Northern Colorado Outdoors

Making the Most of Every Day

2010-12-06T10:47:00.004-07:00

Today's post is based on a friend's Facebook post. So that we are all on the same page, her post was: "OK PEOPLE, LISTEN UP! It's Monday, that's right MONDAY. 12/6/10 - the ONLY 12/6/10 you'll get in this life. God isn't going to give you another 12/6/10 so He doesn't want any complaining about this one. Stop treating Monday like a step-child of a step-child and get out there and make the best of it. We don't have ...enough days on this earth to complain about any of them. HUGS!"

Now that we are all on the same page, I want to expound on it. The woman who posted this has always lit up my Facebook page. I look forward to reading her posts consistently, and she almost always has something positive to say. She is a beautiful person, and I wish that we lived in the same city so that I could get to know her better.

We all need to take her example and stop complaining about our Mondays and our Tuesdays and our afternoon blahs. For the most part, we are alive and we are functioning and we are able to be a part of society. It's great to have time off over the weekend, but if you are dreading your Monday, then maybe it's time for a change. Determine what it is about Monday that makes you want to complain. Is it going back to work because you don't enjoy your job? Is it because you didn't get enough sleep? Is it because you drank too much at a holiday party? Whatever the reason, learn from it, own it, and make better choices next time.

Our days on this earth are limited, and we need to make the most of all of them including Mondays. So, go out and have a good cup of coffee or tea with a delicious, healthy breakfast next Monday morning and celebrate starting a new week. If it's the afternoon blahs that you're struggling with, get out for a walk in the middle of the day. Find some way to celebrate your own life and what you have instead of complaining about what you don't have.

Without making changes, we all continue to struggle. It is our outlook on life that makes us feel alive. Another friend that I admire has told me on numerous ocassions that if she pretends she looks good or pretends to be happy, then she is. Things become reality even if you pretend for them to be that way. So, focus on the positive, make the changes, and celebrate life! Happy Monday, Everyone!

Fit it into the Holidays!

2010-12-03T17:46:00.004-07:00

Yes, it is that time of year again, and I'm ready this year! I've been staying in shape, eating pretty well (tho, a little too much at times), and enjoying my down time with books and friends. If you aren't ready for the holidays, they may just slap you in the face by taking up all your time, gaining some extra weight, or spending too much money.

There are many different ways to keep the extra weight off during the holidays. My method is to stay active. I may put on a few pounds here and there during the holidays, but as long as I don't give up completely and I stay active, my weight is (mostly) maintained. This year I signed up for the Thanksgiving Day Run in our community. It is a four-mile timed or un-timed run. I opted for the timed run so that I would stick to a training schedule. So far, it has helped me to get out of the house and enjoy the cooler weather that has come our way. It will also help me with laying the foundation for my runs at the beginning of the year when I begin training for my annual half-marathon.

After the Thanksgiving Run is over, I have foundation miles to keep up until training for the Horsetooth Half Marathon begins in January. There's also swimming and bicycle commuting around town. With the milder weather, it's easy to get outside, but a quick trip to the gym isn't out of the question, either. I also try to fit in a yoga class here and there, too.

Staying active during these cooler holiday winter months is key to the success of any fitness or weight loss program. Not eating only makes you feel deprived of what you can't have, but eating some of those sweets in MODERATION and then going for a four mile run will help you to keep everything in balance.

One last note, I find that when I exercise, whether running, cycling, yoga, or swimming, I don't want to eat that cookie on the table at work or the cheesecake samples at the store. I resist those temptations because I know that it doesn't feel good when I get out on my run. It is more of a saying "yes", to my run than saying "no" to the cookie.

So, this Thanksgiving and Christmas, fit some fitness into your schedule and get off the couch and get moving!

Weekend Update: Nov 5-7

2010-11-08T12:11:00.005-07:00

It was a big first weekend of November for Northern Colorado Outdoors! Not only have we started the process of kicking off our Health and Wellness program, but we have also started to incorporate some of the activities and discussions into the group. You can look for more to come in 2011 with this Health and Wellness Program, and we are excited to be motivating changes for folks across Northern Colorado!

November 5: Beginning the day, we had a quick lunch swim at The Mulberry Pool, where we did 30 minutes of laps. Then, taking to bicycles, we commuted to Old Town where we started off the weekend on Friday with a Happy Hour Social at Coopersmith's in Old Town Fort collins. It was good to see old friends and for some of our new friends to meet our current members! With loads of laughs over delicious food, we took the conversation and the evening out to the streets where we strolled to various galleries around town gaining inspiration from local artists along the way. We started our journey at The Gallery Underground, where we saw Chelsea Glanz, Andi Rose, and others. Moving on for the evening, we visited Coco's gallery, The Illustrated Light Gallery, and Trible Court Artisans.

November 6: After waking up to a chilly morning, we postponed our morning run to later in the day. So, off we went to REI for the Team in Training Seminar. The Seminar provided good information on the program and all of the benefits for the spring 2011 season. Some of the programs included that we are considering are a Marathon in Paris and a Triathlon in Hawaii. They both look like great goals to work toward and a wonderful cause to be a part of. It turned out to be a lovely day for a run, so we met at Rolland Moore Park at 12:00pm for our longer four mile run. We made it an out and back run at a comfortable pace so that we could talk along the way. Everyone made it, and we will be upping the mileage to five miles next week! Finally, Breathe Yoga was offering free yoga classes to the public for their Teacher Training program, and we went to the 3pm class. It was a good hot yoga, flow mix class in a warm room and perfect for the end of the day. Ending the day with some Core Challenge rounded everything out. (More information on the Core Challenge is below).

November 7: Sunday turned out to be almost as nice as Saturday, but the wind blew in a small front that cooled things off and clouded the skies. It didn't stop us from meeting at the pool for another lunch swim! (BTW: Sundays at The Mulberry Pool are $2!). We got in 30 minutes of lap swimming practicing strokes and enjoying some exercise with friends. Afterward, we treated ourselves to a walk to Old Town for Buttercream Cupcakery's Gingerbread Cupcake Day. (I truly believe that part of health and wellness is not depriving yourself of things that you enjoy. Moderation is key in the success of any wellness program.) Following our visit to the Cupcakery, we headed for the first presentation by Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain. An amazing, engaging, and charismatic speaker, we were all inspired by his words and uplifted by his humor. We were all reminded about the preciousness of life and the importance of taking a light-hearted approach to it as well. It was well worth the small ticket cost and the proceeds for the event went to the Fort Collins Reads program, which supports local libraries and bookstores.

Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend and made it such a fun and active time. We are excited about the changes coming up and keep checking the calendar for more fun and healthful events!

CORE CHALLENGE (5 days per week for 30 days):
Front Plank (start w/ 10 seconds)
Side Plank - Right then Left (start w/ 10 seconds)
Torso Twists - Using Weights or Medicine Ball (as many as you can)
Plank-Ups - Starting in plan on your right side move slowly down to your elbows and then back up to plank - switch sides and do as many as you can
Boat (hold as long as possible)
Side Plank Rotation Twists (as many as you can)
Bicycle Crunches (as many as you can)

Always increasing your numbers every other time you do them.

Essential Health & Wellness

2010-11-04T11:37:00.004-06:00

In response to the overwhelming demand for exercise, health, and wellness, we have decided to move Northern Colorado Outdoors more in that direction. With so many people in the world questioning our current healthcare system, we, as a society, are now turning to holistic practitioners and to changes in our lifestyles to help us with chronic issues or to just live long and healthy lives.

This is wonderful news because for those of you that don't know, I have always been interested in creating a healthy community of folks that want to exercise, eat well, and live a full and productive life, which is what Northern Colorado Outdoors is becoming! We already have a group of runners, swimmers, and climbers! We hope to attract more people to this healthy community that continues to be about getting outdoors and having fun, and is also about living a life of compassion, balance, truth, and joy. And, of course, with all things health and wellness related, we will have food, too!

So, as we take off on this journey of wellness, I encourage everyone this holiday season to think twice about picking up those sugary treats and enjoy a smoothie with fresh vegetables and fruit or a delicious soup without all the meat products. I also challenge you to get out and take a yoga class or a spinning class, learn to swim, or climb a wall. Enjoy your life! Afterall, that's what being healthy and well is all about!

Re-organization

2010-10-15T10:28:00.004-06:00

Northern Colorado Outdoors is re-organizing its business plan and management at the moment. We plan to have all the kinks worked out over the next few weeks and begin running again with a full calendar of activities for our members! Keep checking the calendar because you will find more activities, more fun, and more friends than ever before! We're excited to get things moving again, so stick around! There's more to come!

Weekend Update Sep 3-6

2010-09-08T14:03:00.003-06:00

It was a long weekend for Labor Day and we hope that you all had a great one, too! I know that we all did!

September 4: Tour de Fat, Fort Collins Style! The Tour de Fat commenced in its hometown this weekend to a record-breaking crowd! With a parade of bicycles of over 10,000 and a crazy after-party at the New Belgium Brewery, everyone is still talking about it! Costumes, bicycle inventions, delicious micro-brew beer, and loads of people watching! If you missed the Tour de Fat this year, that's okay! It happens every year, so you can join us next year with all the wild and crazy fun! This event also happens to be the largest fundraising event for our bicycle community! All proceeds from beer sales at the event go to the Overland Mountain Bike Club and Bike Fort Collins for trail work, bicycle advocacy, and so much more!

September 4: Monarch Crest Take II - The last big ride of the season ended at Monarch Crest for a second run this summer. It was a great one, too! No clouds in the sky, cool breezes the whole way, and smooth singletrack to lead our way. It was a monumentous ride to top them all! We added on the Silver Creek Trail this time, with some loose, technical descents, and some steep, fast climbs, it wasn't quite what we were expecting, but there were definitely some fun downhills in there to make up for the difficult parts of the trail.

September 5: Hikin' 14'ers and Celebratory Camping Trip with Jen P! Well, after a long summer of 14'ers, Jen finally finished all 54 14'ers in Colorado! A major accomplishment! She invited us to join her on her very last 14'er at Mount Handies, a class I, 6 - mile hike. It was a fun end to the summer and to Jen's 14'er journey. Congratulations to Jen for all her hard work this summer.

Otherwise, we got in some camping along the way, and some down time back at home... Whew! A great end to the summer season, tho, fall is getting full, too, so stay tuned for more!

Weekend Update Aug 28-29

2010-08-31T11:25:00.008-06:00

Saturday, August 28th - We started out at 4am meeting at the Colorado Welcome Center at the intersection of Prospect and I-25 to begin our journey to Gray's Peak. It was so early that the sun had yet to shine it's first glimmer of light over the horizon, so breakfast in hand and sleepy-eyed, we caravanned two hours to the trailhead. The trailhead was much easier to find than we thought. The rough jeep road to get to the start of the hike gave us a chance to wake up a bit. Once we arrived, we didn't take much time at all to get ready. We put some layers on, grabbed our backpacks and set out for accomplishing the highest point on the Continental Divide: Gray's Peak, and for most, their first 14'er! It was slow at first getting used to the altitude, but once warmed up, it was one foot in front of the other as we climbed each switchback and boulder with deliberate and careful steps. Dawn, her son, Jake, and Brandon, set out quickly to accomplish the task at hand and waited at the top for us for a while. They were already cold by the time we arrived. We stopped for pictures along the way, and we saw some mountain goats at the top of one of the ridges. There were plenty of dogs on the trail to stop and pet, too! There was one border collie in particular that we played leap frog with, and he was doing a magnificent job on his first 14'er! A couple of us stopped halfway and turned around. It was difficult to breathe and the trail was steep in places, but most of us summitted the 14,000 foot mountain, signed in and took plenty of pictures. We hung out on the top for a while and ate lunch and talked to some of the other hikers. Our way back down was much more lively. Talking and giggling, we seemed to be flying down the mountain in record time; however, toward the end of the descent all of us were struggling with blisters and fatigue. We slowed it down, and made our way back to the car just in time for the afternoon showers. On the way back to Fort Collins, we stopped in Idaho Springs for some pizza at Beau Jo's. Some yummy food in our bellies and a great day of hiking and a major accomplishment left us all weary-eyed and happy to be back home.

Congratulations to Dawn Theis, Jake Theis, Brandon Barrett, Jennifer Hahn, and Eric Swab for their 1st 14'er! and to Jacquie Adams and Kristina Brown for their 2nd 14'er! Way to go guys!

Saturday, August 28th - Trail Work Day at Horsetooth Mountain Park! On the same day that we were climbing 14'ers, we had a group of dedicated folks who volunteered their time to working the trails at Horsetooth Mountain Park. The grassroots team at Full Cycle helped organize the event, and we had plenty of volunteers from Don't Hike Alone and Northern Colorado Outdoors! The trail work day was a success, and a big thanks goes out to Ralph Eberspacher for organizing the event and to Backcountry Provisions for their sandwich donations to our trail work crew!

Sunday, August 29th - Venus de Miles, a women's only ride starting in Longmont, Colorado, took off. With women supporting and women riding, it was a great day to be on a bicycle! It's always wonderful to see women of all ages, backgrounds shapes and sizes getting on their bicycles for a good cause! All proceeds benefitted a scholarship fund.

Sunday, August 29th - Monarch Crest Take 2 was unfortunately postponed until later... We hope to get out there again before the snows, but it may be next season before this happens...

All in all, it was a fun weekend, and we were all exhausted from the accomplishments and activities that happened! Looking forward to a major Labor Day Weekend coming up soon, too!

Weekend Update Aug 20-22

2010-08-23T11:10:00.004-06:00

We started this last weekend a little early on Friday, and with all the excitement of New West Fest, we even ended it just a tad early, too!

Friday, August 20th - Hike Mt. Chiquita and Mt. Ypsilon in Rocky Mountain National Park! We finished what we had started a few weeks ago when we hiked up Mt. Chapin. We finished out the CCY with Chiquita and Ypsilon on Friday, and it was a beautiful day for it! It was amazing how much cooler it was at 13,000 feet than down along the Front Range where we were sweltering! We had quite a few adventures along the way. Elk were stubbornly lying across the trail we were hiking, so to be safe, we hiked off the trail to go around them. They didn't seem to mind us much, but their very large antlers were threatening nonetheless. We met up with a friendly little marmot that wanted our food at the top of Chiquita. Turns out that marmots love cherries! Who would have known? We got up to the top of Ypsilon and ate lunch while some clouds rolled in over us. With the clouds building, we cut our lunch short and headed back down the mountain. On the way back, instead of hiking back the way we had come, we went around Ypsilon and Chiquita to the trail. A long and arduous hike, we made it to the trail with relief. We took a break near a mountain stream in a meadow on the way back down. We arrived back to the trailhead exhausted and happy to have finished what we set out to do. We made our way back to Estes Park and picked up some food for the ride back down the canyon.

Friday, August 20th - New West Fest Kick-off! New West Fest is one of the biggest live music celebrations in Fort Collins! People come from all over Northern Colorado to participate in this free event, and they kicked it off with the Flobots on Friday night. We met up with everyone at Coopersmith's and had some dinner and drinks before going out to watch the music. With a fun group of people and great music, how could we not have a fun time?

Saturday, August 21st - Leo Luau - It was a hot day on Saturday, and the best way to cool off is in the river! Meeting up to celebrate our Leo Birthdays, we splashed around in the water with the dogs at a park on the east side of town. With a rope swing and some floaties, life doesn't get much better - except with food and yummy beverages!

Sunday, August 22nd - Women on Bikes Ladies' Choice ride and New West Fest - Our Women on Bikes Ride this week was a marvelous learning experience! We did some route planning, and practiced riding in traffic around campus and the city. Riding along paths that were unfamiliar to us, we found our way along the path we had chosen and made it back to New West Fest just in time for Post Paradise! Even with the hot day, the exercise felt good and the socializing was fun!

We have another big weekend next weekend! We'll be heading out to hike Grays and Torreys - two class II Fourteeners! Then, we'll stay the night to ride Monarch Crest the very next day! It's time to start packing everything in! Project End of Summer is underway!

Weekend Update Aug 13-15

2010-08-16T09:10:00.004-06:00

This past weekend was one of the busiest of the season, and another fun and fabulous weekend with fun and fabulous people!

August 13th: Eat Pray Love, the Movie. A couple of us went for the matinee showing of Eat Pray Love at the Cinemark in Fort Collins! It did a beautiful job of living up to the book. Julia Roberts owned the role of Liz Gilbert, and pulled it off with finesse and grace. The movie was as powerful as the book in its heartfelt way of touching each person in the theatre in a different way. I recommend reading the book and watching the movie!

After the movie, we all gathered at the Tobler residence for Matt's Birthday BBQ! With yummy food and friends, we celebrated all evening by catching up and enjoying the Colorado evening!

August 14th: Mountain Biking Hall Ranch. Again, a few of us set out to discover the trails at Hall Ranch. We got there just at high time, but it didn't seem to bother any of us. We jumped on our bikes and wheels down on the dirt by 10am! The climb to the top of the trail was a little loose and technical but nothing that any of us couldn't handle. We pushed through it and arrived at the top for water and to enjoy the views. It was an amazing day! The weather was cool and the sun was shining! The next push was around the Nelson Loop after the Antelope Trail. It was another climb, but without a lot of the loose rock that existed in the first trail. There were a few technical spots that we cleared and ended up at the top of a hill with a view of Long's Peak just across the meadow! Now, this is where it got really fun! The Downhill! We hopped back on our bikes and bombed the downhill from the top of the Nelson Loop! Fun, fast, buttery trails! When we met back up at the intersection at Antelope and Nelson, we all hopped back on to do the last bit. Another fun, more technical descent to keep us on our toes. All in all, it was a great ride! Awesome weather, fun riding buddies, a great trail = an amazing mountain biking day. After a stop at the Cheese Importers in Longmont, we headed back to the Fort with smiles on our faces!

August 14th: Built to Spill Concert at Mishawaka. We headed up the Poudre Canyon toward the Columbine Lodge to see if we could find a camping spot before the show. Luckily, the folks at the Columbine Lodge gave us a small spot in the middle of the campground to set up tents. Camp was set up in no time at all, and we were hanging out having a drink before going up the canyon further to the Mish. We talked to some of the other campers and walked down to the river to hang out. Finally, our shuttle was ready to go. A little green station wagon and an interesting woman driving us to our destination. It sort of reminded me of something out of Harry Potter - any minute the car was going to take off flying or she was going to strap us in and take us to her lair for soup... Okay, I digress and my imagination was carried off for a moment. We arrived at Mishawaka in plenty of time for the show, so food and drinks were again in order. Now, if you want some good junk food, the Mish has some great burgers, fries, and chicken wings. I have yet to try their salads, but they have great junk food! After some food and meeting up with the rest of our group, we went down to the concert area during the opening band, Fin-Reagans, another Boise band. They had a good sound, although, by the end of their set some of their songs were beginning to sound alike. Built to Spill didn't waste any time going on stage. They came out right after the opening band, and played a great show! Everyone was dancing under the stars in the canyon. Built to Spill really rocked the Mish that night! After they finished their last set, we all went back to camp and crashed among the parties going on around us, one of which we found out later involved the opening band, the Fin-Reagans.

August 15th: Mountain Biking Curt Gowdy- Wyoming State Park - It was time for another Curt Gowdy ride! We were all stoked, and with Petro on a new bike, we headed out to Wyoming for some sweet rides! We followed Brad into Stone Temple and over Ignoramus. Some serious climbs that required advanced technical skills, but we all did well and cleared a lot of the rocks and roots that created the challenge. We followed Ignoramus around to a sweet part of Stone Temple, which was fast and flowy. Then, we jumped onto Albert's Way for some more buttery, smooth singletrack and then finished up on Mo 'Rocka - a technical descent through the trees. Petro, first time on her new bike with clips and a night out, did amazing! The rest of us had a great ride, too, and we finished up with some food from Sweet Melissa's in Laramie and a drive back to Fort Collins!

Canning with Carol - Jacquie's mom was in town for the weekend and generously offered her canning skills to us for all of our harvest from gardens and CSA's. She showed us how to pack the vegetables and fruit, how long to boil it, and what ingredients we needed to add to the jars. All the fruit and veggies looked beautiful preserved in the jars. We canned green beans, peaches, and squash, and can't wait to preserve more from the harvest!

Whew! That's it for our busy, busy weekend! It sure feels good to go back to work after such a fun weekend!

Living Your Best Life

2010-08-13T13:01:00.003-06:00

I've been doing a series as editor of a Houston Newsletter on Living Your Best Life, and I wanted to share some of those same comments here. Northern Colorado Outdoors is one of the best places to learn to Live Your Best Life. You can interact with people socially and actively, you can learn new sports and new activities, you can get active and get in shape, you can travel and see other parts of the country/world, you can expand your mind through movies, books, culture, and life, and the list goes on and on.

Living your best life is something that Oprah has successfully created as part of her talk show and part of her magazine, and it is so popular because it is so relevant. We are all looking for ways to live our best life. After all, we only have one chance at it, right?

Everyone has their own experiences with this topic, and mine, just like everyone's, involves experience. We are all seeking friendships and experiences in life that are worthwhile. We want to continue to have those magical moments when we ride a trail all the way through for the very first time or when we make up the hill without stopping. These are the moments that make life worthwhile, and kudos to all of our Northern Colorado Outdoors' members for seeking those experiences and continually growing from them!

Most often these experiences come in the form of glimpses instead of long-term experiences; however, it is the consistent effort and the love and motivation that is put forth in our efforts that make those glimpses even more special. I encourage everyone, everywhere to experience something new every day and enjoy life to its very fullest!

Happy Trails!

Weekend Update Aug 7-8

2010-08-09T12:31:00.004-06:00

I have to say, I do have the best job in the whole world! I get to play outside and hang out with really cool people! It was another wonderful weekend in Northern Colorado. Just check out all the fun things we did:

Saturday Farmer's Market & Brunch - A leisurely morning led us to the Larimer County Farmer's Market at Mason and Oak St. in Old Town Fort Collins. There were loads of great buys there with fresh garlic, mushrooms, eggplant and the peaches just started arriving. Afterward, we headed over to Dempsey's for some brunch and people watching. The people watching was light, but the food was good! Fresh squeezed orange juice and rosemary-potato bread toasted! Yum!

Saturday Ruff Hike and Pooch Swim - After some time napping and shopping, we all met up at the Dog Park for some hiking around the lake and a chance for the dogs to get a good swim. They all chased each other through the water and got good and worn out and cooled off from the heat. It was a hot day, but the pooch plunge made it all worthwhile.

Sunday Pedal to the Point - The Pedal to the Point ride was this year out in Wellington. The proceeds from the ride go to the Realities for Children organization. The weather was a little warm, but it was doable. 52 and 25 miles across the Front Range from Wellington to I-25 to Fort Collins and back again! Whew! Great ride!

For those of us that didn't do the Pedal to the Point, we went on an impromptu mountain bike ride to scout out the new trails at Curt Gowdy for next week's ride! It was breezy and cool along the hilly Wyoming landscape. Can't wait to get back out next weekend for more mountain biking, live music, and fun!

Weekend Update July 31-Aug 1

2010-08-02T08:31:00.003-06:00

The summer doesn't seem to be winding down at all! Our segue into August was just as busy as ever!

Friday evening we went up to Laramie, Wyoming, and camped with the Laramie Enduro racers. It was a fun family experience! Lots of kids and dogs running around, a campfire, and dinner in Laramie at Sweet Melissa's Vegetarian Cafe. We had delicious cashew cheese queso, a portabello swiss veggie burger with mashed potatoes, and some yummy beers!

Saturday was the race. We were up at 5:45am getting ready to race at 7:00am. We stuffed our packs full of goo's, loaded up our camelbacks with hydration, geared up and headed out... We waited at the race start for a few minutes before they called the "GO" signal. Once we got started, there was a climb to get to the singletrack, which started to thin people out. It was a fun 16 miles or so. Fast and flowy over jeep roads. We stayed in the middle to end of our pack for a while until we got to the long grueling climb at about mile 20. Once the long and grueling climb was over, we were bonking with no food in our bellies and DNF'd at the second aid station. For not having trained for the race at all, 30 miles felt like a good accomplishment for this year. We will go back next year and conquer the Laramie Enduro! As for the rest of the crew, we had two others DNF at mile 60 for exhaustion and a crash. One finished at 10 hours and a few others finished in just over 9 hours. It was a tough race! Congratulations to everyone who got out there and put in the effort!

We didn't have anything on the calendar for Sunday. We were trying to go tubin' up the Poudre but the weather got in the way. It was all good, though! A few folks got together for a hot yoga class at Breathe that night. It felt good to sweat all those toxins out and get a good workout!

More events are being posted to the calendar for August this week! Make sure and check the calendar often to find out what's going on!

Why do you ride?

2010-07-28T15:15:00.001-06:00

Why I Ride
by Chad Stamper

"I think this is it." I thought to myself while beginning my rocky dual track ascent up what would prove to be an amazing journey. Dark clouds form above me and the sound of thunder a short distance away threatens my ride. Unfazed by natures attempt to knock me down I push on expecting harsh rains and bitter cold temperatures. "Should I turn back?" No, a little rain can be fun but the cold is a little too much to bare. My uncovered hands were going numb. I press on though, thinking the workout would warm me up.

For the next two miles, I endured a steady dual track climb in what felt like freezing rain. The intensity of the ride warmed my lower half while my arms were kept numb by the wind. Reaching the top, I am greeted by a spectacular view of Lee Mountain. Within seconds, the clouds begin to disperse and the suns rays thaw my chilled arms.

Another trail intersect and a steep but quick hill, I made it to the top. The thought of 3 miles of mostly singletrack downhill reverberated in my head. The first two miles greet me with technical rock and root combinations. My calves burn while my toes grip the pedals, hands on weak brakes, I continue my descent.

The scenery changes again with a turn into the trees. I find myself tracking a small stream, hands still clasped tight absorbing roots and splashing my way down. Turn after turn and bump after bump, one of my best rides yet.
Finally, reaching the blacktop, I know the ride is coming to an end. Hands off the bars, arms spread, palms up, wearing a smile. This... is why I ride.

Weekend Update July 24-25

2010-07-26T08:04:00.003-06:00

Our weekend was a little lighter this time around, but still, with plenty to do! Pictures are already posted at the website to give you a little preview of what we were up to!

Backpacking the Rawah Wilderness: Eric led this trip with Andy, and they had an amazing time! Heading out into the backcountry on a beautiful weekend would lift anyone's spirits! And, there was a cool front that came through to top it all off! They saw moose, alpine lakes, and some of the best views in Colorado!

Trail Work Day at Horsetooth Mountain Park: Armed with over fifteen people for our Trail Work Day, we helped to maintain the Spring Creek Trail by replacing water bars, cutting back brush, and taking down burms. It was a successful day, and thank you, NCO for providing lunch from Whole Foods! Not only was it successful, but we all got a great workout, got to know each other better, and had a lot of fun, too!

Beach Party at Horsetooth Reservoir: There's not much better than a dip in the lake after Trail Work Day! We ran back to town and grabbed a few groceries and headed back out to South Bay. Fired up the grills, and had a plethora of food from salads, steaks, hamburgers, and chicken skewers! The chilly swim in the lake cooled everything off. Matt and Jay helped a goose with a fish hook in its neck, and we topped off this fabulous day with a slice of cherry pie!

Women on Bikes: We had a fun day at Women on Bikes on Sunday! We met at the City Park Pavilion and rode into Old Town for some brunch at Lucile's. Afterward, we did a short loop around town and headed back to City Park! We are looking forward to the clinic this week on Wednesday! If you don't know how to fix-a-flat, come on out and learn! Bring your bike, and we'll all fix flats together!

Shakespeare at Sunset: Elise led a group of folks to the Shakespeare at Sunset series again this weekend. Romeo and Juliet was performed at the CSU Theatre across from the experimental gardens. This age-old classic of love and love lost was a nice change of pace to the active, outdoors' lifestyle that is the norm for our group!

Meet & Greet & Photography Clinic

2010-07-23T12:41:00.002-06:00

Thanks to The Photographic Touch for hosting us this week on Wednesday, July 21st at their place of business in South Loveland! We had a great time learning some of the finer points of taking pictures even with a point-and-shoot camera! From cropping and highlighting to software and ISO, they covered a whole range of interesting ways to make our photos better when outdoors on a hike! They will continue to update us regarding their upcoming nature photography classes!

Wilbur's was fantastic for offering a great discount on the beer and wine served at the Meet & Greet, and NCO provided all the food for the event!

Thanks to everyone for coming out!

Weekend July 17-18

2010-07-19T11:22:00.005-06:00

We had a busy weekend again! We have such a fun group, and look forward to each event that comes up!

Elise led the group at the Shakespeare at Sunset theatre production at CSU. They had a picnic before the show and then saw Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Brad led the Brewery Tour on Bikes on Saturday. It was a hot one, but with cold brews, it made for a fun day!

Colleen led a beautiful hike to Brown Lake up the Poudre Canyon. She had a good group of about 10 people! Getting out of the heat from the Front Range was a great idea, and helps remind us how wonderful it is to live in Colorado and have access to these amazing natural spaces!

Kristina led an early morning hike to Mt. Chapin with 10 people. Getting up to the trailhead, it was about 49 degrees and we saw the sunrise as we drove through the canyon to RMNP. During our first steps up the trailhead, we encountered a moose, which was a wonderful surprise! As we hiked further and higher, we saw marmots, pica, and ptarmigans. We made it to the summit of Mt. Chapin before noon, and headed back down snacking in a meadow with a babbling brook running through. We got back to the cars and made it back to Estes for pizza before heading back down. It was a wonderful day to be out on a hike!

Kevin led the group on a Tubin' trip down the Poudre River. On a hot day, this was the best medicine! Some cool water along the way and bbq waiting at the end! The sun warmed things up, and the rapids were just high enough for some fun and laughs!

Great weekend, NCO! We're not even half-way through the summer, either!

Overcoming difficulties

2010-04-15T12:40:00.001-06:00

So, it is Thursday, and the big half marathon over the dams at Horsetooth Reservoir is on Sunday. For those of you who don't know, the run is over some monster hills before flattening out at the end. It isn't an easy half marathon, and I was training hard before I got into the raw food diet.

My good mileage was 10-12 miles on the weekend, and five miles was an easy run during the week. I felt really good by the end of February that I was going to make good time on the half marathon. Then, I came down with a cold. I couldn't get out of bed for a week, and the symptoms lingered for two to three weeks. I didn't want it to turn into anything worse, so I stopped my training.

During that time, I also discovered the raw diet. I did some research and started eating raw as my cold started to retreat. This brought on a whole new set of issues with trying to train. My body was detoxing and healing and didn't want to run the distances that I had been running previously. I still struggle with my workouts even now.

Regardless, in going through all of this, I am now at the countdown of day 3 until the half marathon, and I am going to do it whether I walk it or run it. It may be raining that day, too, just to ice the cake. I've put myself on a mostly mono-diet of bananas to help with my stomach irritations and to provide energy for the upcoming run.

All in all, I know that I won't be running the half marathon at my best time, but with all the changes in my body, it will be a success just to finish it. I'll sign up for the same half marathon next year and hope that this time next year I'm in the best shape of my life and will far exceed my time from this year and previous years.

Inspiring and Aspiring Women of the Outdoors

2010-02-07T10:34:00.005-07:00

The women of Northern Colorado Outdoors continue to amaze and inspire me each and every time I see them. With their every day lives, they are all seemingly ordinary. They all have jobs and families and responsibilities; however, on the weekends when we all go play together, they are instantly transformed into adventurous and warrior women. They try new things, and push themselves to the very limits of their beings.

It's difficult to know where to begin. The story of the woman who came to Colorado to get away for the summer, and she ended up making friends and coming back to live! She tried just about everything from hiking and biking to mountaineering and climbing! She just tried snowshoeing last weekend, and she has more plans for the summer to keep it going! I can't wait to see what she does next!

There's the story of the woman that was going through a divorce when she started with our group, and she was working on losing some weight and getting in shape. She is now signed up for a half marathon and she is running better than ever! She is spending time with her teenage son, and she just joined the board of the Parks and Recreation department! She always has something new happening in her life. She has been trying activities like ice fishing and archery. She has absolutely transformed her life!

There was a woman that I worked with a few years ago that joined the group and wanted to get in shape and lose weight. Now, a few years later, she is cycling in century rides and running in half marathons. She has lost the weight, and she is in the best shape of her life!

These are just a few of the stories that come to the top of my head about women who have inspired me. All of these women are so much more than ordinary, and they are all excited about life and getting out in the world and experiencing as much of it as possible. This is exactly what life is about, and I am happy that Northern Colorado Outdoors has given them an opportunity to find themselves and activities that give them this sense of fulfillment!

If you would like to know more about Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit our website at: http://www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

The Magic of NCO

2010-01-03T11:56:00.003-07:00

I was in Houston last week with my very good friends, Jenn, Carrie, and Kelly, and I had one of the best times of my life. I appreciate them more than ever now that we live in different areas and don't get to see each other as often as I would like...

Regardless, we went out to dinner and caught up on old friend stuff, and we did the things that we became friends doing. We hiked, we biked, and we stayed active. I went for a mountain bike ride at my favorite place, Rocky Hill Ranch. I was slower than usual, but I could tell that my technical prowess had improved and my stamina had also improved. I felt like I could have ridden all day at the pace I was going...

Anyway, I digress. I realized after talking to my friend Kelly that groups like NCO bring a sort of Magic with them. The ability to get out and have a great time with other people that want to do the same thing is magic. There's nothing short of a miracle about connecting people and helping them to get active and learn new ways to have fun.

Northern Colorado Outdoors, Bayou City Outdoors, Hill Country Outdoors, and all of our other groups have done just that. We have all connected people to some of our best friends so that we can go out and experience life to its fullest with people that share our love of life.

For 2010, Northern Colorado Outdoors will be all over the state of Colorado sharing the connection and the magic of meeting people that have the same interests and may become your lifetime friend! Northern Colorado Outdoors will be living life to its fullest and showing others that they can do the same thing! Watch out Colorado! Northern Colorado Outdoors will be planning an event near you!

Chillin' In the Fort

2009-10-22T14:09:00.005-06:00

The Children's Speech and Reading Center will be hosting a Spooktacular Fun Run this weekend at the Spring Canyon Community Park in Fort Collins, Colorado. On Sunday, October 25th, volunteers and supporters will be dressing up in costumes and donning their running shoes to get out and help this worthwhile community center for children with reading, speaking, and learning disabilities.

If you are available to get out for a run or walk this weekend, this is a great way to meet new people and enjoy the beautiful fall weather that the Fort Collins area has been receiving. In the Spring and Fall, Fort Collins is host to benefit runs almost every weekend. If you are a runner and want to get that long run in with other avid runners, and maybe even meet a new running buddy, too, find a fun run that matches your activity level, and join in!

For more information on the Spooktacular Fun Run, you can visit the Children's Speech and Reading Center Website at: http://www.csrckids.org/

For more information on Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit the website at: http://www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or email: info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Changing seasons...

2009-09-30T14:48:00.006-06:00

Ahhh! The Fall is here, and with it, comes beautiful cool, crisp weather and the warm, rich tones of the trees changing colors. The summer is over and the harvest season is upon us. Farmer's Markets are beginning to empty their stocks to eager buyers willing to can, preserve, and freeze the last bit of summer. While still others are heading out to the mountains for a hike through the Aspens in full bloom and quaking with the breezes that blow through their leaves.

For Northern Colorado Outdoors, the Fall means getting outdoors and taking a drive over Independence Pass or heading up to Estes Park for Elk Fest on October 4th. It means going for mountain bike rides and hikes and heading to the farm to help with the fall harvest. More than anything, Fall means a time to join together as a community and get ready for the colder months ahead. We begin to look for things to do indoors and find more time to spend with friends and visiting relatives.

As a smaller community within the larger community of Fort Collins, we are indeed lucky to live in a place with so many options for the changing seasons. With Fort Collins situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, we have lakes and streams and rivers as well as forests of Aspens and Pines. All of which change with each season that passes.

Our diverse landscape is just one of the benefits of living in this community. We have a University that not only holds our academic programs, but also provides our community with art and culture. The University gives us a Fall sports lineup with Football at the forefront, and it has helped us thrive as an agricultural community so that our harvest season really does mean something.

All in all, the changing seasons is an exciting time. It marks the end of the hot, lazy summer days and the beginning of preparations for the shorter days of winter, the beginning of the holiday season, and the beginning of a new school year. Northern Colorado Outdoors is opening up this new beginning and inviting everyone to a few of our fall events this October. You can find our Fort Collins Brewery Tour on Bikes as well as a hike at Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands and our October Meet and Greet all open to the public! If you haven't been to a Northern Colorado Outdoors' event this Fall, join us this month and find out how much fun it is to be active outdoors!

For more information, visit our website: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or email: info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

That's Too Cool, Fort Collins!

2009-07-14T15:36:00.000-06:00

Money Magazine just came out with their latest "Best Places in the United States to Live" and Fort Collins was once again at the top of the list! With so many great things to do and fun places to do them, it's hard to know where to get started. Northern Colorado Outdoors can help! We plan events throughout the month that are specific to the Northern Colorado area. In June we took advantage of the high rivers and went rafting. In May, we took a short weekend trip out to Moab for some early season mountain biking and hiking. And in July, we are taking a group of adventurous hikers up to the summit of Long's Peak.

Our calendar is full of outdoor activities and even social activities, so if you're looking for something to do this summer, just take a peek at our calendar: http://www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com Between cool social activities that will take you out of the heat to fun outdoor summer activities that will get you active and in the mountains, we have something for you!

For more information on Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit our website at: http://www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or email us at: info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Keep Colorado Beautiful!

2009-07-07T12:02:00.003-06:00

Colorado is one of the most beautiful places to live in the United States. We have the foothills and just beyond that are the great Rocky Mountains. We have the plains to the East, where you can look out and see for miles. We have wonderful weather (normally). With mild summers and snowy winters, we can take advantage of this beautiful place year-round.

That being said, it is so important to keep our natural spaces beautiful and the trails in our parks maintained. We have many groups in the area that work diligently to make this happen. Team BOB (Babes on Bikes) requires trail work as part of the membership to the group as does Overland Mountain Bike Club. Recently, our own group, Northern Colorado Outdoors and Full Cycle have adopted a trail at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space to help with this very worthy cause. There are so many opportunities to get out and make a difference in our community that it is often difficult to choose what works best for you.

Consider the amount of time that is spent outdoors by most residents along the Front Range of Northern Colorado? All of those people use the trails for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The trails get a beating from all of the use throughout the warmer seasons. As residents of this beautiful state, we all have a responsibility to give back and continue to keep our parks and natural areas beautiful We want to be able to go to these places for years to come, and we have to make a difference now.

So, if you're interested in pitching in and helping NoCo Outdoors with our work day coming up on Saturday, July 11th at 8:45 am. Sign up at our website: http://www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or look up Larimer County for more opportunities to work on the trails in the area. (Lunch will be provided to volunteers signing up for the trail work day on July 11th. Make sure and sign up early as space is limited!)

For more information on Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or email us at: info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Friends

2009-07-06T14:04:00.004-06:00

As we get older, it seems more and more difficult to make new and meaningful friends. If you don't already have a group of friends, then getting out from behind our computers and televisions or out of our comfort zone is a little scary.

That's one thing that I really like about Northern Colorado Outdoors. We have a fun and easy social network in which to make friends with people who have some of the same interests! We have so much to do on the calendar these days that you can meet new people each time you go out! Some people like to bicycle and others like to hike. Some people prefer live music and socializing and others prefer being outdoors. We have such a mix of members and activities that it's never that difficult to meet up with someone that you share interests, activities, or ideas with.

It is the people that really make the club what it is, and we have a really wonderful group of people. Everyone is active, encouraging, positive, and fun! We all help and support each other as well as provide fun and interesting conversations. We are a community in the truest sense of the word, which is more important than ever right now.

If you haven't made it to an event yet, join us for a Meet and Greet or another event soon! We'll be happy to introduce you to our members and tell you all about our upcoming events on the calendar. We also take suggestions! So, if there's something that you want to do, let us know and we'll put something together for you!

If you would like more information on Northern Colorado Outdoors, check out our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or email us at: info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

2009-06-19T16:31:00.003-06:00

While the rain made it tragically difficult to get outdoors for the few weeks that it wouldn't go away, it did make it amazingly wonderful to be outdoors after it left. The sun is now shining and drying up the ground and the plants are greener than I've ever seen them. The grass is soft, the trees are full, the flowers are in full bloom. Colorado doesn't get much more beautiful than this. The foothills look like the tropical mountains of Hawaii rather than the arid Rocky mountains.

Hiking in the area brings huge surprises right now. Waterfalls are still running even with the winter runoff coming to an end. Horsetooth Falls is running nicely and the Falls at Lory State Park are also going strong. The Poudre Canyon is full of water making rafting, kayaking, and canoeing some of the best we've seen. Horsetooth Reservoir is full again and ready for a dip at one of the beaches. As you go further into the mountains, the waterfalls are everywhere you look! So, with all of this extra water around, enjoy it and get out and see it! Whether you're playing in it or hiking to view it, get outdoors and be apart of it!

Northern Colorado Outdoors takes hikes on a regular basis around the Northern Colorado area. If you'd like to join us on a hike, visit our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com and Join Today!

A buzz is in the air...

2009-04-24T12:46:00.002-06:00

With the warmer weather outdoors, there's a buzz in the air with all of the activities going on around town. The buzz is only going to get louder over the next couple of months, so we want to make sure that you're ready for all of the events coming up!

Northern Colorado Outdoors and Full Cycle will be hosting their 2nd Annual Summer Kickoff party at Full Cycle Bikes at 230 S. College Ave. Fort Collins, CO, 80524. There will be folks from across the cycling community present to talk about summer events, women's specific rides, and fun rides. We'll have food, beer, and giveaways, so make sure and join us for the party of the year! Put it on your calendars: Friday, June 5th at 6:30 pm

You can go to the Northern Colorado Outdoors' website and get a good idea of the events going on over the next few months. The Lory Bike Festival is coming up at the end of May. There will be all things Mountain biking there including a beginner women's ride hosted by Full Cycle and Northern Colorado Outdoors. Northern Colorado Outdoors will be running in the Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day weekend as well. You can look for our REI clinics on How to Get Into the Outdoor Life on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, and don't forget about our Brewery Tours on the 3rd Saturday of each month! Northern Colorado Outdoors and Full Cycle are also teaming up for trail work days through the summer on July 11th and August 15th, so mark your calendars for that!

There's so much to pack in over the summer, and we have tried to make it easy with a calendar of events to get you out and enjoying the outdoors and meeting other fun people!

So, catch the buzz and join us for an event! For more information, you can visit our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Transforming into Your Utimate Summer Body!

2009-04-16T16:33:00.003-06:00

We see so much in magazines this time of year about losing weight and getting into shape. Summer's almost here and so is swimsuit season! Sheesh! It's all so intimidating. We have to look a certain way and act a certain way and even talk in a certain way. But, what if we all accepted each other the way we are and enjoyed our differences?

Well, Northern Colorado Outdoors and Full Life Wellness are working on a Health and Wellness Series called Transforming into Your Ultimate Summer Body. The series plans to help people to not only have healthy bodies, but also have a healthy outlook on life. Health and wellness from the inside out. There will be some discussion of nutrition, physical activity, but the course is really focusing on lifestyle changes, which include stress reduction and self-esteem issues.

The Health and Wellness Series: Transforming into Your Ultimate Summer Body will begin on May 20th at 7:00 pm at Dazbog Coffee at Mason St. and Cherry St. in Fort Collins. The program is $30 for the entire six-week series if registered online at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or the program is $60 at the door. Space is limited, so we encourage people to sign up early.

The course includes a FREE membership to Northern Colorado Outdoors for the duration of the program and it provides a discounted membership to participants that finish the program. Full Life Wellness is providing discounts for individual counseling throughout the duration of the course.

If you are interested in getting more information on this course or in Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Spring is HERE!

2009-04-15T13:03:00.004-06:00

Well, the grass is greener and the weather is certainly warming up. I, for one, am grateful for Spring finally getting here! I've been antsy to get outdoors and mountain bike, hike, and do all the things that I love outdoors.

I did go for a mountain bike ride last night with Team BOB (Babes on Bikes). What a fun ride and a great group of ladies! Our particular group rode the Blue Sky trail to Indian Summer from the Soderberg Trailhead. It turned out to be a warm, slightly breezy evening. The clouds moved away just in time to get some good riding in. The trails were smooth and ready for us to have fun!

The first ride of the season is always a little hard. Everyone is a little out of shape. In my case, a lot out of shape. So, we're struggling to get back in the saddle and just have fun. The women are always accommodating and encouraging while riding, so it makes it easy to persevere to the very end, which is exactly what we did. I rode with one particularly friendly gal, who was a beginner to the group and the sport of mountain biking. She did great! She kept her head up and her wheel down and just kept at it! What an amazing way to start the season!

If you want more information on Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit their website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com More information for Team BOB can be obtained from their website: www.coteambob.com

Stop to smell the roses

2009-03-19T09:23:00.002-06:00

Getting outdoors is not only a way for me to stay active, but it is also a way for me to slow down and really stop and enjoy the world around me. My work, my email, my computer will all be back in my office when I return, and to get out and be outdoors for even the shortest amount of time, is renewing and rejuvenating. The sun provides us with energy, the air provides us with life, the earth gives us what we need to survive physically: food, water, shelter.

Northern Colorado and Fort Collins are great places to stay connected to the outdoors. With the many activities that surround us on a daily basis, we only have to choose which ones we want to do. We have roads that go on for miles and miles through the foothills of the Rockies or the rolling hills of the Front Range. We have rocks that rise up from the earth that seem to be there for the sole purpose of climbing them to the top. We have trails and paths that wind through trees and hills and even mountains for biking, hiking, or horseback riding. And, not far away, we have warm water that springs from the earth in which we can bathe our sore muscles from a long day of play.

Thinking about the earth in this way helps me to realize that the earth is our playground, but we need to take care of her also. In order to breathe the air which gives us life, we must stop putting toxic fuels into our skies. In order to eat and drink and sleep in a comfortable place, we must stop polluting the earth around us by recycling, reusing, and reducing our waste. Earth day is coming up in April, and some states, cities, and countries will be celebrating Earth Day over the next few months by distributing information about what we can do to make our world a better place. This is something that we need to do now, and it is something that we need to be serious about.

I am proud to live in a city where cycling is not only a form of recreation, but it is also a form of transportation. This alone provides a sensible option for reducing toxins in the air and on the earth. Fort Collins has a strong support of local businesses, which also reduces carbon footprint. There is also a wonderful community of gardens throughout the area as well. Growing our own food is essential to providing a sustainable future for our community.

So, the next time you are outdoors gardening, hiking, cycling, or just walking your dog, stop and just smell the roses. Look around and enjoy the air, the sun, and the earth, and find ways that you can improve our existence here on earth for the multitudes of generations to come.

If you would like to find out more information on how you can get involved in helping your community or doing some eco-adventure work in and around Colorado, contact Northern Colorado Outdoors at www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com or info@NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

A Glimpse of Spring

2009-03-03T16:39:00.004-07:00

Well, whether Spring is officially here or not, the weather has certainly changed for the warmer and windier. It has been such a nice treat to get outside in shorts and t-shirts for a change and not have to bundle up in layer after layer just to protect from the blistery cold. Well, I'm being a bit dramatic, but it was cold for quite some time.

Just in glancing around at the streets and the trails, it is obvious that cycling season is underway. We see many more road riders and mountain bikers out on the streets getting their rides in while the weather is accommodating. I even took off for a couple of hours today and hit the streets for some exercise and fresh air. It's amazing what activity and the sunshine can do for the soul. The wind didn't even dampen my spirits. It was just so nice to get out and pedal that the wind gave me that much more of a challenge.

Riding against the wind most of the way, I took up the challenge and pedaled even harder. The wind picked up to the North and along the open spaces blowing me this way and that. I laughed at it and kept on riding. It calmed back down as I rode back into the trees and the protection of buildings. Taking off from my busy day of work at the computer, I felt liberated by being on my bicycle just for a couple of hours. I felt rejuvenated, relaxed, and refreshed as I went back to work for the remainder of the afternoon.

Taking advantage of the sunshine even more and after a short rest while working at the computer, I'll be going for a run with Charlie Brown. The hustle and bustle of after-work traffic will be calmer in an hour or so and the perfect time to take to the streets for a short run. This glimpse of spring won't last long. The cooler weather will be arriving this weekend making it a bit more uncomfortable to get outdoors, but as I've said before, I'll get out anyway. The nice weather just makes it easier. Enjoy our glimpse of spring and get outdoors and have fun!

Gotta Run! See you outdoors!

Pedal Driven Couriers: A Messenger of Goodness Arrives

2009-03-02T16:24:00.005-07:00

Pedal Driven Couriers is hitting the streets of Fort Collins on April 1st! You can look for them to be delivering throughout the Fort Collins area. You can visit their website for more information: www.PedalDrivenCouriers.com The Press Release below was submitted on March 2nd to the local media announcing their inception and launch party, which are happening on the same day: April 1st.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 2, 2009

Contact: Silas Rappe, info@pedalDrivenCouriers.com

Pedal Driven Couriers to Launch Business in Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO - Pedal Driven Couriers, a bicycle messenger service, is set to launch its business on April 1, 2009. Pedal Driven Couriers is a fun, inventive, and earth friendly messenger service aimed at offering speedy, conveniently priced deliveries to businesses, organizations and individuals in and around the city of Fort Collins. The company already has a list of clients waiting to get started. Pedal Driven Couriers views themselves as partners with their clients, their community, and their environment and hope to be able to raise awareness for cycling in their service area.

Pedal driven Couriers was developed by masterminds Silas Rappe and Jo Van Cutsem. Silas grew up in Moab, Utah, and moved to Fort Collins pursuing his Masters Degree at Colorado State University. After graduating, he began working with REI, and for the past two years, has been working deeply in the cycling community by supporting events and advocacy programs. He is an avid cyclist himself and is determined to provide an effective and sustainable mode of delivery service to customers in Fort Collins.

Jo Van Cutsem was born and raised in Belgium and moved to Colorado to seek out more adventures after graduating as a Physical Education teacher. He strives to motivate people to live a healthy, active lifestyle and loves to share his cycling passion with others. Jo is a year-round bike commuter, volunteers with Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike Patrol, and shares Silas' dream of providing an environmentally friendly and fast delivery service in Fort Collins.

Pedal Driven Couriers will be launching their business with a community launch party on April 1st at Full Cycle Bikes in Old Town Fort Collins, 230 S. College Ave.; Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524. There will be a champagne toast to inaugurate the event. Pedal Driven Couriers invites the community to celebrate the opening of their business with them and join the effort in making cycling a way of life in our community.

The mission of Pedal Driven Couriers is to provide a fast, reliable delivery system utilizing bicycles as a means of environmentally friendly transportation for envelopes and packages with familiar faces. It is an all-in-one powerful customer service package, capitalizing on the increasing interest and enthusiasm for cycling within our community.

By focusing their business on three principle beliefs: sustainability, advocacy, and efficiency. Pedal Driven Couriers will breakaway from the current view of bicycle messengers and will implement bicycle safety laws as part of their business strategy. Their responsibility is to their community and to their environment, both of which will be served through this company.

You can find out more about Pedal Driven Couriers by visiting their website at www.PedalDrivenCouriers.com or emailing info@PedalDrivenCouriers.com

Community Bike Education Program

2009-02-24T09:36:00.005-07:00

Bike Fort Collins is working on implementing a Bicycle Education Program to the Community this spring. Their press release to be announced this week for this worthwhile cause is below:

"Fort Collins – Bike Fort Collins volunteers will be hitting the streets this year to begin their effort to provide educational presentations that will ensure that more people have the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to go by bicycle.

Requests are being sought for the new Community Cycling School program being offered by Bike Fort Collins through a generous grant from REI.

The goal of the Community Cycling School is to provide our community with the skills and knowledge needed to integrate cycling into our every day practices. "

Bicycling is a way of life in Fort Collins. We have more bike lanes than most cities in the country, and we have loads more cyclists. We ride our bicycles for transportation and for recreation, so it is important to remember safety laws when we are riding our bicycles by obeying stop signs, traffic lights, and even wearing a helmet.

While we have had a few instances with the Larimer County Sheriff's office last year and again this year, we should be conscious of our interactions in traffic and the laws that are put in place to protect us. The more that we can work with the Sheriff's office and the Fort Collins Police Department, the easier it will be for us in the future in advocating cycling laws for the state, the county, and the city.

The Community Cycling School will help to provide information on the laws of the state, county, and city to cyclists in our community. Anyone can attend these classes that will be held monthly on the third Thursday of each month. The community is also welcome to attend the kick-off for the Community Cycling School on March 19th at Everyday Joe's. There will be snacks provided and loads of information about offering the Community Cycling School to your own organization, business, social, or non-profit.

These programs will be offered to the community through health and wellness programs, cycling and social clubs, bike shops, and more. Bike Fort Collins wants to spread this knowledge to as many people within the community as possible, so if you know of someone that might be interested in learning more about safe cycling skills, have them contact Bike Fort Collins directly for more information.

For more information on Bike Fort Collins, you can visit their website at: www.BikeFortCollins.org - Northern Colorado Outdoors has helped Bike Fort Collins with many projects over the past year. For more information on other projects Northern Colorado Outdoors supports, see our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

A Taste of Harmony

2009-02-19T21:04:00.005-07:00

I consider myself still relatively new to town, so I'm still discovering new places and things to do around town. I rode my bicycle into Old Town this morning, somewhat reluctantly. I couldn't find a really good reason to drive, so I bundled up and saddled up. It was a bit chilly riding, and I peeled off of Mountain Ave. and took the alley to Oak St. That's where I locked up my bicycle and walked over to Everyday Joe's.

I hadn't been to Everyday Joe's before, so I was excited to try something new. It was very open and somewhat rustic. It was a great place to have a meeting because it wasn't too loud. I set my stuff down and went up to the counter to order something. I decided on a Green Chai Tea, which was hot and rich, just what I needed after my ride. The girl behind the counter was cheery and friendly. We discussed some food-related topics and even some things about health and wellness before I took my seat and prepared for my meeting.

The meeting is mostly irrelevant to my blog today. What is relevant is the girl behind the counter. As we discussed the food-related topics she mentioned a new restaurant that had opened just north of Everyday Joe's on Mason. It was a raw food restaurant, and she mentioned that it was not only delicious, but they also served good quality fresh food. That certainly piqued my interested, and my stomach was already grumbling.

I continued to sip my tea and dream about a raw food lunch that would fit nicely into my schedule before I headed back to my office to complete my day. I finished my meeting and rode my bicycle to take care of a couple of errands. The errands are also unimportant as the most important topic here is this new restaurant that I was ready to visit. I had images of them having a refrigerator of items that I could choose from and take home as well as a full menu of warm items that I could eat there. I thought about all of the raw food restaurants that I had visited in Austin and in Houston and imagined them all to be like this one.

I once again ended up on Mountain Ave. and turned down the alley way to get over to Mason. I came in from the back and parked my bike against a railing. From the outside it looked quaint and romantic. I stepped inside and it was quite the same. It wasn't exactly as I had imagined it would look like. It was much more warm and inviting, and it was decorated beautifully. It was called Tasty Harmony, and I was hoping to taste some harmony today. I picked up one of the menus and walked over to the bar where I discussed menu options with the woman there. It turned out she was one of the owners of the restaurant and I quickly introduced myself and thanked her for having put this wonderful restaurant together.

I made my choices and had them to go. I would ride my bicycle back to my office to enjoy my lunch. I couldn't imagine having to get on my bicycle and ride afterward. It came out pretty quickly, and I, just as quickly, put my lunch in my pannier and rode off as fast as I could for my office. My stomach was really grumbling now, and my mind was racing at the thought of indulging in some of the healthiest and tastiest food I had consumed in a short while.

I put my bicycle away and sat down in my office with my fork in hand. I opened up my lunch, and it didn't look like anything had moved from when they handed it to me. It was still warm and the veggies were still beautiful. I spread the dressing over the entire meal and dove in. Ahhh. Heaven. It was just as wonderful as I had imagined. The texture of my seaweed salad with the dressing was beautiful as well as the dressing on my quinoa and millet. The veggies were steamed to perfection. It was tasty and beautiful, and I wanted to give the girl behind the counter a big hug for recommending this to me. It really was a Taste of Harmony! It was certainly the highlight of my day. Cheers to new discoveries and to girls behind the counter! Oh! and to working up an appetite riding your bicycle around town! See you outdoors!

While this blog wasn't necessarily about Northern Colorado Outdoors, we do all kinds of fun stuff like going out to new places for dinner or for a hike or bike ride. You can find out more about Northern Colorado's most active outdoor adventure and social club by visiting our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Gotta Run!

2009-02-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

I often talk to people who think that it is difficult to fit exercise into their daily lives. I try to remind them that any little bit helps throughout the day. You don't have to go to the gym to get your workout in. A workout in a day might be to just walk a few blocks to lunch, which may be a good start for anyone who is not very active on a regular basis. Working up from there, you can take the stairs, walk a little further to lunch, ride a bicycle to work, or walk the dog around the block.

By working exercise into your daily life, it becomes a lifestyle change and an enjoyable activity and not something that you dread doing because you feel like you have to three times per week. It's important to make it something that you enjoy as well. If you don't like to run, then ride a bike. If you feel uncomfortable on a bicycle, then take a walk or a hike. If you don't like to walk or hike, then go to the swimming pool. There are so many activities to do, there is bound to be something that will work for you.

I run to my book club on Mondays, ride my bike to yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays, run my dog on Wednesdays and Fridays, and do yoga, climb, snowshoe, and kayak on the days that I don't get outdoors. I try to run at least two to three times per week. I started to run a 3 mile run not far from my house, but I just wasn't feeling that route. It bothered me for some reason and prevented me from going out on my runs. I changed the route up a bit so that I was going through City Park and around the lake, and now my runs are much more enjoyable. I love to run and get outdoors, so I don't usually use my gym membership for much other than a yoga class or for climbing activities. Being outdoors is a highlight in my busy day and I make it a priority in my life, and I, personally, feel that everyone can benefit from spending time outdoors each day.

If something isn't working for you in your life, try making a small change before doing anything drastic. You wouldn't go out and run a marathon if you hadn't run in ten years. You would start out by walking around the block and adding in some running from there. As with anything, do some research before you go out and try something new. Checking in with your doctor is a good idea as well. It doesn't cost anything to do some searching on the Internet. It can save you loads of money, too. You don't want to go out and spend $5000 on a bicycle if you really don't like to ride a bike.

Another good place to start is with Northern Colorado Outdoors. You can get active, learn a new activity, and meet new people to do these things with - all for less than $.50 per day! Outdoor adventure and social clubs offer the opportunity for people to meet like-minded people to do things that they enjoy and to also discover what they enjoy. I joined the club in Houston when I lived there, Bayou City Outdoors, and I discovered road cycling, kayaking, climbing, and even had the opportunity to help other people to begin a running and activity regimin.

So, instead of using your list of excuses next time, try getting outdoors for a run or joining our club for an activity! You'll begin to feel better and have more energy every time you do it! That's all for now! Gotta Run!

Supporting our Trails

2009-02-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Supporting our trails is so much more than just getting out and working on trail days. When we decide to support trails in our communities, we also vow to use the trails properly by not littering, widening the trails, or using them when they are muddy. Using designated trails in our Parks is important to maintaining the landscape and wilderness of our parks. When "rogue" trails are created, issues arise in our parks with water drainage, plant and tree health, and in maintaining the landscape that has been there for centuries before us. Our disrespect for our parks creates disrespect in the community and results in the limited use of the trails. It is our responsibility to ensure respectful and responsible use of our trail systems in our parks and wilderness areas.

My own opinions expressed in this blog are the result of years of working with Trail advocates on building and maintaining trails in park systems throughout Texas, Utah, and Colorado. The damage that is created by irresponsible use of our parks is often irreversible. That being said, the resilience of Mother Nature is also quite amazing. By working to build and maintain proper trail systems in parks can provide a way for the Earth and Humans to live together harmoniously. Staying within our boundaries of nature and admiring her from a distance while still enjoying the peace and beauty that surrounds us within this setting should be our main objective when getting outdoors.

There are local groups that help to provide education on trail building and maintenance. Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike Patrol, www.dpmbp.org is the local mountain bike and trail advocacy group for Northern Colorado. The International group for mountain bike patrol is the International Mountain Bike Association, www.imba.com. There are other groups that are not mountain bike related groups that are interested in maintaining quality trails for outdoor recreation. For more information on these groups, you can search the Internet or check out NCO's website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Northern Colorado Outdoors is teaming up with Full Cycle this summer to adopt a trail in Horsetooth Mountain Park. We have decided on the Spring Creek Trail because of its multi-use function for bicycles, horses, and hikers. An avid mountain biker, hiker, and climber, I have always felt that it is part of my duty to give back to the parks that provide us so much enjoyment. I also try to advocate for our parks to provide as many trails for outdoor activities as possible.

With only two days out of the year to give back to our trails and numerous days using them, it seems the least that we could do as an outdoor organization for our community. After all, trail work days in Colorado really aren't work at all, especially when you're standing up on a mountain overlooking the Eastern plains of Colorado or the Western Slopes of the mountains. There are opportunities to see wildlife, spend time with other like-minded individuals that also care about their communities, and even get in a ride after the work is all done.

These eco-adventure activities have become a priority for Northern Colorado Outdoors. We are hoping to get involved in the volunteer opportunities through the 10th Mountain Hut System and spend some time in the high country working this summer. We are also looking at helping at some local community farms. All of these activities could be considered adventures as well as solid community effort.

If you would like to get outdoors and help your community this Spring, Summer and Fall, join Northern Colorado Outdoors for some eco-adventures that will give back in support of our trails and in keeping our wilderness wild.

Snowshoeing with Good Friends

2009-02-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

You know, there's nothing like getting out to the high country for a good workout on some snowshoes, but what makes it even better is having a good friend by your side to talk to. I did just that this past weekend. My dear friend, Jenn, and I took off for the day and went to climb the ridge of a mountain in our snowshoes up in Grand County. We got all strapped in and took the groomed trails up and up and up all the while we were getting caught up from our extended absence.

I had met Jenn through the Outdoor Adventure Club Network and we had become fast friends. We went kayaking, hiking, cycling, and camping together. We even went on a few trips together as well. She has always been there for me when I needed her, and I have tried to do the same. We have had some similar experiences in terms of relationships and people in our lives, so we are able to relate to each other very well. She is adventurous, which I also like. She doesn't whine or cry when we go out for a long hike or come across an unexpected event which causes plans to change. She just goes with the flow and enjoys life. She also has strong opinions and speaks her mind, which is something that has earned my respect as well. I prefer when people don't beat around the bush about things. So, we enjoy getting outdoors together, and what a better way to get outdoors than with good friends?

The hike didn't seem very strenuous because we always had something to talk about because we have so much in common. We talked about our adventures coming up. I'll be going to Mexico with her and my other dear friend, Kelly, in October for some whitewater kayaking. She's been working hard at getting her PhD in microbiology, so that keeps her busy and out of touch with me and most of her other friends. I'm so proud of her, too, she will be twenty-seven this year and only a year away from getting her PhD. She's worked hard and it is finally starting to pay off.

One foot in front of the other, we talked about adventures and travel and love and relationships. We covered the whole spectrum of conversation together all while we were traversing the trails up the mountain and through the snow. We would see tracks in the snow and stop and try to figure out what animal created them. We found rabbit tracks, deer tracks, and people tracks and dog tracks. We were somewhat lost on the trail in the middle of nowhere, but we also knew that we could turn around and go back the way we came. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and the wind had died down to a whistle through the trees.

So, for two hours we climbed up this mountain to some unknown destination through the snow and the trees. Just to the next bend, and the bend would pass by as we kept talking and trekking. Finally, it was time now to turn around. It was going to be much less time down the mountain than up, and I was a little sad that our adventure was almost over. We began to head back and continued with our conversations. What took us two hours to climb, took us only forty-five minutes to get down. We got back to the lodge where we started and met up with the rest of the group that had gone out on other excursions themselves. We had lunch and relaxed after our long hike and exchanged adventures. We told all about the huge rabbit tracks we found and getting lost in the woods. It was a bit of a stretch, but our elaboration sounded so much more fun that just a walk in the woods.

Ahhh! It felt good to get outdoors with a good friend and end the day with hot chocolate and a yummy lunch. The hot chocolate seemed to taste better than ever, and I just thought about how good life is when you have good friends around.

If you would like to find out more about meeting other people to go outdoors with, just visit our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com See you outdoors!

Grand Lakes Winter Festival

2009-02-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

I took a couple of days off from work and headed out in my Jeep up to the High Country for some Winter Fun! I had to drive around Rocky Mountain National Park to get to Grand Lake even through it is only a couple of hours from Fort Collins. Trail Ridge Road is closed in the winter due to the snow and ice on the road most of the year. The drive was mostly okay. I did run into some traffic on I-70 with all of the other winter sports enthusiasts that were heading to the high country for their own winter sports fix.

I headed over Berthoud pass and had such a wonderful time just looking out the window as I drove. I had Jeannie, my littlest dog, with me for moral support. She doesn't really like the cold or the snow, but she does like to go out for adventures, so she came along to keep me company. We were loaded down with coats, snowshoes, even costumes and food. I was prepared for just about anything - even the random masked ball that might pop up on our trip.

We passed through Granby and by Granby Lake where you could see ice fisherman spread out across the lake. I hadn't really seen this before, so as I passed by, I had to take a second glance to see what it was. From the distance that I was at, all you really saw were black dots on the ice. They looked like snowmobiles parked next to port-a-potties out on the ice.

We arrived to a beautiful day in Grand Lake. The sun was shining and it was warm. The kids were out playing in the snow as were the adults! There was a game of flag football going on in the city park. Teapot curling was happening on the basketball courts, and the kids were having a snowman contest near the pavilion. It was certainly a winter festival! People were out milling around with their kids. There was one couple pulling their baby behind them on a sled. He was leaning back with his winter suit on and a hat and the funniest little sunglasses. He seemed to be quite at home there.

I found my group in the Teapot Curling Contest, where they were doing quite well. They ended up getting third out of eight in the contest. Not bad for a bunch of Texans! I petted all of the dogs that walked by as I waited for them to finish their games. Everyone had brought out their dogs and their kids. It was certainly a family affair.

When the group finished with the Teapot Curling Contest, we all moved over to the main street for the parade and the Bed Sled competition. We stopped into the local ice cream shop for a big scoop of yummy ice cream. They had everyone's favorite flavors. They even had a doggy bone for Jeannie. She waited patiently outside while we got our ice cream and ate some of it. I jumped out of my seat when a Malamute crossed her path and she tried to snap at it. Not such a good idea for a small dog to snap at a dog ten times her size. She was getting brave in her "older" age.

We strolled down main street to look at the ice sculptures that some of the town folk had created in front of their businesses. Some of them were really good. We took a few pictures and then stopped to let the four-minute parade go down the street. The only fire truck in town was there along with some fun costumes and a couple of other vehicles that were decorated. Our adventure down main street ended at the place where the bed sled race was happening. We wanted to participate, but we weren't prepared for the race like we should have been. We should have had some "Yaktrax" for our shoes and some signs to paint for our sled. Oh, well. We'll look forward to it next year.

The bed sled races were fun and pretty competitive. The firefighters against the park rangers, and some of the businesses in town competing against each other. They lined up at the starting line and two by two would run down the street to the finish line as fast as they could pushing these wooden contraptions with a mattress on top. Some of them were creative and used PVC pipe to make it lighter. Some of their sleds would zig-zag all the way down the street to the end. Some of them were dressed up in costume with signs and props. There were even a couple of pirate ships in the race.. But in the end, the firefighters won the competition by a long shot.

The Winter Festival had even more to do after the Bed Sled competition. There was human bowling, which required someone to be on a plastic disc that was then slid down the street to knock over some plastic bottles. They had bingo later in the afternoon as well as a Moonlight Cross-Country Ski in the Golf Course with a marshmallow roast, bonfire, and hot chocolate at the end. There was a costume party and dance that ended the festival. Our group decided to rest a bit before going out to dinner and then attending the dance in the evening. After dinner, we went back to our hotel rooms and dressed up for the dance. Some of us were pirates and others of us just dressed up for fun. We joined the festivities once again this time indoors at Pancho Lefty's where a band was playing and the party-goers were dancing away. What a great way to get out of town and enjoy the high country! The people were friendly and Grand Lake was very accommodating to guests. We can't wait for next year when we really kick some b*tt at teapot curling and bed sledding!

If you want more information on getting outdoors, join us at www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com We'll see you outdoors!

Rock Your World!

2009-01-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

This is a funny time of year. The snow keeps falling, so the ground is too wet to go hiking or mountain biking, but the air outside is definitely beginning to warm up from the winter months. So, what is an outdoors gal like me to do? Climb!

We went out on the rock for a climb last weekend. I hadn't been out on the rock in a while, so I was a bit rusty, but what an amazing experience! We went up to Horsetooth Reservoir near Rotary Park at the Cat Eye. We dropped a rope down on one of the bolted paths, and we worked out all of our safety issues before we started out. The leader of our group went first to test the equipment and to find the lines before we got on to try it out.

After a few minutes of watching him ascend gracefully and easily, it was my turn to jump on the rope and take my ascent up the rock. The wind was blowing swiftly all around the rock and us so that it created some anxiety and nervousness. I tried to start at the overhang a couple of times and then moved up on top of a rock to avoid the overhang and just get started. Once I got on the rock and realized how stable it felt under my fingers and my toes, I began one hand hold and foot hold at a time to reach for the top of the rock. Before I knew it, I was at the top looking down and trying to traverse across the rock and back to the rope to be lowered down. Ahhhh! After touching the ground, I felt a rush of energy all through my body for having accomplished something that seemed so challenging in the beginning. It really excited and stimulated me all at the same time. I was ready for more!

We went through the rotation and then decided to take another route right next to the one we were working on. It was a bit more difficult because the footholds and handholds were not as distinct as they were in the previous climb. Nonetheless, I was ready. I began my ascension and felt the rock carrying me up and up. I traversed across the face, where I got a little stuck. Instead of being lowered back down, I decided to climb back down so that I could remember what I was doing to get up to that point.

After returning to the ground, our leader showed us how to get back up to the diamond and what to do next. I roped back up and tried it again. Back up the same route that I had started the previous time, and then, a slight change in a hand hold and a foot hold, and I was there! The diamond was staring me right in the face. This time I allowed myself to fall from the rock and let the rope catch me. I was lowered slowly back to the ground by the belayer. Just a few climbs is all it took. I felt more grounded and connected to the earth. Talk about a "Rock Your World" experience! Climbing is addicting stuff!

If you would like more information on climbing and getting outdoors, visit our website at: http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/

Rockin' and Rollin'

2009-01-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Mountain Kayak Polo group is doing kayak rolling lessons on two Thursday nights for the winter season, last night was one of them. I enthusiastically went so that I could really start to learn to be comfortable in the boat and with going underwater, which I am very afraid of, much less being strapped into a plastic boat that isn't very easy to get out of.

So, I showed up and geared up getting ready for the hour-long lesson ahead. It was good. We had about eight people there ready to learn with two instructors. We split into two groups and worked on our "hip snaps". I spent a lot of time on the side of the pool really trying to engrain that muscle memory so that it would become second nature at some point.

I was finally starting to get it! Relax the left leg and pull the right knee and hip up and back like a dance kick. Over and over again, I tried it. On the right side ten times and then on the left side ten times. I assumed just like with any sport you have to do it over and over again in order for your body and mind to really get it together. It's also like learning another language. You have to know it so well that you don't think about it when you do it. You just flip back up when you go under.

The lesson that we took last week actually taught us to try to stay on top of the water instead of even doing a roll. I thought it was a good first lesson to learn because you really do want to enjoy kayaking upright without smashing your face against the rocks on the bottom of a river. And then if you do go under, to learn to pull yourself back up instead of exiting the boat. It is really a beautiful movement if you've ever seen it done well.

After practicing on my own for some time, a few of the Kayak Polo players came over to help us "Rollers", and one person in particular really helped me to get going. He was so patient with me and explained everything very well. I was finally able to go completely underwater and try to hip-snap back up. I was doing it with his help and the use of my hands mostly, but my fear of the water was beginning to fade, and I was starting to feel the motion a little more each time. When I went completely under the water, I would get disoriented and forget about what I needed to do to get back up. I would work on my torso and then forget about my hips or work on my hips and then forget about my torso. Needless to say, I still have quite a bit more work to do, but I'm getting there slowly but surely.

I will once again attend next week's Rolling Session at the EPIC Center at 9pm with the Mountain Kayak Polo group, and then, with any luck, I'll be out playing kayak polo with even more confidence than ever! Now that's what I call Rockin' and Rollin'!

For more information about Whitewater Kayaking and Kayak Polo, you can visit our website at http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/ or the Mountain Kayak Polo website at: mkp.kayakpolo.com - See you outdoors!

Going the Distance

2009-01-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've been running for as long as I can remember. I think that I started at some point in high school to get ready for a backpacking trip to Colorado with my youth group. I didn't necessarily like it, but it was a cheap and seemingly easy form of exercise for a 16- or 17-year old girl to take up. Regardless of my affinity to running, I kept at it even after high school and into college. Again, as a poor college student, I couldn't really afford bicycles, rollerblades, skis, or other sports equipment. Not only that, but I really didn't know how to get into those sports anyway, so it seemed so much easier to just go out for a run.

That's what I've been doing ever since. I ran in races, and never did very well until a couple of years ago. I got a little more serious with my running and started to actually be a little competitive. Granted, I was never in the top 10, but middle-of-the pack was good for me. I found my favorite places to run, and went there as often as possible. I even treated myself after my runs to breakfast at my favorite cafe or bagel shop. I slowly and gradually over the years came to enjoy the sport of running. I even tried to share it with my friends by inviting them out on runs instead of happy hours. It seemed so much more healthy to get outdoors and work your tension and stress out on the running path than in a noisy bar that is just as stressful as the office.

I ran my first half-marathon exactly two years ago, and loved it! I worked so hard to get there, and I made so many attempts along the way. Finally achieving a goal after years of wanting, is such a sweet feeling. I often had trouble with my knees, and that year of training was no different that the previous years I had trained. As soon as my mileage got above ten miles, my knees started to tweak. After months of acupuncture, rest, and yoga, I got back to training. I crossed the finish line with my very dear friend, Doc Pepper, who ran next to me the whole way singing and trying to make me laugh. It mostly worked. I kept to my iPod mostly, though, and tried to concentrate on the miles that lay before me.

After moving to Colorado, I was sad to not have running in my life anymore. It seemed to be too cold outside to go for a run. I started to run again when the spring came, and I abandoned it once again this time for cycling. I went on runs every now and again when I couldn't get out on my bike, but I mostly stuck to yoga and cycling during the spring, summer, and fall.

The snow started to fall this winter, and my bicycles were hung up not to be seen again until the spring. I didn't actually start running until a friend came to town, and I went out for a run with her in the crisp, cold early morning. I stayed a few steps behind her with my dog, but I ran the entire distance. I had forgotten how good it felt to get out and run in the morning. The cold didn't really seem to matter, either. It actually felt good.

Now, I'm getting in about two to three runs a week along with all of my other activities. It gets me out of the office for a little while and even in the snow, it just feels good to get out and move around outdoors. I still do my own little fun runs. On the weekends or my days off, I'll run into town and meet my husband for a cup of coffee and breakfast. I run to my yoga classes or my book club instead of riding my bicycle. I still get my exercise, and I don't have to drive.

So, the next time you're thinking about going out for a run, do it! It makes all the difference to just get out there and go the distance...

Northern Colorado Outdoors will be participating in the Horsetooth Half marathon this year as well as the Bolder Boulder and the Colorado Marathon. If you would like to join us for any of these events, join now by going to our website at: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Hibernate or Adapt

2009-01-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

With snow on the ground once again along the Front Range of Northern Colorado, we are not staying holed up in our homes and offices trying to stay away from it, but just the opposite! We are looking for ways to get out and enjoy it!

I came to Northern Colorado last year and spent most of my time inside because of the dramatic winter that seemed to be occuring outside. Being from Houston, Texas, it was terribly dramatic to me. I spent a lot of time working on my computer, watching television and movies, and reading. I was somewhat depressed because I couldn't get out and do my normal activities that kept me fit and sane. When the spring and summer came, I completely forgot about the winter.

After having gone through an entire turn of seasons, we are again in the midst of another winter, and this time, I'm ready. I went out and bought some good solid winter gear, hats, gloves, and shoes. I don't look outside and see the temperature and cringe anymore. I just put more clothes on and head outdoors. I have some snowshoes now that I take up into the mountains and go for long hikes through the woods and along the trails.

It is so peaceful outdoors after a long, hard snow. The noise levels seem to be so much lower, the snow falls as if cotton hitting the ground unlike rain that seems to beat down on the ground, and everything is a shade of white or grey. At night, the snow seems as if to be illuminated. The reflection of the moon and the stars in the snow puts out a silvery shimmer and glow that seems to be from some other planet. It truly is a magical experience.

One of my dogs really loves the snow. He will stay outside and play and roll around in it. He even eats it and digs his nose down into it to find his sticks. I stand at the window and watch him and laugh. He will come up with snow covering his nose and face. Sometimes I will go out and join him and throw the stick for him. I know that I could learn a lot from this goofy Golden Retriever that thinks he is a snow dog. His playfulness at the cold and the snow is so refreshing.

So, living in Colorado has certainly been an adjustment, but not one that I couldn't make. The snow and the cold have given me the opportunity to try new things. I now know how to drive a Jeep the way it was meant to be driven (in 4wd). I go for my runs whether it is snowy or sunny outside. I relish the weekends when I get out and snowshoe or ski. I love driving around town and seeing things like kids playing hockey on the frozen lake or the Old Town lights shimmering in the falling snow. Winter truly is a magical time of year, and it is such a relief to have adapted to it and be able to enjoy it.

I met a man in a coffee shop in Old Town during one of our last long, hard snows. I was a little bummed and a little excited all at the same time about the snow. He could see my frustration and told me, "All you need is a good coat and a good, sturdy pair of winter boots, and you'll be fine." I didn't get his name to give him credit for his small piece of advice, but he was right. I stopped my whining and adapted.

Another great way to enjoy the Winter and the snow is at Grand Lake. They have a winter festival each year in February, and this year it is commencing on February 7th. They have all kinds of activities from ice sculpting to teapot curling and even a bed sledding competition! At only two hours away from most of the Front Range, it's a great little weekend getaway to enjoy the mountains and the winter. And, to be completely cliche, "If you can't beat the cold, join the cold."

If you would like to join Northern Colorado Outdoors for some of our winter activities, visit our website at: http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/ We will be joining Bayou City Outdoors in Grand Lake for the Winter Festival, and we will be finishing up the month snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Up and Up and Up We Go!

2009-01-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Of all the sports I do, climbing is one of my favorites. My husband teases me telling me that I go to the climbing gym just like the folks that go to Spin classes and never get on a bicyle. I disagree. I tend to think that there is a lot of benefit in going to the gym to climb and you can certainly see the results as you get out on the rock. Just like those people that go to Spin classes generally get out on a bicycle and know how to ride better than most of us that have been riding for years and never taken a spin class because they know the basic technique of spinning. Climbing in the gym helps to build that muscle memory and technique when you can't get out on the rock especially in the winter time in Colorado. The gym exposes you to other climbers that are serious about the sport, and it exposes you to the technique itself so that you can become a better climber.

I have done both. I go to the gym on a regular basis, and I have been out on the rock, and I admit, they are very different sports. I have found that going to the gym has helped to improve my skills as a climber. I have to tell you, though, there is nothing like being out on the rock. The solid foundation of the rock under your fingers and your toes. The gravity of being completely in the moment encapsulates you driving you further up the mountain one foothold and one handhold at a time. Choosing your own lines and your own path as you finish your climb only when you have reached the top and you can see out over the whole world. It is magical and scary all at the same time. I can see now why climbers become addicted to the sport.

Climbing is also a relatively inexpensive sport to get into. A harness for about $50, some shoes on sale for about $50, and some other odds and ends. It winds up being much less than buying a bicycle and all the gear associated with that or even buying a kayak. If you know others that climb, then sharing equipment is optimal; however, for safety's sake, always make sure that the equipment is also of good quality and in good condition.

Climbing is a dangerous sport. It is important to know the people that you climb with so that you can communicate effectively to your belay person and even to any others that are around. Many people have fallen to their deaths as a result of poor communication, faulty equipment, or some other minor detail that was forgotten in the process of getting out and climbing. Safety is the number one priority out on the rock, and having fun is second.

There are many opportunities to get out and climb in Colorado. The mountains are at our doorstep, and Horsetooth is one of the most popular places in the area to boulder, which is climbing up boulders without using any harnesses or belay equipment. You generally have a mat underneath you to catch your fall, and it is wise to also have a buddy around to help you with the climb and to help break the fall as well. There are even a few south facing rocks in the area that you can traverse even during the winter time. Doing your research and learning more about these locations is key. It is always good to have someone with you that knows more about climbing than you do at least until you feel like you have "learned the ropes".

Otherwise, if you're just getting started, the gym is a good place to start. Inner Strength Rock Gym in Fort Collins has some good routes and there are always people around to help. They have half-price Fridays for climbing, which is Northern Colorado Outdoors goes out. Miramont Lifestyle also has a climbing wall with more difficult routes and they have day passes just for the climbing wall as well. So, if you're interested in getting out and learning a new sport, this is a great one to try.

Winter Season Kayak Polo Begins!

2009-01-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Kayak Polo? Who ever heard of Kayak Polo? I saw some people in kayaks throwing a ball around in Lake Travis when I lived in Austin and thought that they were nuts to play polo in kayaks. Ha! Who knew I would actually be out there playing it someday?

Kayak Polo has been around for quite some time. Apparently, the sport originated in Duisberg, Germany, in 1987; although, traces of the sport can be found even as early as 1875 in and around the United Kingdom (1). Kayak polo now has quite a good following throughout the world, and is even being recognized by the Olympic Committee as a possible addition to the Summer Sports Games.

Kayak polo is played in a pool or lake with specific boundaries set up. There is a goal on each end and a waterpolo ball is used to make goals as players traverse the court. The sport has also been referred to as being similar to basketball in water and in kayaks. Most of the rules of the game are meant to maintain safety, and the boats are equipped with foam or cushion on either end of the boat to protect the players from any major injuries. Players are expected to wear personal flotation devices and a helmet with a face mask. The paddles that are used also have specific restrictions to prevent injuries.

Otherwise, it is a great way for whitewater kayakers to stay in shape in the off-season, especially in Colorado. You can hone your skills or just get out and have fun. There are options for all levels of players and not just for those serious about winning. The Mountain Kayak Polo group in Fort Collins just started the Winter Season at the EPIC Center just south of Prospect on Riverside. There is a beginner's group and an intermediate group. The games are open to the public, though, they encourage you to join a team and make a commitment to the group because of the cost of equipment, pool rental, and insurance. For more information on getting involved in Kayak Polo, visit the Mountain Kayak Polo website at mkp.kayakpolo.com

If I can play it, you can, too! So, jump in and have a ball!

(1) Boat, Paddle and Ball, A Short History of Canoe Polo by Ian Beasley

Yoga Day USA!

2009-01-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

When I first got into Yoga, Yoga Day USA was over Labor Day with "Free Day of Yoga" going on across the country. I suppose it has grown so much that they had to find a different day, and it was decided that January 24th would be that day. It seems to make some sense to choose this day. It is only a few weeks after the new year, and what a great time to try something new! It is also two days before the Chinese New Year and the New Moon, which provides some Eastern influence regardless of the ethnicity.

Yoga Day USA for me is about sharing Yoga with those that don't know anything about Yoga and giving yoga to those that already do. It is about opening people's eyes to a - dare I say it? - spiritual world that exists all around us. Yoga is a path to help us find ourselves and our spirit.

Several studios around Fort Collins have set up activities based on this same premise. They have a wide range of activities to help people discover the full concept of the lifestyle of yoga. Treetop Studio has everything from an Asana class and singing bowls to a kids' yoga class and meditation. Old Town Yoga is celebrating Yoga Day USA in conjunction with their Grand Opening the following weekend with Kirtan from David Stringer and a small gathering to celebrate the practice of yoga.

I believe that we all need yoga in our lives. It doesn't have to be the kind of yoga that you move into a pretzel and hold it for five breaths, but the idea and the spirit of yoga that would help us to lead better and more fulfilled lives. I have been teaching yoga for five and a half years. I have been practicing for over ten years. It is a pleasure for me to teach beginner's classes and show people the path of yoga and to see the light in their eyes as they discover something new about themselves.

You can find just about any style that you are looking for between Fort Collins, Denver, and Boulder. Colorado seems to be a subset of the American culture in that it is a melting pot of people from many different states, so we are lucky to have some amazing instructors that trained before they arrived. Their training and knowledge have helped to guide the yoga community in Fort Collins to new depths.

So, if you haven't ever done yoga before, used to do yoga and haven't for a while, or are a long-time practitioner, visit your local studio on Yoga Day USA and celebrate the practice of yoga and what it means to you.

Northern Colorado Outdoors and Kristina Brown have a yoga class on Mondays at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins at 7pm. Kristina also teaches at Old Town Yoga and publishes the NoCO YoCo Newsletter monthly. Visit http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/ for more details on the yoga class.

My Personal Outdoor Playground

2009-01-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Outdoors was the place to be last weekend! The weather was amazing. Who would have thought that it would be nearly seventy degrees in January in Colorado?

I got up fairly early and went for a 10-mile mountain bike ride up Michaud Lane and Reservoir Ridge. There weren't any mountain bikers out yet, so I mostly had the trail to myself. There were only hikers and their dogs traversing the climb to the top of the ridge. The wind was calm and the sun was shining as I stumbled up the climb the first time. Frustrated, I got off and walked a bit to conserve some energy. After getting to the top and heading down the back side, I was so excited that I made the descent full descent. There was a sketchy part that I was too afraid of until then. Not only that, but I made the descent on the second time around as well!

That pesky ledge was sitting on the backside of the ridge that I always have trouble with, so once again, I got off my bicycle and scurried up it. Someday I'll make it. I went back around for another loop, and did the climb a second time and nailed it! It was the best feeling ever to make all the right moves and stick to just the right line and put your foot down only when you make it to the top! Wahoo! What an accomplishment!

After two laps at the top of the ridge, I descended back down and headed for home to start the second part of my day.

After washing some dishes, a bit of work on the computer, a change of clothes, and gathering leashes, I loaded up the dogs with one of Northern Colorado Outdoors' members, and we headed to the trailhead at Reservoir Ridge to meet some others for a hike. We got the dogs unloaded and leashed and headed back up the climb that I had just returned from on my bike. There were four of us total, and we had a great time hiking up the foothills and turning every few steps to look over the city. What a great view from there! The dogs all had smiles on their faces. They were happy to be meeting other dogs, and smelling all of the new smells, and getting away from the house and back into nature.

At one point on the hike, we looked up and saw a herd of deer at the top of the ridge. They were beautiful and magestic as they stood looking out over the city. Luckily the dogs didn't see them, otherwise, we would have been chasing after them as they escaped for their hunt.

The wind had picked up on the hike and blew us around a bit. It was nothing that got in the way of having fun! We headed back down the foothills and loaded the dogs and people into our cars and said our farewells.

The last part of my day was spent doing yoga and relaxing from a day hard at play. I reflected on my day as I was sitting in meditation. Having an opportunity to get out and play as hard as I did, was gratifying. I didn't need a gym membership with the mountains and the lakes at my doorstep. It was as if I had my own personal playground just in my backyard.

Join us for our next hike or bike! Just check out our calendar and website for more details: www.NorthernColoradoOutdoors.com

Exploring the Little Things

2008-08-01T14:32:00.000-06:00

I was riding my bicycle through town the other day. It was hot, but not completely unbearable. I am from Houston, right? I headed west on Olive Street past Library Park and I saw the funniest thing. I wished that I had my camera because it would have been one of those “priceless” moments. A little girl had squirmed her way up onto the water fountain. She was in fetal pose on top of the water fountain drinking as much as she could. Perhaps she was even trying to cool off in the water. There were a couple of other children standing around waiting their turn, but she took her time, getting all that she needed for the long hot day of play ahead.

Back on my bicycle, I rode a little further into town. I stopped at Oak Street Plaza Park to watch the children play in the water fountain. They giggled and laughed and jumped up and down. Again, I wished that I had my camera. Even with bathing suits on ready to get wet, they would try to jump out of the way of the water squirting this way and that, playing their own little games that only they knew in their heads. The sound of children’s laughter seemed to be at the forefront of the action in Old Town. The traffic and the trains were all in the background as onlookers smiled at the children laughing and playing.

I was having fun with this little game I was playing, so I decided to take a ride outside of town. I hadn’t really explored the north side of town much. What a beautiful ride I was missing! The hills were rolling and not jagged and rocky. There was another spot that I wanted to stop and take a picture, and again, I had no camera. It was a horse standing in front of a barn kicking up its heels and making a fuss. He obviously wanted attention. I stopped to stare imprinting the picture in my mind so distinctly that I could write it down later.

He was a black and white spotted horse with a black mane. He stood tall and proud in front of a weathered, gray barn, where the paint was chipping off in large sheets. The field was not of green grass, but rather of red dirt and hay. The barn was situated on top of a hill with the perfect view of the mountains to the west and the plains to the east. Green grass surrounded the large penned area, but didn’t dare grow past the fence line. I soaked it all in and gazed around the surrounding pastures inhaling scents of manure and hay. Camera or no camera, sometimes it’s just the little things in life that you have to stop and appreciate. There are so many little things in Fort Collins to explore. Getting outside and taking a simple bike ride around town will open your eyes to a whole new world if you just look around and welcome the little things.

Northern Colorado Outdoors has weekly cycling activities on the calendar throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Check the calendar for times when you can join us to enjoy the little things: http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/

Trail Work Days

2008-07-15T14:42:00.000-06:00

A cool front had just come through the night before my day to get out on the trail and give back to the community. I love to mountain bike, and as a member of Team BOB (Babes on Bikes), we are required, which I do willingly, to complete one day of trail work in one of the parks in the area. I chose a Saturday in July to help at Horsetooth Park.

It happened to be a beautiful day. The sky was clear and the air was cool. I wore long pants and long sleeves for protection from the sun and the brush and possible wildlife. We gathered at the base of the mountain and headed up to the top in four-wheel drive pick-ups. The majority of the group was women, probably from Team BOB. I met the two women in the cab with me, and they were Team BOB members. They were also getting their trail work time in for the season.

Upon making it to the top of the mountain, we each grabbed a tool, broke up into groups with a leader, and headed out on the trail. We would commit to working one part of the trail before moving on to the next. We flattened out burms, dug out water spills, and built up water bars… I didn’t work nearly as hard as I thought I would. So, on occasion, I would look up from my work and gaze out over the eastern side of the mountain. The park, the city, and the eastern side of Colorado all seemed to be visible from the top. Work? What work? Coming out here to do a little trail maintenance didn’t seem like work at all! I got to wield a heavy tool, hike on an amazing trail, have spectacular views as I worked, and get to know some people that I didn’t know before.

A little bit of time and effort in exchange for using these amazing trails, I’d say that’s pretty reasonable! Next time there’s a trail work day, grab your gloves, sunscreen, and a hat and get after it! It’s a great way to get active and get outdoors and give back!

Northern Colorado Outdoors will have trail work days beginning in 2009. So, look for them on the calendar at http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/ so that you can help us do our part to protect our beautiful backyard!

Cooling Off...

2008-07-01T14:38:00.000-06:00

Northern Colorado really is heating up this summer. With many record days already, we’re settling in for a long and hot summer. Luckily, the rivers and reservoirs are still up, so taking a swim or kayaking down the whitewater, is a great way to cool off! Just don’t let the hot weather get you down! Get outdoors and then reward yourself after a long hike with a dip in the lake!For the first time all summer, we went out to Horsetooth Reservoir and brought a picnic, the dogs, and a bathing suit and spent the day playing. We kept it simple. We just swam with the dogs, hiked, and had a brown bag picnic lunch. I felt like a kid again on a field trip! After a full afternoon of playing, we crashed under a shade tree on a blanket, and when we woke up, we did it all over again!We got home late, and were completely satisfied and exhausted in spending a summer day just like it is supposed to be spent. In the sun, playing, and having fun.

For more information on how you can cool off with Northern Colorado Outdoors, visit our website at: http://www.northerncoloradooutdoors.com/