Hiking & Running @ 9000'

Flew into Denver early in the morning from Cleveland ~ elevation 653' ~ and drove up Mt Evans ~ elevation 14,265' ~  the highest paved road in North America.  It's a beautiful trip, but when we got out of the car & hiked the remaining 100 yards to the top I felt the altitude.  I was light headed & a little woozy.  It was a very strange sensation.  On the way down we watched a lady lay down her motorcycle on a curve & the boys helped her right it.  She got on and finished the trip up.  Not so sure I would want back on!

Mount Evans really looks like the top of the world

Our next hike to Lily Pad Lake was a pretty one that was truly uphill BOTH ways. If you don't believe me you can ask my boys.  They agree.  This is also where we learned how to make a hiking stick & it's NOT by holding a fallen tree while your brother jumps on it.  That will hurt your foot {and if you're Jacob ~ who is like a tube of toothpastes ~ it will cause your nose to bleed} Here's a video on the correct way to break a stick:

 There were actually lily pads on Lily Pad Lake, which was appropriate, but the best part was they were in full bloom.  So beautiful.  Then the clouds rolled in and we booked out {up hill}.

A view of storm over the mountains, Lake Dillon, and a cleared beetle kill forest.  Amazing how one little insect has devastated the whole of this landscape

Because Jacob stayed up all night, he was too tired to spend the day {and $75} at the Breckenridge Adventure Park...and we got to go hike Cataract Lake, which might be my most favorite hike.  The trail goes around the lake, up to the waterfall which feed it, and back around the other side.  The views vary all around the lake & the flowers were in full bloom too.

Patrick is a Dork

And so is Jacob

And I got to run.  My one regret is that it takes me so long to acclimate that I can't really go for long runs.  And there are such great places to take long runs!  I took my phone so I had an excuse to stop & catch my breath!

The view from the first 2.5 mile run ~ on the trail above my parents' home.  God's  Majesty!

The second run ~ 3.5 miles ~ headed the other way on the same trail 

The last one ~ 6 miles ~ along the bike path from my parents' house to the dam road.  The 3 mile turn around point is almost to the glory hole!