Snowshoe at Caribou Ranch

A cold Tuesday in January for some might be a day to relax in ones favorite easy chair with a good book.  Not the case for a group of adventurous outdoor enthusiasts from the Denver Metro area.

Time to cinch into shoes and packs for the day.

I was fortunate to have landed a seat on the bus provided by Denver Parks and Rec. for a day of snowshoeing. 

Arriving early at the City Park Rec. Center on MLK Jr. Blvd., I checked the inside of the center while waiting for the bus.

With shoes and poles in hand, I stepped on the bus to be greeted by a good friend and fellow-day hiker, Luisa, from the High Country Hikers, based in Aurora.

Snowshoeing at Snow Mountain Ranch

We have been looking forward to this first outing of 2014 for some time.  It meant early to rise (5:00 a.m.) in order to be at Mally Rec. Center, in Englewood, by 7:30.  There were about twenty men and women on the bus.

Outside Snow Mountain Nordic Center.

We were out of the city in good time, with new driver, Dan, behind the wheel.  A pit stop at the Conoco Plaza, at Downeyville, (THE place for people heading to the mountains who enjoy fresh, hot coffee...only a nickle, help yourself.  It's one of the few places still operating on the honor system.  Then on through the mountain town of Empire, over Berthoud Pass (11,307') and into Winter Park Resort.  Three would depart the bus at the resort spending the day on the slopes.  The rest remained on board until we reached Snow Mountain Ranch for a day on snowshoes. The Ranch is another 12 miles outside Winter Park.

2013: An exceptional year.

It began with the carryover of activities from last year, including Spanish classes for JoAnn, and snowshoe day trips with Malley Rec. Center, plus weekly yoga classes at Scheitler Rec. Center for me.

January, my birth month, would be celebrated more for my ability to fight off the progression of Parkinsons one more year.  The coming year will add more challenges for sure.

When in Doubt...Donate or Pitch It.

There was shelf after shelf loaded with box after box of stuff.  It's typical what one will find in any house after decades of accumulation.  Walk down any neighborhood street and look in a garage...there is likely to be half the space loaded with stuff.

Families naturally accumulate things from childhood, things from high school and college, things from a career.  Many things are returned to the same box each time we get them out...in the event we might need it.

Stacks of 45 rpm vinyl recordings.

There comes a time when we must step up and make decisions, however difficult, on the things taking up space over the years.  For us, the time is now.

Both our parents accumulated things during their lives.  When they passed, we were tasked with going through box after box making decisions as we went.  Although many items were dispensed to other family members, we ended up with numerous boxes loaded to the top.