Rants, Recipes, and Running

We've always been the "outdoorsy type". We take a camping trip whenever the time & weather permits. Every since our U-Haul pulled into Arizona, we were researching the best hiking trails.... There's always been a hobby that's been the object our affection. But this hobby required some budgeting, researching, planning and saving. Well, it's finally come the time where if we don't start now...we'll be too old to do it. So my early birthday present this year was my backpacking gear! A pack, sleeping back, sleeping pad, trail shoes (and trail running shoes)......(some of which were purchased at the Summer Hut Swap meet this weekend - which was a great opportunity to buy lightly-used gear at SUPER discounted prices) This weekend we took them out for a "test run". I purchased the Osprey Viva 50. It's an amazing women's pack - all about comfort - nice and light. If needed, it could sustain me comfortably for 10 days. Backpack...

In my 5 years of being married to my husband, I don't think we've ever planned a trip out in advance. And it seems to work out well. In fact, it amazes me how skilled we are at pulling off an epic vacation in the matter of 1-2 weeks! So 6 days prior to the trip, I got a text from my husband asking if I could get Valentine's Day off (which is a Friday). Luckily, I have a very cool boss - who is flexible. He wasn't inquiring on a lovers' getaway, but a weekend of extreme sports in the snowy mountains! (Which is actually more appealing to me, anyways!) Getting to Keystone, CO was the hardest part. I drove from Tucson to Alamogordo, NM Thursday after work. Stayed w/ my husband Thursday night, and then we hit the road after he finished his flight Friday. It was a 9 hr drive from NM. Ended up being 12 hours, however, due to a snow storm & a horrific accident! I think I will save my review of "snowboarding" for another post . As it's quite a story...