THERE IS NO ARIZONA
Last Friday night I and some friends were able to attend my first arena football game. The game was between the Colorado Crush and Arizona. It was very fun, loud, and different. The Crush won 56-54. The ESPN recap can be read by clicking here.
I am not sure what the record is but I am guessing we saw one of the longest defensive stands in the history of the AFL. It lasted over four minutes because of penalties.
I am glad I was able to go. Thank you Saul.
At halftime, they had demo game for the United States Australian Football League (USAFL). The 5 time champion Denver Bulldogs (yea, I did not know that we had a Australian Football League in Denver, either) took on the Arizona team and a course the Colorado team won.
Apparently that was the start of the weekend of Colorado against Arizona. On Saturday, the Avs played Phoenix and so did the Nuggets. Both Colorado teams won. The rockies did not play Arizona but they are in Arizona for spring training. That is as close as I can come on them being a part of the Colorado vs. Arizona feud.
In the end, Colorado was 4-0 and we will call the rockies a draw since spring training is just a time for baseball fans like me but means nothing come baseball season.
LikeGO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN
The latest edition (April 2007) of Backpacker Magazine has a feature on the Best of the Colorado 14ers. The story got me thinking what do I consider the best of the ones I have done and what does my friend, Rod, think are the best as he has climbed all 54 of the peaks.
However, to be fair, I think I should state there is not one clear answer to any questions about 14ers. Each peak has different challenges, views, etc. For instance, which is the hardest can be different based on various things. I think Rod put it best when he said, “Hard could be long day like Longs Peak, – but that was a relatively easy terrain. Hard could be lots of exposure like Capital Peak, or hard could be difficult rock to climb on like North Maroon – lots of mushy rock that when you step on a big bolder it gives way. Difficult could also be the ones where I was not as motivated and it took a lot to overcome mental desires to stop.”
However, I thought I would compare the magazine answers against mine and Rod’s thoughts based on our experiences and memories. There are a few other questions that were not in the magazine that I thought would be good to include.
| QUESTION | MAGAZINE | ROD | MINE |
| Most Stunning | S. Maroon and Pyramid | Sneffels1 | The Crestones |
| Best View | Handies | Blanca | Lindsey |
| Most Scenic | Sneffels | Windom, Eolus, Sunlight | Yale |
| Best Day Hike | Longs | Bierstadt | San Luis |
| Best For Beginners | Bierstadt | Grays & Torreys | Grays & Torreys |
| Most Challenging | Capitol | Wilson2 | Wetterhorn/Uncompaghre3 |
| Best For Solitude | San Luis | Snowmass | San Luis |
| Favorite Climb | n/a | Holy Cross | Humboldt |
| Least Favorite Hike | n/a | Kit Carson4 | El Diente or Longs5 |
| Prayer The Most On | n/a | South Maroon6 | Princeton7 |
1 – From Rod, “Every peak offers a unique experience, challenge and incredible beauty. Most stunning is a tough category to rank peaks on, as every one is stunning in its own way. Defining stunning as ‘striking beauty’, I would say the following rank high on the stunning meter: Mt Sneffels (beautiful fields of flowers, stands alone and left me in awe) , Mt of the Holy Cross (the lasting memories are not of the challenge of the climb as with many mountains but memories are of the views and beauty, Crestones pronounce the size and amount of vertical and rock in a 14er, Maroon Bells were unique, challenging and rank in beauty and uniqueness)”
2 – From Rod, “Only peak I went on to climb solo when Scot wasn’t feeling well. It was a much different fear climbing alone (I don’t recommend it).”
3 – On their own they are not that bad but Wetterhorn (with some good exposure) and Uncompaghre combined makes for a long day. It is even longer when you miss a trail turn coming down Uncompaghre adding many more miles, but we need not mention that.
4 – Only hike Rod got hurt on.
5 – Only because both of those hikes, I got real close to the top only to be denied by lighting. I did really like both of them and hope to get them completed someday soon.
6 – From Rod, “I wasn’t feeling well and prayed the most for strength to continue up. Had the song ‘We came to praise him’ in my head and just kept singing it to myself over and over. Seeking God for strength was common on most hikes, but I my Kit Carson story is probably one that fits into this category. Kit Carson – I was tired after climbing the 14er and decided I had to descend. The rest of climbing party wanted to go on to climb a couple nearby 13ers, so they left me to down climb a coulier by myself. The plan was to meet back at base camp. The snow field I was down climbing got steep and icy. I did not have an ice ax with me on this climb, so I picked up a long sharp rock (in hopes it would help break a fall just in case). I did slip and slid several hundred feet down the snow field and slid onto rocks at the bottom. I was able to break some speed by digging the sharp rock into the snow and ice, but not enough. I hit the rocks at the bottom at pretty high speed, feet first. The impact sprained my ankle pretty badly and I went into a state of shock. I was bleeding from several places, didn’t have much water left and probably sat and prayed for an hour. Finally decided I needed to walk out on hurt ankle (2 miles to tent and then 5 miles to car after re-joining the group). I drove home (6 hrs) after that (praying most of the way) and checked into emergency room with badly swollen, barely functioning and sprained ankle. I still have a big scar in the palm of my hand where I had ripped it open. I had known and enforced the golden rule of ‘never climb alone’. I got lucky and this experience drove it home for good – this rule should never, ever be broken for any reason when climbing. I can’t emphasize that enough! Another common form of prayer when climbing is praise. On El Diente just as leaving the top (I was probably 100 yards off the top), lightning struck. It was so loud, and I also felt a pressure wave of air and smelt ozone burning, that I think it might have hit very close to me, maybe right on top of the peak. To say the least, I had lots of prayer time, thanking God for protection. I was not able to reach Scot on cell right away and prayed a lot that he was OK. Much praise followed when we both got down and off the mountain without harm.”
7 – I had the flu pretty bad and I threw up a few times going up and down. Praying helped to keep going and focused.
The more we thought about it the more Rod and I enjoyed some memories of hikes. It makes me think about a lot of characteristics and memories about each 14ers that I have climbed or attempted to climb. Frankly, it makes me want to go hike another 14er soon. I hope it was enjoyable for you as well.
You can review all the 14ers I have completed and look at the pictures I have posted for each by clicking here.
GOTTEN GOOD AT GOODBYE
The above picture was taken March 14, 2007, at 8:36 AM MDT. It is the last patch of snow in my yard from the December and January snow storms. By 3:30 PM MDT, it was gone. Oh, how I miss the snow. Hopefully, the big snow we usually get in March and April will be here soon.
TOUGHER THAN THE REST
It is hard to forget my coach saying things like, “Wrestlers are tough” or “Wrestlers never quit” or “There are no wimps in wrestling” or “History is the study of man’s meaningful achievements…” (oh wait he was the history teacher too and that quote has nothing to do with this entry). I have always believed grapplers are tough, but I guess I did not realize how tough till Rulon Gardner came along.
If you missed his latest adventure for life, check it out here. If you did not notice, at the bottom of the story were the rest of his painful experiences. Talk about a man who takes a licking but keeps on ticking.
My favorite might be the basketball story. The idea of him playing basketball makes me laugh. I bet when he fouls someone, they hurt and he might just throw them to the floor for good measure as any good grappler would. However, the part about him dislocating his wrist and then still playing him is awesome. No biggie.
The question for me is if I ever meet him and he wants to go on for a hike or something, do I go? On one hand, you will get lost and have to fight for you life. On the other hand, adventures are worthwhile in life and he and his companions always comes out of those events alive.
THEY OUTGHT GET A RICH MAN TO VOTE LIKE THAT
Oh, I am sicken by the outcome. I was shocked then mad and finally I am disappointed. I guess that is what happens when you put your heart out there. However, I still thinking something about the outcome is fishy.
First, how can penguins (plural) when an election called Denver’s Favorite Animal (not plural). Only one should win not a group. That is wrong.
Second, why did organizers take down the voting results from their site a few days before the election? They say to add suspense, but I am not buying that. I smell cover up.
Third, I am believe that some liberal Hollywood (not Denver) money used here. I am bet an investigation would show that the Penguins got lots of money from their left-winged Hollywood friends. You know the ones from Happy Feet, March of the Penguins, and those penguins from Madagascar.
Well, we may never get an investigation in this but I still feel Griz was robbed. Now, I have to wonder about last years vote for Flip. It too, may not have been real. Maybe Jack Bauer can look into this outcome when he gets a free day.
