Meggers on the Move: Colorado Part 2

With the generosity of a new friend, we have retired from the truck nook for the past 5 days and have been staying in Westminster… in a house!

We drove in through a place called Clearwater Canyon into the little town of Golden, Colorado. As we drove through we were greeted by a meandering creek on the right hand side, steep canyon walls on both sides and trails that lead straight up. As we continued our way through we see climbers popping up everywhere, people driving creek boats up to a put in, mountain bikers heading up the steep cliffs and countless hikers….we’re IN Colorado now. This is what we both thought it was going to be like- outdoorsy people everywhere. It took some self control on the driver’s part to not pull the car over and dash for his bike immediately. J

After a bike ride we thought was going to be much mellower than it actually was and a pint of local beer later, we’re at Radical Reels in Golden, CO to see this year’s international tour of outdoor films from around the world. It didn’t disappoint. And yes we planned that.

We found a place to have my bike repaired, yussss, and while we waited climbed our first route in Colorado- a place called Castle Rock, kind of funny and ironic, coming from Santa Cruz. Up in Boulder Canyon (having just opened up the day prior to us climbing due to horrible flood damage) we found about 1500 routes on these beautiful granite spires and cliff sides strewn all the way up at about 6,500ft elevation- beautiful. In some spots it’s necessary to cross over a river to reach the base of these cliffs, so being the adventurous folks that Coloradans are, there are fixed pully lines in some spots where people traverse across (we haven’t done this yet, but I’m sure sometime soon).

We ended up doing some more biking in Nederland, which is just like the little Colorado town I pictured in my mind. It had a main little street, people walking everywhere and saying hello to one another and a little corner market where people bought fresh produce…you know, the “Murphys of Colorado.”

With adventure on the mind and the beautiful rock formations outside of Boulder taunting us, we wound up climbing one the classic Flatirons that line the “foothills” of the Eastern Rockies. Beautiful rocks with incredible formations and holds all the way up. Run out (thankful I wasn’t leading), chicken heads galore, perfect little pockets and some of the grippiest rock I’ve ever climbed on. It also happened to be my longest climb yet- 7 pitches, 1000ft followed by some awesome rappels off the back to our hike out about 1/3 of the way down. It was incredible to see out into flatness as we looked due east from the top. (see the video below of our summit point...I was remembering I was a little afraid of heights at the time...)

I topped the week off with a leisurely mountain bike ride to Red Rocks Amphitheatre and back. What an amazing venue. They were mid-set up for a Saturday night show so I didn’t stay long, but long enough to relish in the memories of listening to John Butler Trio and Mumford and Sons performing live at this very spot...online…

We’re having fun, making new friends, living in the moment and trying not to spend every penny we’ve got on Italian Deli sandwiches and guide books…trying.

The adventure continues with friends coming into town, some climbing and some camping up in the mountains.

Be well wherever you are.

-M.

~Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. -Dr. Seuss