Training Log Archive: erin tripp

recovery, at home, basic stuff in the back yard

FANTASTIC day in the field with new student Seth and new student Jacob! We had a big one. Up St Vrain Glacier trail then offtrail to near the summit of Ogallala Peak, on the border of Rocky Mtn NP and Indian Peaks Wilderness. We were collecting lichens the whole way. Hit the top, explored the divide, collectd more, got caught in a nasty lightning and hail storm (oops), wandered off in the wrong direction with more collecting, then eventually realized we needed to start pointing in the right direction bc of daylight. We hit the ridge which would take us to Buchanan Pass (thus down a formal trail for 10 miles), and the route there looked super gnarly.... several ups and downs, and a solid 2-3 miles of HUGE loose talus. We contemplated a longer offtrail immediately plunging down the coulior to Red Deer Lake, and convinced ourselves it was more efficient to stick to the talus divide... towards Sawtooth and Buchanan Pass. Nearly 3 hrs later, i'm not sure it was the fastest (nor safest) decision... but we eventually made it to said Pass. An already long day, 10 miles more to go, and that we did. I'm starting to think that stupid 4wd road to the flats is actually slower than the trail that parallels it. Missed Carly's birthday party, but had a big lichen day with two fantastic new students. Had a blast. Got cut up, did several sketchy moves on big rock outcrops on the divide, rolled my ankles on numerous occasions, and maxed out a day of off trail wildness. But I'd not have it any other way. Funny, i don't remember that CD traverse between Buchanan and Ogallala QUITE so gnarly when i did it several years ago!

stapleton run... first time home in awhile...

weights at home...

from the hotel.... just finishing up procedures training...