a Golden day

Super day yesterday! Bought a new pair of hiking boots at Bent Gate Mountaineering in Golden and just HAD to go for a hike. Needed some food first so I went to Sherpa House, a new place in Golden specializing in Nepalese food. Yak Daalh Bhat, naan and lentil soup - yum! Hit the trail and hike for a couple of hours = 6 miles? Nice break-in and no problems! Unlike my last pair of boots. The trail winds through Golden along a stream that has been manipulated to provide some great kayaking. There were dozens of people in the water and many more walking, running, playing volleyball, etc. On a Wednesday afternoon! I'm not the only one ;)

About a mile and 1/2 in I crossed a bridge and saw two guys panning for gold. Well, one was diving and the other was panning. Talked to the one on the shore and he said it was a fun hobby, a way to escape the wife and kids for a day. They pan one day a week all around the state. He showed me some gold flakes. He said they just keep the gold since it needs to be processed before they can sell it and there's a minimum requirement of 10 ounces. Not sure if he was BS'ing me on the keeping it part as they had thousands of dollars in gear on site.

Another mile or so in I came across several people rock climbing up a sweet face. Still not sure if I want to try that. Looks like a lot of work for a little gain but I'm sure it's the challenge that's appealing.

At the end of the trail there was a huge sluice in disrepair. There were planks nailed down which on could walk on but they were in need of repair so I only walked 100 yards.

Finished the hike and went to Fossil Trace to hit some balls. Ambereen was taking her first lesson and I wanted to see how it was going ;)

Nuggets playoff game after that. They beat the Hornets handily and I was sent backstage to help keep people out of the locker room area. Got to hi 5 Nene, Billups, Birdman, Karl and a few others. They were pretty stoked but focused on the next round for sure. I'm hoing for a Nuggets Cavs final, but the Nuggets have to get by the Lakers and that won't be easy......

Mark VIII for sale - my new business plan

So my Brother-in-Law sends me this link to a car for sale. Read the whole ad - I did and came up with a great idea. My friend Brooke suggested I turn it into a Cash Cab kinda story but I think I could turn it into the Mile High Club Taxi....tourists would love it!!!!

Great weekend with a sketchy start

Well, the storm was for real. We tried to get an early start on Friday but I got caught up at Croc's waiting for the burritos for the beach party. By the time we hit the road it was nearly 3:30 and the weather was getting bad. It was snow, rain and sleet in Denver but all snow to the West. Lakewood got hammered. We were turned off of 70 at the Morrison exit by a State Trooper but I decided to risk it. Stupid move. We got caught in traffic less than two miles later and sat for 30 minutes while cars tried to put chains on. Semis were all over the place. Unless you had chains or a 4x4 you had no business being on the road (we were in a 4x4). I finally had the opportunity to drive up an on ramp and get turned around and we made it back in no time. Good for us - hundreds were stranded all night - many slept in their cars and most made it to shelters. It was pretty bad. We took a walk in a park nearby and the pic you see of me sitting in the snow? I'm on a park bench.

Got up Sat am and waited until nearly 11 am for 70 to re-open then we drove to A-Basin and parked at the beach. There were quite a few people there but mostly locals and the lucky ones who made it up before the storm got bad. Made some turns and then met a BBQ caterer at spot #3 who invited us to help eat the food he prepared for the 30 people who didn't make it. And I had all this beer and wine too.

Spent the night at the condo (with the indoor hot tub) and relaxed. Got up Sunday morning to ski A-Basin and by the time we got there the parking lots were full. All of them. For mile up and down the road. So we decided to head back when Ambereen had a brilliant idea. We drove up Loveland Pass and she dropped me off at the top so I could hike and ski down to the road below where she picked me up. I was so stoked she had to try it so we parked at the top and hiked a ways. Great view and so much fresh powder! I hit a cornice and we made fresh tracks all the way down. Some of the best runs of the season! Hitched a ride with some high school kids from Littleton to the top and did it again. And again. And again. WHat a great time!

Yeah baby!

Just in time for the OSU RMAC Beach Party at A-Basin tomorrow - SNOW... HEAVY AT TIMES... CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE FRONT RANGE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS FROM TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL RATES UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED DURING PERIODS OF HEAVIER SNOWFALL. THIS EXTENDED TIME FRAME OF HEAVY SNOW WILL ALLOW STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS TO REACH 18 TO 36 INCHES IN MOST LOCATIONS... WITH A FEW SPOTS IN THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS EXPECTED TO SEE AS MUCH AS 4 FEET OF SNOWFALL.

Whew

Well, I've been busy lately. Working Avs, Mammoth, Nuggets and concerts non stop. WTF am I thinking? This all started as a way to see shows at Red Rocks and I've dropped into the machine that sucks the life force out of people on the low rung of the socioeconomic ladder. I feel sorry for many of these folks. One guy the other night went on about how he just got his disability approved and he was about to get a check for the previous year's benefits. He went on and on about how he was going to buy a condo, a Harley and a pickup. As he was standing right next to me I pretty much had to listen. On and on he went. All his grand plans. He couldn't stand it any longer when I didn't pry as to how much he was getting so he felt compelled to share with me the amount of his windfall. $12,000. No, I'm not missing a digit. It was like he hit the lottery.
Anyway, the Nuggets are in the playoffs and I'll be working on teh 300 level which means I am an Usher and tell people where their seats are. I pretty much watch 80% of the game and I have a great view.
The last two nights I worked at the Fillmore (it's 1 mile away so I can walk there) for a show featuring Fall Out Boy. There were 5 bands playing each night (no, 50 Cent wasn't scheduled) and it was a teenage girl's dream show. Good grief. Shoot me. I ended up guarding the tour busses after the show which also involved keeping the autograph seekers on the other side of the rope. Shoot me with a 12 guage. Got home at nearly 2 am.
The RMAC is hosting a Beach Party at A-Basin this Saturday and I'll be there. Should be fun although the weather will be sketchy. Might get some fresh snow so skiing may be good. I'll let you know how it goes.....
Getting all kinds of hits on My Space from former classmates as my 25 year reunion is this summer. I'm thinking of going.

Nuggets

Watched the Nuggets beat the Thunder last night. Was sent backstage after the game to help guard the locker room entrance and got to see the players and coaches up close and personal. Not that personal, but close enough to trip them! Chauncy isn't that tall (but a super nice guy to say hello to a rent a cop) but Nene is. Wow - big dude. And Mello's bling was crazy. Must have been $250K on his wrist and pinkie. Karl looked like he was going to stroke out. More hockey, lacrosse and hoops on tap through the weekend. AND it looks like I'll work the playoff games for the Nuggets. Now if this gig paid $50/hr I'd be happy. But alas, it doesn't..........

Ski Bum

Well, the season is wrapping up. Too soon as usual. We have a RMAC Beach Party at A-Basin on the 18th which will make it 28 times I've hit the slopes this season. And that's with a horrible March (warm weather). I sure was spoiled last year. Ray broke his ski last week at Breck - split the edge in two and popped his P-Tex. I know - it sounds like a medical condition!

Looking forward to backpacking this summer as well as heading to Utah at some point before it gets too hot. One thing I've learned is that Ohio has nothing on the crazy weather scene. 80 one day and a blizzard the next. Head up to the high country and see some really crazy weather. Ray & I came down the hill last Friday and encountered some of the worst weather I've seen. Roads were horrible and two jack knifed trucks created a multi car pileup outside of Silverthorne. That closed the Eisenhower and another pileup towards Georgetown added to the misery of Front Rangers trying to hit the slopes. Many turned around. Glad we were going the other way.

I've been to many Avalanche games and a few Nuggets & Mammoth (LAX) as well as some concerts at the Fillmore right up the street on Colfax. The Mammoth put on a great show - highly recommended. Rockies opened up with a loss to the D-Backs - big surprise there - and I can get $10 tix to the games. I don't care how bad they are - that's a good time.