As this year wraps up and I find myself living in a foreign country, something I haven't been able to do since 2006, I can't help but marvel at how fortunate I am. I've been giddy since the second the plane wheels touched down at the Quito airport, and as this post hits my blog, … Continue reading My Nomad Year
Tag: friends
Peaks Twenty-Four Through Twenty-Eight
Even though I wanted to get out of Colorado for so long and finally did with my new nomad life, I had to come back for a month in the summer to reach the summit of more 14ers. My target was the San Juan Mountains, nearly the most beautiful mountains on earth. So I booked … Continue reading Peaks Twenty-Four Through Twenty-Eight
Time to Move On
For more than a decade, I tried to leave Colorado. When I arrived in August 2008, I planned to get my graduate degree and immediately head back overseas to work in international development. Yet somehow, that never happened. Jobs, romantic relationships, friends, the writing community, athletic aspirations, and financial goals all conspired against my inner … Continue reading Time to Move On
The Final Days
Yes, I know that summer technically ends September 22, but considering that it already snowed in Boulder yesterday, I'm going to say we're well into the final days. And that wasn't even the first time I got snowed on during this summer. This obscenely early snowstorm, coupled with the record-setting storm we had in April … Continue reading The Final Days
Why I’m Quitting AirBnB
When I bought my townhouse last year, I intentionally bought a place with two bedrooms plus an office so I could have my dedicated workspace but also a guest room. I wanted the guest room for family and friends, and I figured that when it wasn't getting used, I could put it on AirBnB. Why … Continue reading Why I’m Quitting AirBnB
Mountains, Mountains, Mountains!
July has been a mountainous month for me. Colorado is a popular state in any season and mountain rentals are expensive, so when friends have one, you don't pass up the opportunity. After coming back from Glacier, I spent three weekends in a row rallying down to the geographical center of this state for all … Continue reading Mountains, Mountains, Mountains!
Pushing the Limits
Last year, I started really pushing the limits of what I can do physically. Between the Harvard/Columbia hike and the Devil On the Divide race, I began to understand what I was capable of, and, naturally, this year, wanted to push myself to do more. So I signed up for seven races between St. Patrick's … Continue reading Pushing the Limits
What Fresh Hell Is This?
Earlier this year, I ran a mountain relay race and it did something to my brain. It made me want to up my running game. I mean, distance? Yeah that's kind of cool. Maybe someday I'll run a marathon. But running uphill at 12,000 or 13,000 feet where you're struggling for oxygen and then being … Continue reading What Fresh Hell Is This?
The 14,000 Foot Summits of 2019
Despite the late start to 14er season this year, due to the massive amounts of snow over the winter, my friends and I managed to get in just as many peaks as in other years. Dedication to the cause! Not that I ever plan to hike them all—Class 4s with full climbing gear are definitely … Continue reading The 14,000 Foot Summits of 2019
What I Did On My End of Summer Vacation
Saturday: Spent seven hours in the car Sunday: Went grocery shopping Monday: Called into an all-hands at my full time job Tuesday: Did half an hour of work for a freelance client Wednesday: Got my oil changed Thursday: Groomed the dog Friday: Woke up to a 6:30 AM alarm Saturday: Cleaned up the house Sunday: … Continue reading What I Did On My End of Summer Vacation
Jennifer A Swallow 