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I’ve discovered a couple things about our new Colorado Springs house that we would never have found out when we were house shopping in May.

1.) When the winds are >20kt, there is whistling all over the place. It wasn’t windy when we were house shopping.

2.) Our south-facing windows flood sunlight into family room and kitchen. This wasn’t an issue in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky, but now the sun doesn’t leave the southern sky at all during the day. As much as I love a sunny house, it’s tough to watch TV in the afternoons. Lots of glare. And I understand this will pay dividends when it’s really cold outside, but the sun will warm these rooms.

3.) The house came with a Bosch dishwasher. We needed a repairman recently for it and I had to call 3 repair companies before I could get someone who would work on a Bosch. I didn’t realize they were so complicated.

Being that this is our eighth home since we got married (10 if you count the two other places I lived when we were at Fort Polk), we’ve resigned ourselves to accepting some of the “glitches” we get when we only have a couple days to pick out a residence. Often you can’t know everything with such a short time, when you’re juggling upwards of a dozen houses in one weekend.

Enjoy some anecdotes of things we’d discovered after the fact in our assorted houses. More »

13. November 2013 · Comments Off on Colorado Discoveries 19: Eagle Peak, USAFA · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , ,
I'll just leave this here. The yellow line on the sign is NOT a trail, it's the area deemed "off limits" by the AF Academy superintendent. The north-facing rock walls at the top of the peak.

I’ll just leave this here. The yellow line on the sign is NOT a trail, it’s the area deemed “off limits” by the AF Academy superintendent. The north-facing rock walls at the top of the peak.

Even though it’s mid-November, we have had a nice spell of pleasant weather here, and I’ve been enjoying some hikes in the area. Over Veteran’s Day weekend I did two nice hikes along with another trip up the Manitou Incline.

One of the hikes was the most challenging I’ve experienced in over 15 years, back when Dave and I would tackle seemingly random mountains throughout the northern part of South Korea. I wish I could find more of the pictures of us on those mountains years ago…but I guess that’s for another project.

My friend Paige and I would chat on Facebook and come up with activities to do, both with and without our sons. She and I try to get together at least once a week…sometimes for lunch, but more often it’s for something more active. Last week we traded some trail websites around and I decreed that we should try Eagle Peak.

As the photo above indicates, it’s nearly 2000′ to the top…one blog suggests that if the Manitou Incline is possible for you, so is Eagle Peak.

There's our goal. You won't notice it unless you're closer, but there's a giant "04" emblazoned on the rock face. An overzealous senior rappelled down the rock face to put it there in 2004. Much of the paint has been covered up, but if you know the "04" is there, you can see it faintly.

There’s our goal. You won’t notice it unless you’re closer, but there’s a giant “04” emblazoned on the rock face. An overzealous senior rappelled down the rock face to put it there in 2004. Much of the paint has been covered up, but if you know the “04” is there, you can see it faintly.

To get to the trailhead, it’s quite easy, and even the general public can take part. Simply head to the Air Force Academy and follow the signs to the Visitors Center. It’s open from about 8am-5pm daily (the hours may differ slightly on weekends). Park at the western side of the Visitor’s Center parking lot (there’s always space, except during Inprocessing week in June, when there are several hundred families dropping off their cadets).

From the western edge of the Visitor’s Center parking lot, head west across Academy Drive. There is a dirt road that continues westward from Academy Drive. Take that road until you see the large sign pictured at the top of this post. The trail begins behind that sign.

Here’s a map to help you.

I recommend only advanced hikers take this trail. I am NOT an advanced hiker, and it was really difficult for me. Paige and her husband joined me, and between the three of us, we were all commenting, “What were we thinking?” as we slipped and slid all over the trail.

While one of the blogs about this trail said, “If you can do the Manitou Incline, you can do this,” I’m not sure you can make the comparison. The elevation changes are the same, but at least on the Incline you have a straightforward set of stairs. This is way more challenging.

I don’t trust that my sons would do so well; I don’t think they could do this till they’re teenagers.

Several points of note about this trail:

1.) It’s not well marked. For the most part you’re simply following the most-traveled ground. We could make out footprints and simply followed that route. When you get closer to the top, keep your eyes out for spray painted dots and arrows on the trees and rocks. They aren’t easy to see. There were a few pink ribbons tied to trees as well. We missed a turn somewhere and summited in the wrong spot. We had to navigate up a little bit to get to the “real” peak.

2.) You’re on the NORTH FACE of a mountain. So even if you aren’t seeing snow down at the more-populated parts of the Academy, you will likely see snow/ice during the colder months. Even though it was in the 60s where we parked our cars, we encountered snow and ice on the trail, including about 100′ of “black ice” where the ground looked just wet, but it was actually frozen. Dress accordingly and be prepared to walk carefully on ice.

3.) You follow Goat Camp Creek for about 2/3 of the trail. We saw some beautiful ice formations in the creek, and you will have to cross the creek at some point. We saw several crossing points and they didn’t seem too bad.

4.) Going up may seem tough, but coming down was much much worse to me. We all took numerous spills down the soft talus.

Enjoy some more pictures from the hike.

Along Goat Camp Creek, you can see many ice formations like this. It was in the 60s down at the parking area!

Along Goat Camp Creek, you can see many ice formations like this. It was in the 60s down at the parking area!

A cool tree!

A cool tree!

There's a pretty aspen grove about halfway up. It's a nice break from the crazy terrain.

There’s a pretty aspen grove about halfway up. It’s a nice break from the crazy terrain.

The view from the top makes the hard work worth it.

The view from the top makes the hard work worth it.

This is a popular "rite of passage" for AF Academy cadets. They all should see this view of their cadet area.

This hike is a popular “rite of passage” for AF Academy cadets. They all should see this view of their cadet area.

This tree was nice. Considering we did the hike over Veterans Day.

This tree was nice. Considering we did the hike over Veterans Day.

 

The laminate-floored stairs.

The laminate-floored stairs.

We’re in the final stages of our basement remodel!

Over the past couple weeks we finished out the trim work (baseboards, doors), installed the bar and bath cabinets, and finished up the electrical and HVAC work.

We are currently waiting for the cabinet countertops to be installed, and it won’t happen till the 18th. So we have some waiting waiting waiting going on.

I think we’ll be ready to move in by Thanksgiving week.

The bar cabinetry.

The bar cabinetry.

The stairs. I love it!

The stairs. I love it!

Some of the finished doors.

Some of the finished doors.

A minor setback. The drywall guy had covered up two of the HVAC vents. The HVAC guy had to poke holes in the ceiling to look for the vent. The drywall guy was very apologetic and came the very next day to patch up the holes. You'd never know they were there.

A minor setback. The drywall guy had covered up two of the HVAC vents. The HVAC guy had to poke holes in the ceiling to look for the vent. The drywall guy was very apologetic and came the very next day to patch up the holes. You’d never know they were there.

 

 

 

06. November 2013 · Comments Off on A Chill in the Air · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , ,
Can you feel the chill in the air just looking at this picture? Brrr.....

Can you feel the chill in the air just looking at this picture? Brrr…..

Winter is most certainly on its way! Here in eastern Colorado we’re now experiencing days where the high temperature doesn’t exceed 35F, and the lows are dipping into the teens. Colorado Springs is well known for its very mercurial weather, it could be 70F one day, 20F the next. Dave and I are working with the boys to prepare themselves for the wild weather ride we’re going to experience this winter.

Coming from Florida, we’ve had to make quite the investment in warm clothing for the boys. Dave and I have enough nice toasty sweaters and fleece socks, but the kids had outgrown everything they had in Nebraska 2008-2010. We got them sweaters, hoodies, snow pants, suede clogs and even some snow boots. I was mixed about getting them full-fledged snow boots, but after the first significant snowfall in mid-October, the boys demonstrated they really needed them.

I tend to buy really big – Timmy, even though he’s only 8 years old, now has size 12 snow pants and a size 12-14 parka.

I bought some nice gloves for the boys from REI. That was a mistake: Timmy lost one of the gloves the first day he wore them to school back in early October. Back to the $1 Walmart gloves!

It’s been a challenge getting the boys to understand that they need to dress warmly for school. Timmy resists zipping his coat, Jacob resists wearing a hat on his head. Gee, I wonder where they get that from (says the girl who HATED zipping her coat and wearing her hats)? I’ll have the kids put on their coats and shoes, and Timmy’s wanting to head out into 25F temperatures with just a hoodie.

So I will announce, “Timmy, it’s 25 degrees outside!”

But I don’t think he fully understands. Am I a bad Mom to think that maybe he just needs to experience some serious cold without a coat for him to understand? I can’t bring myself to do that — I make him put on his coat, gloves, and hat.

Dave and I are really looking forward to skiing this season! I will need new boots, Dave might need some new bindings, but otherwise we feel our Korea skis will be fine for us. The boys will be renting skis for the season through the Air Force Academy’s Outdoor Recreation Center. We’ll see about snowboarding — Timmy wants to learn, and I’ve offered to take lessons with him.

Jacob and Timmy getting used to their first day of skiing...ever...at Mount Crescent, Iowa. Read more about Mount Crescent here.

Jacob and Timmy getting used to their first day of skiing…ever…at Mount Crescent, Iowa. Read more about our December 2009 trip to Mount Crescent here.

Jacob qualified for a couple of outstanding skiing promotions that are expressly for Colorado 5th and 6th graders. If you live in Colorado and you have a 5th or 6th grader, I encourage you to check it out. You will need a copy of the 5th/6th grader’s report card, or at least proof of age. Even if you go skiing just once or twice this season, getting the free passes will save quite a bit of money.

Do you plan to ski this winter? Where will you be heading this season?

03. November 2013 · Comments Off on Colorado Discoveries 18: The (Tax Exempt) All Colorado Beer Festival · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,
The All Colorado Beer Festival is a great fund raiser hidden in the guise of a fun party.

The All Colorado Beer Festival is a great fund raiser hidden in the guise of a fun party.

This past Saturday night Dave and I joined some friends for a fun evening in Colorado Springs celebrating Colorado craft beers at the All Colorado Beer Festival.

I didn’t take any good pictures during the evening, unfortunately, but I did want to show off our take of stickers that we collected. Dave and I want to come up with a classy way to display the sticker in our new basement bar. We’ll take any and all ideas.

Back to the beer fest: for $30 per person, visitors were able to enjoy from over 60 Colorado* beer vendors. If you’re unfamiliar with beer festivals, you receive a 4 oz. mini-beer glass (made of Lexan-type plastic). And armed with it you could taste to your heart’s content. The variety of beers were widespread. You name it, there was a sample to be had: dunkelweizens, IPAs, reds, Belgian whites (of which there were many). I even tasted a “pineapple cyder [sic]” that was pretty potent. I think the most unusual beer I tried was Blue Moon’s (cough, cough Coors‘, cough, cough) Harvest Moon pumpkin ale, which was presented to me with a sprinkle of brown sugar/pumpkin pie spice blend on the crook of my hand. I was to lick the spice, then drink the ale…tequila-shot-style.

*I was surprised to see Anheuser Busch at the event, but they have a Fort Collins brewery. They claimed to be serving only the beers that were brewed in Fort Collins: Bud Light and Shock Top Pumpkin Ale. OOOOOOkay.

Here is a sampling of some of the companies that offered my favorite brews:

The All Colorado Beer Festival organization is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. This should mean that most of the money raised from the event supports charities. In this case, the organization is supporting three charities in the local area: THEATREWORKS, The Empty Stocking Fund, and The Homefront Cares. The latter is near and dear to my heart because it’s helping local military families.

The organization has donated over $120,000 to the charities since it started in 2008. However, some are critical of a beer festival having tax exempt status.

What do you think?