My Favorite Mountains

View of French Broad River and Great Smoky Mountains,
Paint Mountain and Chimney Rocks Trails,
Cherokee National Forest, TN

On Thursday, March 8 Frank and I headed down to Tennessee to see family. Dad took us first to the Tomato Head - their Maryville location. I remember so fondly their pizza with pesto drizzled on top, and it did not disappoint!

Our visit also included a trip to the mountains for a 6 mile loop trail, referenced in the photo. Afterwards, we headed to Hot Springs Resort and Spa in Hot Springs, NC, and enjoyed an hour soaking in the hot springs. After some fantastic relaxation, we headed into Asheville and met my cousin at the Thirsty Monk for some local beer sampling. Frank enjoyed a couple of Legend (VA) brews; Meredith had an Asheville Brewing Company Fire Escape (a beer with jalapeno); and I sampled Pisgah Brewing Company's Red Devil. With dinner, Meredith persuaded me to try Highland Brewing Company's Oatmeal Porter. All really good, and when we ended up at the Grey Eagle for the concert, even they had great beer. I was beered out at that point, but it was nice to know that you could have good beer at a show. Not too easy in Chicago.

On Saturday, back to the mountains to Gatlinburg. The town was mobbed, but we managed to make it to Calhouns and sampled Smoky Mountain Brewery's Tuckaleechee porter, Black Beer brown ale, and Velas Helles (light German lager). After lunch, we explored the Roaring Fork Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

On Sunday we had a fantastic brunch with my parents, grandmother, and aunt and uncle. On the menu: biscuits, muffins, stuffed 'shrooms, deviled (dressed) eggs, frittata, sausage, and country ham. Yum!

Last Snow?

Zillmer, North Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest

Susan and Frank at Palmquist Farm cross country ski trails, Brantwood, WI

Frank on the River Run Trail at Minocqua Winter Park, Minocqua, WI

Over the weekend of February 25-26, our friends Todd & Kathleen came for a visit. We had orginally planned to ski, but when all the snow melted, we opted for a urban hike and beer crawl. We walked 4.5 miles, including a tour of Humboldt Park and sampled great beers at Piece, the Map Room, and Small Bar. A great way to spend a Saturday!

This week - the beginning of March - saw some snow in southern Wisconsin and a lot in northern Wisconsin. We had hoped to find great skiing within 2-3 hours of Chicago, so we started at Zillmer in the North Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Saturday morning was beautiful, but the snow was not as good as we'd hoped. After a 1.8 mile loop, we got back in the car and headed north toward Minocqua. Since it was a race day at the Minocqua Winter Park, we stopped at Palmquist Farm and enjoyed their trails for 2 hours. Gently rolling in several sections, the ride envoked a "Wheee..." from me. Today - Sunday - we got to the Winter Park at 9am and made our way to the 10K River Run Trail. It took us just under 2.5 hours. Beautiful, but also a bit long and tiring. Well worth it, though!

Skiing in the UP (and Minocqua, WI)

We left on Saturday, February 11, for Bessemer, MI. We stopped for lunch at the Red Eye Brewing Company in Wausau, WI, and had their Scottish Ale and Imperial Stout. Tasty.

We skiied 13.5 kilometers on Sunday at ABR trails near Ironwood, MI. On Monday we got in a couple hours at Minocqua Winter Park in Minocqua, WI. The best skiing all year! Views from skiing and our weekend below.

The sunrise view from Black River Crossing B&B, near Bessemer, MI

River view from Sunrise Loop, ABR trails, near Ironwood, MI

Susan and Frank, Little Girl's Point, Lake Superior, MI

Ski Season On Hold

Bye, bye snow. So for this weekend, we headed to the Chicago Botanical Garden in Glencoe, IL. Afterwards we headed south to Evanston for delectable Ethiopian food at Addis Abeba.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Ski Season Continues!

Wisconsin
Saturday, January 21:
Scuppernong Area of South Kettle Moraine State Forest
Green Loop, 5 miles

Sunday, January 22:
Lapham Peak Area of Kettle Moraine State Forest
Homestead to Evergreen down the Big Slide and Magic Carpet

Ski Season Begins: Views 2012

View of Lake Michigan from the dunes, Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, MI

Snowy waterway at Pigeon Creek Park, West Olive, MI

A Wedding, Celebrating Cheese, and More!

Jeff and Emily at their wedding on October 22, 2011

Back from our trip to Colorado, it's been back to normal in Chicago. We quickly visited one of our favorite Ethiopian restaurants - Abyssinian; I started my fabulous new job on Tuesday, September 27; and we took the skyscraper canyon kayak trip on the Chicago River one lovely Sunday evening.

After reading the Cheese Chronicles on the road trip, I've added extensive cheese tasting to my "to do" list in celebration of October 2011 as the first annual American Cheese Month. So far, I've tried Vermont's Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and an ash goat cheese - Bonne Bouche. We also tried, a fantastic sheep's milk washed rind cheese from Missouri - the bossa from Green Dirt Farm. This weekend at my sister's wedding, we kept the cheese celebration going by serving two Wisconsin cheeses: Bella Vitana Sartori (cheddar/parmesan) and Big Ed's from Saxon Creamery (a gouda). In addition, I added a classic: the Grayson from Virginia's Meadow Creek Dairy (another washed rind cheese).

Trip Highlights and Superlatives

View from Mt. Ida Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking Summary: 115+ miles hiked to 2 summits and 23 lakes over 12 separate hikes

Best Hikes: Andrews Glacier and Mt. Ida in Rocky Mountain National Park and Mt. Massive and Native Lake in Mt. Massive Wilderness

Best Rollerblading: Boulder's many paths

Best Brewery: Avery Brewing Company, Boulder, CO

Best Breakfast Bread/Pastry: the raspberry scone at Salida's Downtown Bakery and Deli, Melissa's zucchini (squash) bread, and Miriam Graetzer's banana bread

Best Drive: Independence Pass and south on 24 and 285 from Twin Lakes to Buena Vista to Salida

Best Overheard Phrase: "Babe, we're gonna bounce in 5," and then...5 minutes later, "Let's bounce."

Best Visiting: It was great to see Jane, Sandy, Ellen, Heidi, Terry, Jeff, Maurita and Linda, Don and Barbara, Nancy, Dave, Melissa & Milo, Greer and Gretchen!

Best ???: Rafting on the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs and retiring immediately afterwards to the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company; dinners in at the Aspen Meadows Resort (listening to the river, watching the sunset, good conversation); low key hanging out at Avery Brewing Company - the first time with Nancy and the second time - me and Frank; soaking at Cottonwood Springs hot springs near Buena Vista, CO; and relaxing by the river at Valley of the Wind Winery in Estes Park

Kinda Unexpected: Coloradans are pretty nonplussed by our hiking activities

Food Highlights: For Susan - Tandoori Grill's malai kofta/For Frank - Smokin' Dave's smokin' philly sandwich/For both of us -homemade chili with fresh chiles; a takeaway feast of Guinness mac and cheese with bacon and a kale, goat cheese, dried cherry salad; and The Butcher's Block's quinoa salad

Final Days

Our final days in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park were lovely. We spent a beautiful sunny Thursday in town catching up on email, photos, etc. We lunched by the river, and at the end of the day, visited Valley of the Wind winery and enjoyed their Tempranillo by the water at sunset. Ahh...

Friday, we took our last hike: 4.5 miles one way to the top of Mt. Ida at 12,880 ft and with a 2200 ft elevation gain. Along with Mt. Massive, this was our only other mountaintop hike. We got the best weather of the whole trip. At the top, it wasn't too cold, and you can see we're not completely bundled up! We had company at the top, which hardly happened on our hikes. Along the way, we heard elk bugling in the valley below us, saw several marmots seeking a sunny rock on the clear warm day, and spied super-chunky pikas - there must be plenty of good eating on Mt. Ida! On the way back, we surprised a herd of young bighorn sheep, which was impressive and our closest encounter with "big" wildlife on the entire trip.

Frank and Susan at Valley of the Wind Winery by the river, Estes Park, CO

King of the hill marmot, Mt. Ida trail, Rocky Mountain National Park

Frank and Susan on top of Mt. Ida (and that's Longs Peak, in case you were wondering)

Herd of big horn sheep, Mt. Ida Trail, RMNP

Back in Estes Park!

We spent the weekend in Denver and Boulder with friends and family. I had my best meal out on the trip, in fact the best malai kofta I've ever had at Tandoori Grill in Boulder, and we enjoyed great pupusas at the Denver farmer's market. After a second roller blading adventure on Boulder's paths, we spent a pleasant lunch hour back at Avery Brewing Company in Boulder. Ah, the joys of vacation!

Back in Estes Park on Monday, we got organized for our last big hiking push. On Tuesday we headed out on our longest hike of the trip ~16 miles round trip to Lawn Lake and beyond to Crystal Lakes. On Tuesday evening, we rendezvoused with our friend, Greer, and her mom for dinner on Tuesday and a hike on Wednesday. The weather cooperated and was mostly sunny for our loop hike from Bear Lake to lakes: Helene, Odessa, and Fern. A fellow hiker tipped us off to a gorgeous view from atop a boulder just south of the trail. Our day ended with a soothing hot tub soak, which was much appreciated after ~25 miles in two days!

Frank at Avery Brewing in Boulder, CO

Lawn and Crystal Lakes Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park

View from recommended boulder - Lake Helene, RMNP

Gretchen, Greer, Susan, and Frank on Fern Odessa Loop Trail, RMNP