My desire to be stronger in the mountains in the winter…brought me to build more skills in the summer. Specifically rock climbing, alpine scrambling, rope, anchor and other technical skills. Also learning to get more comfortable and confident with exposure and trusting skills/equipment/knowledge and your partner(s)! Enter Ben Markhart — an IMGA guide who just happened to grow up in MN. When I reached out to him after last ski season. He set me on this journey…. here we go..
After a few months climbing in a gym here in MN…Ben reached out and said “time to come into the real world” and see how this all works. Just returned after 4 days out in beautiful Estes Park / Boulder canyon and Rocky Mountain National park. What a trip! Feel like a 57 year old intern w/some of these new skills. But what the hell…you can’t be an expert unless your start as a newbie!
DAY 1: Castle Rock / Boulder Canyon
Day 2&3 Rocky Mountain National Park (East Glacier Knob, Butterfingers)
Pretty cool to be out in Rocky Mtn National Park…this time in the summer after backcountry skiing this area a few times over the past few years. So damn beautiful. So much cool wildlife as well!
DAY 3: “Butterfingers” in RMNP
Really a cool alpine climb / scramble. Multiple pitches…some relatively difficult for me (in approach shoes and “developing” climbing skills:). Thanks out to Ben for some occasional “assist” in his belay… Was directly across the canyon from Dragon Tail couloir I skied a few years back (I think it looks steeper in summer…maybe not. Ben say it is steep in winter as well:)
Great trip… Bought a lot of gear since I have been home. Lots to learn from anchor systems, protection, and continue to build experience and skills. So much gratitude for Ben, my health, support from Lucia and family — glad I am able to push myself further. So important to me…in the words of Kristian Bell… to truly live you got “slay your dragons!”.
“So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never know we have the key..”
Eagles, “already gone“
Send it!!!!
Yeah baby:)
Kick Ass..love it!
You are the definition of ‘always learning, always getting better!’ Can’t wait to see your skills in action. Awesome stuff!
Tx Shives!
Love it Bell! Tell kristian I’m using his quote!
Beautiful!
So damn inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing the adventures…
We need to do an adventure together TM!