Last Updated on August 18, 2010 by James Dziezynski
It’s been an eventful few days here. First off, if you haven’t heard on my social media outlets, tonight is a Best Summit Hikes in Colorado slideshow at the REI in Boulder at 7 PM. Besides photos from the book, there’s new information on my upcoming books and projects! If you can’t make it in Boulder there’s a second show in Denver REI at 7 PM on Thursday. I hope to see you there (or if you’re visiting the blog because you were at the show, glad to see you here!)
Starting with last week, I had the very special privilege to meet Mistokles, a Greek rescue dog I had helped do a little fund raising to get transported to the USA. The poor little guy was saved from a rotten situation and given a new chance at a great life, thanks to my friend Zoe who did all the legwork (some of you might remember my Boulder Weekly cover story on the dogs of Greece from 2008 — you can read Canine Odyssey here).
It was "America or Burst" for Mistokles -- welcome to Colorado, Mistokles! At Davidson Mesa in Louisville.
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Me, Fremont, Bu, Mistokles, Dez, Myra (the human!) and Prince. Urania is lounging in the foreground. Shots like this are NOT easy to get!
On the same night, I was able to rally a fun crew to climb just above treeline on Mount Audubon and check out the Perseid meteor showers. While it wasn’t a non-stop show, we did get to see about 20 shooting stars and the company was fantastic. Too bad it was a school night or we could have stayed out a little longer.
The perseid meteor shower crew on Mount Audubon. Left to right we have Tonya, Chris, Julie and Jayme. Gomez is the fine pooch in the foreground.
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I was there too, see? I like to travel with fleecey festooned mountain bedouins. (For the record, Fremont was with us but he was guarding the perimeter, or possibly taking the pictures).
Though time was in short supply, I was somehow able to find the time to drive out to the San Juans to help get Fremont his second 14er — the dog friendly (but long) San Luis Peak. I was eager to return to the area to complete the 3.2 mile traverse from San Luis over to Stewart Peak, at 13,983 ft. one of the 60 highest peaks in Colorado. Sheila was gracious enough to join me and Mystic the border collie rounded out the team. All 4 of us summited San Luis on a picture perfect day, then Sheila volunteered to take the pups back to camp while I completed the traverse up and over Baldy Alto and over to Stewart. It was a long but very fun day — lots of up and down!
Fremont stands in front of an unnamed 13,000 ft. point on the way to San Luis Peak.
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Sheila and the pups on the summit of San Luis Peak!
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Me and the boys try to strike a pose -- those border collies are hard to keep still!!
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Stewart is the huge peak 3.2 miles away. My route crossed over Baldy Alto, the craggy summit on the right.
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The view of San Luis from Stewart's summit gives the 14er a few more style points.
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On the summit of Stewart Peak! The traverse goes as follows: up San Luis, down to 13,000 to the saddle between San Luis and Baldy Alto, up to the summit of Baldy Alto at 13,500+ feet, down to 13,000 ft. to the saddle of Baldy Alto and Stewart, up to 13,983 ft. Stewart, back to the saddle and to Baldy Alto's 13,450 ft. ridge to the trail home. No problem!
It’s been a very full and fun packed few days — this week I have the two aforementioned book shows and the then the Blue River Century Ride on Sunday. Oh, did I mention I got to see my favorite band Rush at Red Rocks on Monday night? I’m waiting on a few pictures from the show, but it was amazing! It truly is the good life out in Colorado and one thing is for sure — in the dozen or so years I’ve called Colorado home, I’ve yet to be bored!
