T-ONE MONTH!

Sue floated the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro in the spring of 2024. And while I was an immediate "Yes, please!" I'll be the first to admit I didn't know what I didn't know.  

A hundred YouTube vids later,  I know enough to motivate myself into planning well,  training diligently and I can now flip-flop with stunning regulatory and ease between excitement and anxiety!

Preparing for a summit hike up Kilimanjaro has added the following to my life in the past year:

• Falling in love with new hiking boots then having to replace them and falling in love with new, new boots!
• Trail training in all seasons and weather
• Gear purchases and testing
• Acclimatization practice
• Snack experimentation
• Sleeping in car at trailhead - sometimes as high as 12,000'
• Choosing the right company to guide and support us
• Travel and Insurance purchased
• Vaccinations and travel meds procured
• Packing practice
• Elevating my photography game
• Take a webinar on foot care... Uh-huh...
• Lurking around the FB group and digesting the Kili-crowd wisdom
• The acquisition of a new (travel focused) credit card for the first time since 2005!
• Breathe.  I literally learned to breathe better!

If I'm being honest, I had forgotten what an amazingly beautiful state I live in. Somewhere along the way in the last 20 years I had started taking for granted it's geography, wildlife and incredible availability. If this year has taught me nothing else, it has to be that the leadership and stewards of Colorado that came before me, put in place protections that continue to provide us normal folk with a preserved playground that is second to none... and mostly free! The magnitude of this gift is often overlooked.

Some highlights from training hikes include...

Mountain goats on Mt Bierstadt

Hiking with Maddie and Sue

Chicago Lakes

Sunrise at Kite Lake Trailhead

Mt Democrat Summit

Decalibron Trail

Early morning on Mt Belford

Final push up Mt Huron

Missouri Gulch at dawn

View from Mt Belford

View from Mt Huron

Pika cuteness!

Quandary Trail

Ypsilon Lake Trail

Big Horn Sheep in RMNP

Elk

Marmot

The snowman of Trail Ridge Rd

Hiking Trail Ridge Rd in Winter

Walker Ranch Loop

Flagstaff Mtn drive

Mt Sherman

Here's the part where I over-share a few surprising must-haves so feel free to look away:

1. Pee Conch! 

Ladies, this little device takes away the only reason we'd ever have penis-envy; standing up to pee! Will I need it? Not sure. I really think I might have agreed to flush my dignity down the loo just by signing up to hike above tree-line for days on end anyway.

2. Handy Hanky!

Pinning a bandana to the strap of my pack means I can wipe the drips from my cold nose easily and save from having a wet tissue cuddled up next to my gin-gins in a pocket. It may not be the visual you want or deserve, but I think the visual of a crusty or drippy nose is worse.

3. Toe Gel Caps!

They look weird but feel ok. And when I'm hiking 10,000' downhill in one day, I believe they can only help to protect my toenails from damage.

Things that I didn't know I needed but now don't leave home without:

1. Gin-Gin's (super strength)

30% fresh ginger cooked into caramel candies. Leaves a spicy little burn in the mouth and tells the stomach to calm down enough so it doesn't protest other calories being stuffed in at altitude. Used Amazon to buy through The Ginger People's Store.

2. Sun Gloves

Not only protecting hands from sun damage as I hike with poles, but keeping them a bit cleaner too! Fingerless and thin, they allow for picture taking and don't result in sweaty hands. I think mine are Outdoor Research brand.

3. Liquid IV

I fast-track my hydration the day before a hike and don't drive my car away from a long hike without drinking a liter of this after coming down from 13000+ feet. (Fatique, brain fog and dehydration are not compatible with responsible driving!) Costco has the best price on this.

That's it for now. I might have another 14er in me this month but as the days get shorter and the mornings get icier, the plan was always to take it back down to 13,000' in September, while ramping up the bike, squats and local hikes done more frequently. And just as October approaches, I'll enter my rest phase ... a break from physcial stress, reducing the chances of getting sick or injured just prior to travel. 

"Stick to the plan" has worked out well so far and I hope to stay the course all the way to Tanzania!

2024 Photo Highlights

2024 was a mixed bag. Not everything was rosey. 

But hands-down, it was one of the best years behind the lens and I'm grateful that my camera pushes me to get up early, sit patiently, see things from a different perspective and notice the little things... the fleeting, little, magical things that every day apparently DOES hold.

And from the bottom of my heart, I just love the people in my life that encourage me to follow my passions, support me in business, are by my side as I tick off Bucket List items and fully embrace me; All of me. I know I can be a challenging, willful person who wears all her bold emotions on her sleeve - for better or worse!

We have Arrived at Churchill Manitoba!

 Our charter flight with Calm Air was just under 2 hours. Who doesn't love a tail wind?!

Quick shout out to NatHab for the way they dealt with bags that didn't fit in the cabin overhead compartments but were a bit delicate for the average airport baggage handler. VALET bags. We dropped them off at the bottom of the stairs to the plane and our NatHab guides loaded and unloaded them to a secret spot on the plane. This is how they safeguard the camera gear of 35 people and ensure no tears and no missed opportunities for us in the coming week. Brilliant!

Upon arrival we broke off into specific tour groups - our guide was Garrett. A Winnipegian man who actually, literally has 9 jobs and by his own account has found a way to monetize all his favorite hobbies. He has his own canoe/camp business, media company, teaches videography at college level, is a trained chef, guides for Nathab and ... other stuff that I can't remember. Wowza! Smart and passionate. That's the perfect combo for a guide, am I right?!

You know I checked out his website too. Every guide and photographer has a 'style' and this gal will find something in particular with that style that she can learn from and benefit from. Garrett's pictures tell stories. I LOVE that. IMHO if you can find a moment that speaks to your senses in a multi-dimensional way, asks a questions, elicits an emotional response or triggers a memory, you have a winner... even if the focus is not sharp or the light is not perfect. Because we are not perfect either, it can still be just right.

Before lunch we traveled the road near the coast and checked out Miss Piggy. A long-since downed aircraft that has been lovingly muraled to death and sits as an aviators reminder (just shy of the airport) and a tourist photo-opp.

Then we met Dave ("big dog") and his son Wyatt, who run a dog sledding operation.  

Wapusk dog sledding just so you know, puts the highest priority on the DOGS. Good food and plenty of it, not overworked - in fact they are tethered to stop them from running themselves ragged. It's a thing, I learned. Most of the dogs are rescued and rehomed. This is not a puppy breeding facility and the dogs are not purebred anything. They are personality-assessed and take their place in a crew they they are best suited and happiest with... And their position on the harness is also determined by their strengths, weaknesses and comfort with the other dogs pulling closest to them.

Bob, our driver, oozed gentle energy!

The dogs were super eager (understatement) to run us a mile around the boreal forest area on carts (not enough snow yet) and frolic a bit as we got our photography fingers all warmed up.  The amuse bouche, if you will. 

Tomorrow promised to be all photography, all day. I was itching to see a polar bear!

Tewkesbury and Bath

 Aren't they just about the most English place names you've ever heard? The names are only rivaled by the history and architecture, let me tell you.

The morning started with a delightful breakfast spread and Rhys and Louise's. Full on B&B treatment - so unexpected and so sweet! Then we followed Rhys' walking directions along the Avon River to the Tewkesbury Abbey. While that sounds like something easy and not worth mentioning, it isn't. You see, I typically can't take in verbal directions and teachings. I'm a visual learner and struggle to remember anything verbally presented. But as established in the last post, Rhys and I are similar enough as humans that he speaks a language I understand. Directions complete with landmarks and visual cues for making turns! I could paint a picture in my mind as he talked and had no issues recollecting it and leading us there. Was this my Catholic Miracle fresh from St Winifride's Well???  You can't rule it out!

More baby birds! Signets no less. Delightful.

Tewkesbury Cathedral is like 1000+ years old and one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain. (Romanesque style is before the Gothic period and the architecture features thick walls, rounded arches vs pointed, symmetrical design with sturdy pillars and barrel vaults).

It has a long and interesting history - not devoid of bloodshed - but these days seems to play host to events featuring art and craft, theatre and games, childrens fun and more... something for the whole community to partake in. Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air as I had gotten used to the usual Catholic experience with strong smells of incense and mustiness, quiet and cool cathedrals that are empty and grounds that lack life and love ... and scream "find the money to maintain me better!"

A walk through Tewkesbury with it's beautiful and crooked Tudor style buildings would not be complete without coffee and cake. And a quick stop to pick out a silver charm for my bracelet!

By lunch time we were headed to Bath. I thought Mark would enjoy something super British and Roman, yet different from the other sights I had navigated us to all week. The baths of Bath!

Incredibly touristy but worth the stop. We meandered while listening to the audio guide. Took pictures and learned a crazy amount too. 

Call me crazy, but I was EXCITED to find a nice hotel near Heathrow and have some downtime. Repacking, refueling and relaxing before tomorrows flight seemed the perfect way to end the day - the week - the whole trip. 

Mentally, I was ready to go home. The call of the fur-babies was strong!

And then... the fun began...