Climb Every Mountain

A few weeks ago Steph and I were lucky enough to run away for a week to Denver; I to visit my sister and brother-in-law and Steph to visit an old friend. Having been working full-time for the first time in my life, I think this is the first vacation I really earned and deserved. We were able to really relax in the fresh mountain air, catching up on sleep one day in the most welcoming tree with which I've ever crossed paths.




Steph's friend, Julian, taught us all about the game of rugby and the crazy kind of guys it takes to play the rough and tumble sport. Here you can see a "scrum". Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of the play in which two or three guys actually lift another in the air like a cheerleader. I'm still unsure what that move is meant to accomplish.



Of course, we had to get a taste of the myriad of microbreweries Colorado boasts. I don't think we went one day of the week without tasting a new and uniquely delicious hoppy brew. My favorite is still Sunshine Wheat from New Belgium. However, Rock Bottom Brewery certainly nestled its way into my heart and stomach at the tapping for their seasonal pumpkin beer. Everytime they tap a new beer, Rock Bottom literally gives away the first couple hundred pints! If you should find yourself in Denver when Rock Bottom is having a tapping I highly recommend finding yourself to their 16th Street Mall restaurant and seeing what concoction you can get your hands on.



The biggest highlight of the trip, for me, was actually a lifetime goal for myself I can finally cross off the list. Julian took us rock climbing! Table Top mountain overlooks the Coors plant in Golden and on that magnificently sunny, summer-like day it was covered at all angles by expert and novice climbers, alike. Although I can't say it entirely by my own brute strength, I did manage to make it all the way to the top on our second route. It felt so awesome to overcome the natural fear and literally scale a mountain. I cannot wait to climb again (and again and again and again)!



The contrast of the ancient and peaceful, yet forboding Rockies when compared with the "mountains" of the East amazes me each time I've ventured West. Here are some of the breathtaking views from Rocky Mountain National Park and atop Mt. Falcon.




















*Steph also achieved a lifetime goal in Denver, beginning her transformation into a human cupcake.