shoot, man!

Day after 4th of July...

what better way to celebrate the holiday than to go shoot guns with family?!
Some of us headed up to Fort Collins, CO to enjoy a morning of shootin'.

Not going to lie...I don't remember the names of all the guns.
I'm not a gun expert by any means, but man, they sure are fun to shoot!
We fired a bunch of ARs, a 1911, some 45s, shotgun, M4, M3, M2, and some pistols
My favorites included the shotgun, M4, and the sniper rifle :)

Thanks so much to Terren for such an awesome time!

Bierstadt + Evans

So I usually don't like posting the same type of thing back to back...

But I did another pair of 14ers!  This time it was Mount Bierstadt (which is impossible to spell) and Mount Evans!

Went with a totally different group of people, new mountains, different atmosphere, but the same breath-taking views.

Looking over these pictures, in light of the dozen fires that have been blazing through Colorado, my heart sinks.  It is devastating to see the smoke fill the air.  Knowing it will take generations for all those trees to grow back to their prior beauty.  My heart goes out to all the families and small businesses that are being evacuated.  Please keep these beautiful mountains, the homes, and all the families in your prayers that are being affected right now.

GOD: send the rain!!

At the top of Mt Bierstadt: 14, 065 ft

Sawtooth Pass: technical + sketch = awesome!

Can you spot the marmot?

Siesta at the top of Mt Evans: 14,265 ft

You can drive to the top of Evans.  It was a zoo.

Our descent was through the swamp.  Can you say, "Man vs. Wild"!?

Grays & Torreys

It's not everyday you get to hike for hours and get views from the top of the world.  But oh baby, that's exactly what we did!

With the car full, we left at the crack 'o dawn and drove into the dark mountains with some country music blarin'.  We saw the sunrise as we trucked up the 14,000 foot mountain, singing songs, joking, getting way too close to wildlife, and trying to breathe.  But alas, we made it.

Let me tell you...it was worth every second of lost sleep and tired muscles.  So we hiked to the top of both Grays & Torreys' peaks!  So stinkin' great...in every way.

If you are willing and if your body is capable, I believe everyone should try to do this at some point in their life.  The views will blow your mind.

Some photos from on top o' the world:

Enjoying the sunrise.  Can you say, 'Gorgeous lighting'!?

These guys were right on the trail.  So awesome (and way too close!)

Some Boulder kids decided they wanted to smoke some pot at the top. Classic.