Ruby Red

Ice for miles and miles. Even the waves froze. Drove up to the tip of the peninsula. (at Sister Bay, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZFcrg-vD3o/?utm_medium=tumblr

Proof that I went #outside this morning. I even got a little #jog in. Damn it was cold. (at Humboldt Park, Chicago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSqe84N3Rt/?utm_medium=tumblr

A friend asked for mashups and I thought I’d share one that I made over a decade ago that hasn’t had any circulation. I took the challenge of DJing a “Crunk ‘n Country” set for our friend Bob Bednarz’ birthday and this was one of the results. So, here’s a mashup of “Down A** B**ch” by Ja Rule and “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean. Basically a rapper and a country star wrote love songs about their girlfriends and how awesome they are, and they sounded remarkably similar.

Throwback to August in #colorado. The Elder-Fehn & Catamount loop also had an unmarked ascent up to the west side of #raspberrymountain. My first 10k peak of the summer. Perfect day, amazing views. Did 8.6 miles in all. (at Raspberry Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWEro1JFkmS/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is Malcolm Reynolds. He’s been my best buddy this summer. His chase game is absolutely on point. (at Lone Duck Campground) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNa9VTFdwJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

The signage out here is for the dogs. 🦮 (at Manitou Springs, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNZeE9livv/?utm_medium=tumblr

You can find nectar in some pretty pokey places. 🐝 On the Bald Mountain Loop via Kings Crown Road (at Woodland Park, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNZDYElGxT/?utm_medium=tumblr

Listen. (at Elder-Fehn Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNW7zhlLKa/?utm_medium=tumblr

People of the past used to live in some pretty cool houses. I get a longing feeling in my heart when I think about this landscape before it was occupied by Europeans, pioneers, and eventually, us. As much as I value the convenience of only having to drive 2-3 days to see such landscape, it also makes me sad to think of the destruction that convenience brings to the landscape and the people who were here before. It took strategic cropping to keep other tourists out of my photos. They were so slow, loud, and generally irritating that I went out for a solo hike the next day where I only saw a couple humans. I think a lot about habitat construction that’s integrated with and uses the landscape, instead of the boxes that typically perch on top of it. (at Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUIrcMchboC/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is Burrito and he’s one of the #campdogs I got to know this summer. #dogsofinstagram #campdog #chihuahua (at Lone Duck Campground) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUIosCHhF9w/?utm_medium=tumblr

I realized the season is almost over and here I haven’t shared any of the thousands of amateur wildlife photos I’ve filled my camera and the cloud with, so here are are some close-ups of the Bald Mountain trail. This hike in August was my first day out for a prolonged stroll, so literally everything was fascinating. (at Woodland Park, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUIoQd-h7ti/?utm_medium=tumblr

Throwback to mid August when I took my first actual hike. The beginning of the first ascent was steep enough that I had to take lots of breaks. Being a flat-lander, I expected this but still was impressed with how hard the mountain pushed me. This was about a 4.6 mile hike up to Bald Mountain with a stroll through some meadows and valleys on the way back to the trailhead. Enjoy some views. I sure did. (at Woodland Park, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUInFXbhNCv/?utm_medium=tumblr

Got a new #workoutbuddy, or at least one who keeps me company during double inhale/double exhale & #supine9090. . #catsofinstagram (at Cascade, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTTEQ8plarq/?utm_medium=tumblr

The first day and part of the second day of my drive from Chicago to Colorado. The rolling hills of central Nebraska were more arresting than I’d anticipated. I managed only a single stop after the rest stop with the huge steeple, the cars and trucks behind me urging me on and discouraging my desire to slow and pull-over. That, and the need to make camp by sun-set. A 7.5 hour drive stretched into 11 hours. I just can never seem to stay seated for that long.

1. A nap spot along Highway 80 2. A wonderful gross greasy burger - an early dinner I was glad for later as sun set on my camp. 3. An arresting sunset behind a steeple? at a rest-stop? in Nebraska.
4. My feeble attempt to capture the sunset and landscape with my iphone on the side of the road. 5. My first successful setting up of the mystery tent, which was imported from Romania over a decade ago, sans rain-cover. 
6. Night train and bug sounds.
7. Morning bird sounds & sightings. I really dislike the rian-cover. It makes me feel blind.
8. Tent with rain cover… I wanted to look at the sky, but I’m glad I opted for cover, as a storm blew in overnight.
9. The Platte River… which reminded me to go back and continue listening to James Michener’s "Centennial." 
10. Platte River sounds before another 11-12 hour day of driving. (at Highway 80 West) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSyBa8-trdX/?utm_medium=tumblr

7/3/21 This was my last #ClimberCore of the summer. I meant to post some goodbye and travel photos sooner but once I got the news that I was changing my summer plans and hauling ass out to Colorado to help out some fam, I hit the gas pedal and didn’t stop till I got to my destination. So, I’ll miss all these badasses who gave me a reason to get up early on Saturday mornings. But don’t fear! I’ll be back in October! (at Brooklyn Boulders Chicago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSx5gdHNmm3/?utm_medium=tumblr

Back when I was new in town. Thanks, Aimee, for the share. ♥️ #berwyn #chicago #chicagosuburbs #chicagolindyhoppers #backyardparty #radiant (at Berwyn, Illinios) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQR4CRiliNS/?utm_medium=tumblr

The more uncomfortable you can get with the stuff you suck at, the more progress you’ll make. I said this to a client today and he asked me to write it into his workout for the week. He even repeated it back to me so I could get it down verbatim. I took myself to heart and did some messy steel mace flow a couple hours later. All sweaty and out of breath 15 mins into it and I could feel the progress coursing through me... or something. Maybe it was just the being sweaty part. https://www.instagram.com/p/CP1ljFZl4LB/?utm_medium=tumblr