Tonight wraps up an awesome weekend and the start of a new week of fun! I am having a great time here in Colorado, if you can't tell by my Facebook pictures. I really wasn't expecting the move to go this well! I didn't expect myself to go out and try new things, but I am really enjoying doing new and exciting things!
On Thursday, I started working with a family and I am really enjoying getting to know the dynamics and children. I think they remind me a lot of my own family, which is awesome and hopefully everything will go great! I am so lucky to have found this job and I hope they like me too!
Yesterday, Saturday, was an awesome day! I really got to experience what living in Colorado is all about. I woke up pretty early, excited that it was a sunny day with an amazing temperature, so I decided to do the Incline while waiting for Brandon to get out of class.
The view from the bottom.
A little background on the Incline: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitou_Incline
You should really read the Wikipedia article and walking up the Incline should definitely be put on your Colorado bucket list! :D
The Incline, if you didn't read the article, is a trail, a little more than 3/4 of a mile, with a 2,000 feet elevation gain! Takes my breath away just thinking about it! I was pumped for this because I loved getting on the stairmaster at Longwood's gym and this is pretty much the exact same, just 23557452 times harder! I finally make it to the trail and it is SO nice outside (and I forgot that I had a small lightweight backpack at my place to pack water but I wasn't too concerned). I start walking up and was really enjoying the challenge, until I got to ice covered steps....This part I had not thought through. I saw a bunch of people holding these chains in their hands and I had no idea what they were doing with them. I quickly learned! Those chains went around their shoes to help them get good traction on the ice. Okay, I thought in 55 degree weather I would not have to worry about ice. I was wrong. I felt like I needed to turn around because I was slipping up and just struggling A LOT. However, I would then get to a part where there was no ice so I kept going, then I felt the need to accomplish the Incline. Along the way, I met a nice army Chaplain, with a border collie (I miss Sydney) who was thoroughly enjoying the climb, and we talked a little bit along the way up. He said his wife and her friend most likely turned around a long time ago, so I was questioning my own self. He did not have the chains on so at least I didn't feel like the only crazy one out there! Luckily, on the way up, I didn't fall because if I did I would have slid a little ways down the mountain. At some points, I had to use my hands to help because we were practically climbing up. It was quite steep! I knew there was a false summit but had lost track of the climb and I asked the man if what I saw as the top was the false summit and he said "yes, it is the false summit" I almost wanted to lay down and never get up; I felt like I was dying! It would had been so much easier without the ice! However, what he told me was the false summit was actually the top and I was rejoicing when I knew I had completed the Incline! With a time of 55 minutes, I am pretty proud of myself and hopefully my time will get better when I try it again, when I am better prepared!
Once I was at the top, I realized how thirsty I was and I couldn't wait to get down to my car where I had ice cold water. Barr trail is a four mile trail down to the base and I knew that would be a breeze. I started down it, grabbing snow to eat along the way (even though it take more energy than it's worth to melt the snow, I was really enjoying the refreshing coolness and water), then realized this would not be as easy as I thought. This trail was also covered in ice in some places!!! Just couldn't escape! I took my time and then realized two high schoolers were also taking their time so they stayed with me and helped me down the mountain. They didn't have chains on and they were locals, so that was comforting! I watched them fall a few times and get soaking wet, then I spoke up about how I hadn't completely fell yet, but I jinxed myself, and fell and slid six times. Ice is no joke! We passed a guy who had slipped and dislocated his shoulder so he and his friends were off the trail waiting for the search and rescue to arrive (Mom is loving this part if she is reading). The army chaplain had left the top before I did, but then he passed us, going up the mountain, and told us that it gets really bad and we should turn around and go down the Incline. I did not know who to listen to at this point, but I know I didn't really want to go up hill and face the ice that way, so we kept going the way we were. There were railings a lot of times to hold on to, which helped a lot! We passed the search and rescue crew and they didn't have chains/spikes on either (?). I was really shocked by this because I figured they would have known to carry those with them if they are from here! Finally, we reached a "1/2 mile" sign and knew I was so close! I made it down with 10 minutes to get to my car before my time ran out and I was feeling great! During the hike, I was definitely questioning myself and wondering why I wanted to do that, but then I was very proud I accomplished the Incline and Barr trail in my tennis shoes when so much was covered in ice. It was probably one of the hardest things I have done physically and now I am ready to put some screws into my tennis shoes so I will have some traction and be able to complete the Incline without worrying about slipping! I just stumbled along this (http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm) so it seems like a more cost effective solution! :)
I can't wait for Brandon and I to do this together!
Just a small portion of the ice I faced!
Brandon finished with class and then came over. We spent a little time watching American Horror Story, probably not the best series to watch when staying by yourself, but a good show nonetheless. We decided to go to Cityrock later on and try bouldering. Bouldering is different than rock climbing because you don't go very high (high enough) and do not where a harness. They have a soft mattress type pad if you do fall, which is somewhat comforting. Bouldering is no joke. I thought it looked pretty easy, but it wasn't. It was very difficult and scary. I knew I wasn't that high up, but I was still scared of falling. I stuck to the pretty easy ones and I felt like they weren't so easy, but hopefully we will get better! Brandon did pretty well and did some pretty impressive ones for someone's first time! We had a blast trying this and can't wait to do it again, but right now my arms and fingers are pretty sore! I was falling asleep last night while we were watching a movie and I kept jumping and then at one point I flew my arm up in the air and Brandon was a bit confused, but I was dreaming that I was grabbing for a place to hold on to while climbing the wall. It was pretty funny and I was worn out!
I decided it would be best for us (me) to skip skiing today and just take it easy. I knew I was going to be sore and skiing wouldn't help. The mom, Megan, of the family I am working for, invited me to their church if we didn't go skiing, so Brandon and I went this morning and it was quite interesting.
New Life Church is the second biggest church in Colorado, with a 12,000 weekly attendance! It is nondenominational and very contemporary, something I am not used to, with a lot of music, dancing, hand raising, and "Amens". I found it very interesting, though, and I thought the message was great. It is the church's 30th anniversary and they celebrated that today and I found it very inspiring that despite a few big, scary events, the church is still thriving; hey don't let that define the church, but instead they turn to worship. It was very touching.
Brandon and I spent the rest of the day watching football and American Horror Story before he had to leave. We didn't realize it was snowing until he opened the door. We have about two inches and Brandon said the roads were awful. Hoping they will be clear by the time I have to leave in the morning! If you thought Virginia weather was bipolar, well you have never been to Colorado!!! Shorts and a t-shirt to snow boots all in 24 hours!
I am falling asleep as I am writing and I thought this was going to be relatively short! Whoops!
Goodnight!
Caroline
P.S. This is what came down last night and found it a winter wonderland this Monday morning!
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