Inspiring Profiles: Meet Joanne (Meints) Murphy, Renaissance Woman,

Her story begins in rural Iowa.  Joanne is the third of three daughters born to an English mother and a German father.  She remembers taking lunch to her father and hired men in the fields of the family farm, located outside Grand Mound, Iowa.  “Looking back, it was a good childhood,” she said.

Meints family homestead, Grand Mound, Iowa.

“I tell my three children and six grandchildren I went to a one room school with no electricity. I must seem ancient,” she said with a laugh.

Education was important to her father like agriculture was important to the economy of Iowa.  That is why generations of the Meints family attended Iowa State University, in Ames.  Joanne broke family tradition, by attending Colorado College in Colorado Springs her freshman year.  She returned to Iowa State, for a degree in Home Economics and Early Childhood Development.

Bill and Joanne with children (L-R): Jody, Lisa, David

With diploma in hand, Joanne Meints accepted a position with the Denver Public Schools.  “I came out here to teach, and met Bill Murphy, my husband of 50 years, she said.

“After my third child, someone asked, if I knew how to get back in shape.  It was always important to be in shape, physically, mentally, and to look good too,” she said with a smile.

A suggestion to try yoga, prompted Jo to take a class.  It was the beginning of a 40-year teaching career.  "I started at Beck recreation Center, and over the years, taught at all the recreation centers, including the Aurora Center for Active Adults (ACAA),” she said.

Me, aging? NO WAY.

From time to time I check in on the "boomers leading CHANGE" website.  There is always something I can relate to,  be it end of life planning, shortage of nurses in the U. S., or the biggie, health care and politics.  As a member of the 76 million member boomer generation, my family has always been active.  As a result, we can claim to be in better health than our parents at a given age - in my case, age 65.

That is not to say is came easy.  When diagnosed with early Parkinson's in 2004, I had to refocus on what was truly important.  Family, life long friends, doing what I like to do, and fighting the disease, became priorities.  Although the PD in my body has advanced a tick or two in recent  months, exercise, in the form of hiking, yoga, swimming, and following our two very active grandsons, have been the soldiers of my battle against PD.    

Last August, in collaboration with the staff of PAR (Parkinson's Association of the Rockies) this blog was born.  Readership has grown each month since.  Feedback indicates it is due to timely articles and fresh content.

Tomorrow we will publish a story about a Colorado woman who felt it is important to be fit both physically and mentally.  You may have been in one of her yoga classes over the past 40+ years.  You may have hiked with her in the Colorado high country.  The results of her volunteer efforts may have touched your family in some way.   


After reading her story. you will not question her tenacity, her drive, and her unending focus to remain fit both physically and mentally.  Look for the story titled "Inspiring Profiles." Click on the block to bring you her story.

One Extraordinary Woman

The story of this woman was suggested by a fellow-hiker.  It is an Aurora woman who has had more than one successful career, raised three children, and has more things on her plate than most retirees I know.  Her story will be posted here on Monday.  Look for a block on the home page  titled "Inspiring Profiles."  Click on it to bring up the full story.  

We encourage our readers to provide feedback on this and other stories you find to your liking, or not.  Respond directly on this blog or send us an email at: thecohiker2011@gmail.com


   

A Day in Indian Peaks Wilderness (IPW)

Today began with the usual highway - you can never go fast enough for some people - stresses.  Once I was in Boulder Canyon, the fast-paced world faded quickly.  A small java from the Nederland coffee shop kept me awake until I reached the TH.  Mountain fog is the only element mother nature threw at me today.  It would dissipate before my snowshoes were cinched down.

As I left my vehicle the sound of snow crunching under my shoes, and the swirling wind sweeping through the trees ahead suddenly captured my attention. The spur trail is well trodden all the way to the junction with South St. Vrain.  Pine trees in the area are doing a good job of holding huge amounts of powder.  It reminds me (as an eight-year-old) of the miniature plastic trees I positioned every Christmas, with my Lionel Train.  Each tree had a glob of white on each branch.

St. Vrain trail 1.7 mi. from trailhead.

My plan is to continue on St. Vrain to the junction with the Waldrop trail and follow it back to my vehicle.  I don't see a single person all morning.  Problem is there is no wildlife moving in this environment either. Lots of tracks, some made today, others days or weeks old.


At the 1.5 mile mark, trail becomes less used.  A thin layer of fresh snow has covered the deep gashes in snow made by dozens of snowshoes.  In fact, the new white coat enhances the freshest animal tracks which appear to be that of a snowshoe hare, squirrel, or chipmunk.

I encounter a few moderate ups and an equal number of descents before reaching the junction with Waldrop trail.  My watch indicates lunchtime.  In less than five minutes, I have a rolling boil of water, to which Ramen noodles and powdered chicken broth are added.  Although temps are in the mid-twenties, heat resonating from a hot pot of soup is the best answer for cold fingers.

Day trip kitchen (L-R): Stove w/wind screen; behind the pack is the snow bench (table).

My timing is good today.  All the people (3) seen today, will approach and leave this trail junction while I am having lunch.  I can hear two guys talking to each other minutes before I see them.  I gather from their conversation, the pair of Xcountry skiers are frequent users of trails in IPW

As I am breaking down the kitchen, a solo shoer approaches on the Waldrop trail.  He stops to ask which trail from here is the South St. Vrain?  My map is unclear.  We agree on trail leading to the left side.  We bid each other to " Have a good day."

XCountry skier is last person seen today.

I can slow the pace on the return, and enjoy the beauty of nature in winter.  There is an option to take a spur trail direct to the road leading to my vehicle but, I elect to remain on Waldrop to the end.  
IPW has beauty beyond measure.  I trust it has sustained some of its original landscape from the period when the Arapaho tribe lived and hunted in the area.

Total miles/kilomewters = 5.6/9.0

Totally New Format

Effective today, "The Hiker" blog has a new look.  We are taking a risk that our readers will continue to find this site both informative and educational.  The layout we chose is called Flipcard.  Starting at the top left, the latest post will appear.  Each post is represented by either a title or an image from the post.  Play with it a bit then tell us what you think.    If you are a regular to look at this blog or you are a first timer, we would like you thoughts on our new look.  Email your comments to: thecohiker2011@gmail.com

Inspiring Profile Coming Soon.

The author is putting final touches on the story of an Aurora woman who continues to reinvent herself.  Most people have "a single career."  The list of things this woman has done and done well, will blow you away. 

Target date for publishing this compelling look into the life of one energy packed woman, is February 20th.  Look for this installment of "Inspiring Profiles."

I Love Snow Mountain

Picture this...It's 26 degrees, light snow has been falling for hours, overcast skies, over 5,000 acres to explore, at 9,000' elevation, and the best part, 100 km of trails.  OK, it's time to have some fun.

Betty enjoys a walk in the trees on the Snowshoe Hare Trail.