and Boulder was sort of a shock for us. I have not been in a big city since maybe December when I was back east for the holidays. So seeing big stores like a bunch of Walmarts, Targets, top named brands stores, & lots of fast food joints, were pretty weird, but also very comforting to feel like I was home (not that I went to any of them, haha). 

The Sunset Driving into Boulder.

We got to Boulder around maybe 7pm. We stopped on Pearl Street, which is there main street of downtown, walked around the shops and had dinner at this really nice restaurant. It was really nice weather to stroll around the downtown. We then travelled about 20-minutes to Boulder Canyon and found a turn-off on the side of the road in the canyon that overlooked the Boulder Valley and slept in the van for the night. Yes, for car camping! The city skyline was absolutely beautiful in the clear night. I wish I had taken a photo, but 1.) my phone had died and 2.) my phone would not have been able to take the shot and scene that we saw. When we woke up, the city was covered in a dense fog, but still a beautiful and sunny morning on the overlook! Sorry, still no photos.

Hanging Downtown with a Frog
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Llama Puppets!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

The Flat Irons in the Distance!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Super Pumped to Visit Here!
Dr. Leathers Would Be So Proud (And Jealous!)

After waking up a little chilly in the van, we drove back down to the valley and stopped at a WHOLE FOODS store to stock up on food for the day and breakfast. Man, it made me miss home and having an easy access to Whole Foods. Wahhh. I missed it! But we got some snacks, breakfast, and coffee and headed to a local outdoor gear store to ask them where some prime places to HIKE and climb were.

OH SIDE NOTE - PS NEWS UPDATE! So, I've been attending physical therapy in Laramie since school basically started and they gave me the clear to try hiking and climbing again! They have been giving me so many exercises for my knees, core, and back, along with the worst procedure ever: a dry needling. Which is by the way the worst, but best thing that has happened to my knees. They recreated the pain I get after hiking by having me run, 'hiking' on a treadmill, squats, jumps, whatever, nothing was working (I guess my knees are getting stronger). So they had to press down on my muscles near my knees, which definitely triggered the pain. Once they found the pain spots, they placed 4-needles into that muscle. Let me tell you, so much pain. I bursted into tears during the first needle. Apparently the needles that are going into the epicenter of pain in my knee is supposed to loosen up the muscle and cause the pain to stop occurring. Type 2 fun indeed, but totally worth the pain! No pain during my hike!

Ok, back to the Boulder weekend: after getting some ideas from the mountaineering gear shop, we decided to go to NCAR (the National Center for Atmospheric Research) and hike around their trails. The NCAR is right in front of the Mesa Trail that allows you to travel up and down along the Flatirons. They were incredibly beautiful. They are huge slabs that jut out of the land, great for climbing, and a great hike around.

The Flatirons! I want to hike and climb all of you!

We set onto the Mesa Trail and headed north. Approached the Third Flatiron where we scrambled up a portion of it. Want to free solo? No....definitely not. Saw and met some people that were and as we scrambled up, I looked down and was kind of freaked out. I need a rope. haha.

Looking Up the Third Flatiron.

The hike was absolutely wonderful. A great 3-hour trek before heading into town for the Adventure Film Festival started. And guess what, through the uneven terrain, walking over big rocks and uneven footing, scrambling up part of the Third, my knees were doing great! Super excited! Marc and I can adventure and hike again! haha.

Pano of the Flatirons!

A Wonderful and Beautiful Day to Try Out My New & Improved Legs! haha.

A Beautiful Fall in Boulder

 That evening, we went to the first night of the Adventure Film Festival. This was so cool. Seeing films and short clips of people pursuing their dreams and adventuring in the outdoors was incredibly inspiring. I definitely wanted in on this community. To adventure and document all your experiences and make an awesome visual collaboration...yes, please!

Boulder Adventure Film Festival
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

That night, we spent the night with Marc's friend Matt and his girlfriend, Meg. Both are really into mountaineering and climbing, particularly ice climbing. So they were telling us about the climbing here and where to go. So, we had sometime before the second night of the film festival, so we decided to go to Boulder Canyon and try out the Happy Hour Crags.

Fluffy Kitty, Brinna.

Happy Hour Crags is in Boulder Canyon and you pull off onto the side of the road in the canyon, and just hike up. The cliff walls are right on the side of the road. It was really intimidating, but really fun to climb the walls, look down and see the cars just drive below you! Don't worry, Mom, I was safe and in good hands! It was super fun. I am slowly getting the hang of climbing, trusting the rope, and overcoming my fear of heights (and falling). I even tried a small roof and some crack climbing! 

Marc Lead Climbing to Set Up the Top Rope
Had to Take Butt Photos!

Sunday after the film festival weekend, Meg, Matt, Marc, and I decided to go to El Dorado and try out a few routes there. It was really nice that the three (even though they are pretty experienced) were willing to top rope and climb some routes that were suitable for me. In 'El Do' we climbed Breezy and part of the Bastille routes. Lots of crack climbing. Totally learning a lot while actually doing it.

Meg & Matt Watching Marc Ascend Up Breezy

Marc Leading on the First Part of Bastille

Almost to the Anchor

I'm Going to Be Climbing This Shortly...

My Turn on Bastille's First Pitch

Half Way There - Tackling the Crux of the Route

Climbing was soooo fun. I am really glad Marc is teaching me more and more about this sport. It's really fun and a great way to test and challenge myself, also its a great trust opportunity (for myself and for Marc and I).

The Boulder weekend was super fun and one of the best weekends I have had this fall. Being outside and being able to hike again has been the happiest thing to do since I moved to Laramie. Ahhh.

TheChristyBel

Trying This New Hobby...And Liking It!

Marc & I in Front of the Flatirons