Story

Today I had a great hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. I started on the Horseshoe Trail up to Fraser Meadow. First I have to say - I love, love, love Fraser Meadow in the fall for the aspens, and the middle of winter for the snow beauty. Then I went to the Mule Deer Trail up to Black Bear Trail and back. I was lucky to see a bull moose first thing. He surprised me coming right down the trail, so I took a quick picture while I scrambled up off the trail to get away from his path. ...

Usually I get dropped off for a bike ride on the Eagle River Cutoff, but today I’m hiking with Charlotte. The Monk Trails take us along pretty paths that lead down the Jacob’s Creek gorge to the waterfalls and the Jampot. The Jampot is literally jammed with people, so no brandy-soaked treats for us. It’s back up the gorge and over to the ruins around the old Arnold mine. The monks left us lots of cute little benches to enjoy on our stroll through the woods. ...

Some of the best trails in the area are up in Hancock at Maasto Hihto & Churning Rapids. It’s getting to the end of our time in Bootjack, so I’m trying to get in a few more hikes with Charlotte before we leave. This area is pretty awesome for year round hiking, mountain biking, and skiing. It’s certainly making me think of bringing a gravel or mountain bike up next year. ...

I’ve ridden my bike up and down Bootjack Road so many times over the years. I have come to know every horrible bump, pothole, and crack along with the pain of struggling home after getting totally beat up and worn out. I’ve also come to know all the cottages and family names that have made this area their home across many generations. I love the tradition for many homes to hang a family name sign along the road. These signs have shown me the way home and given me support as I push through the pain to complete those last 10 miles or so. I know that a cozy cottage on the lake is waiting for me along with the family I’ve loved for so many years. ...

We get some pretty rip roaring storms up in Bootjack. Other times we just get some great winds and waves that make for fun watching. Every once in a while there’s a great mixture of sun and storm that gives us a spectacular full rainbow. I’m pretty sure there’s a pot of gold, or at least a nice school of walleyes at the ends of this baby.

Walking back after some quality dock stub (nub) time, Gordy asks if we’ve seen the butterflies. I did spot one near the lake, but we head to the garden in front of his house. The Ligularia flowers are fading, but the Monarch butterflies sure seem to love them. There are tons of flowers and they’re mostly covered by a ton of butterflies. I wonder how many are headed to our old home in Santa Cruz to nest in Natural Bridges for the winter after stopping here to refuel. ...

A family visit always includes a family hike. Now that we’re living in Colorado, the weather is a bit colder this time of year and a bit higher in elevation. Let’s take it easy and enjoy hiking along Clear Creek just outside downtown Golden. This year I’m doing a brined turkey with all the fixings from scratch. Big thanks to my favorite online chef Brian Lagerstrom for the recipes. It’s awesome having Doug and Dallas visiting this year as well. We’ve been encouraging all our family and friends to visit anytime since we’ve got lots of space and new places and things to do here in the fantastic state of Colorado. ...

Charlotte and I are so happy to share that Gabe and Laini will be getting married next summer. They make a fantastic couple and we’re truly excited to welcome Laini and her family to be a part of ours. Here they are celebrating their happiness around Clear Creek in their home of Golden.

Gabe has finally figured out they key to satisfying his love of cycling and entrepreneurship at the same time. He’s launching a new sporting nutrition company he’s called Carbs Fuel. The concept is pretty simple, give people the energy they need while exercising with the simplest ingredients and the best price. Just give me carbs! Now the execution is pretty complex and Gabe’s attention to detail is totally key to actually pulling this shit off. I got a chance to see the manufacturing of the new gels in person. A pretty amazing process and very exciting to watch. ...

In many ways, I fail to find the correct words to describe this feeling because the pain is not my own. I cannot lay claim to this grief even though it tears at my heart and wearies my soul. I know how dreadfully Jacob’s family misses him and the grief of struggling to understand his premature death burdens both his family back in Connecticut and his new family in California. The death of a person so young cannot be justified, especially when they have so much life left to live. But I cannot speak for his family, I cannot speak for Mackenzie or her children, I can only share my memories of Jacob in the hopes that my own struggle to comprehend the incomprehensible may help others facing the same uphill battle. My words cannot be sufficient to encapsulate the pain of Jacob’s death, but I hope they can bring back a piece of the light that Jacob shared with everyone he encountered in life. ...