Yesterday I got out of my biking and running shoes and put on my hikin boots!  I dug out my water filter, camel backpack, headlamp and all the fixins one needs for a 10 hour day and hiking a 13er (a 13er is a 13,000+ foot  peak).  I had made the decision to “bag” the Boulder Peak Tri and instead “bag” a peak! 

Rosalie Peak won and my friend Christyand I were off at 6am to head to the trailhead.  We set off around 8 am for the summit of Rosalie Peak which stands at 13,575 ft. 

Christy and Me at the trailhead

We put on our packs and began the 4000 ft climb to the summit.  This hike takes you through the forest and follows a stream for at least 2000 ft.  At least half of the trip we were in shade, which was great considering it was a HOT day! 

Which way???

We meandered our way up the trail, stopping to refill our water at the last place we crossed the stream before we headed above tree line. 

Filtering water through the water pump

One of the beautiful things about being outdoors is you lose touch with “reality” for awhile.  There is no cell phone, email, texting.  No cars, no noise, no distractions.  There’s just you, your breathing and nature.  There is something so wonderful about being in the back country with no one around.  We saw birds, and rabbits, squirrels and marmots.  I felt at one with myself and I felt at peace.  It’s a sense of peace that I can’t get any where else but out here. 

As we climbed in elevation I could tell we were getting close to tree line.  This was Christy’s first 13er and I enjoyed teaching her how to read a map, a trail, the way the trees change the higher you get in elevation.  I love the forest but I love even more getting above tree line.  I love how when you get above tree line it’s like time has frozen still.  Everything is so delicate and nothing moves.  The plants and trees are small and ancient twisted looking.  It sometimes can seem like you’re on the moon.

Well, we hiked our way above tree line and to the saddle where we would hang a left and cross country it to the summit of Rosalie Peak…only 1600 feet left to climb!

One of the false summits of Rosalie Peak!

We spent the next 1.5 hours hiking up to the summit.  We meandered back and forth in the steeper parts.  We hit false summit after false summit (darn it…dontcha just hate those!)  We finally made it to the REAL summit 4.5 hours after we left the car!  We had arrived!  And as in every true summit fashion, we got to enjoy the beauty for about all of 10 minutes before we had to head down.  Literally minutes after we summited, these big dark clouds moved in from the west and weather was moving in fast. 

Storm moving in...

 With our packs on our backs we headed down the peak toward the main trail.  We picked our way down as thunder started rolling over Mt Evans and the wind started to blow rain on us from far away.  We scurried our way down and made it to tree line and breathed a sigh of relief to be in the coverage of the trees.

The rest of the day was spent heading down down down.  I didn’t realize how much elevation we gained until I had to go back.  It’s so true that downhill is harder.  Yeah, uphill taxes your lungs more, but downhill works all sorts of muscles you don’t even know you have.  We made it back to the car in a respectable 10 hrs round trip.  We had a blast!  I got to do something besides swim, bike and run…and I was able to be in nature for a whole day.

I did come to realize that hiking a peak is great cross training for an Ironman.  You are at it constatly for hours, and your lungs and legs get one heck of a workout.  My legs are sore today.  Sore like afer I run a marathon sore,  and I’m lovin it!  I can’t wait to get out there again and bag myself another peak…..(or two)…..

On Roslaie Peak Summit