Adventures with Friends

Me in the middle, with Shaun on the left and Jake on the right at the top of Tennessee Pass outside of Leadville, Colo.

It’s always fun to show friends your favorite spots and activities when they visit. I’m lucky to live in the amazing state of Colorado where there is plenty of goodness to share.

Last weekend, my husband, Shaun, and I hosted our friend, Jake, for a few days. He came in from the East Coast, taking a well-deserved break from working hard and the heat and humidity of Washington, D.C.

We enjoyed a few days in and around our hometown of Boulder, wandering around the Pearl Street pedestrian mall and taking in the variety of street performances. I wish I’d had my camera to take a pic of the guy who balanced on a precarious “half circle” while juggling three large machetes. Or the man who was dressed head to toe in a “mirror suit” made of pieces of mirrored glass.

The main reason Jake came to Colorado was to ride bikes, though, so we warmed him up with a favorite loop around Boulder up a steep climb called Olde Stage then back to town up and then down another climb on Lee Hill Road. Since we had a big ride planned for the mountains on Saturday, we figured it would be a good way to get Jake acclimated.

Our big day was riding what is dubbed “The Copper Triangle.” It’s an 80-mile loop in the mountains that starts at Copper Mountain Resort and travels 80 miles over several passes—Vail Pass (elevation 10,666’), Tennessee Pass (elevation 10,424’), and Fremont Pass (elevation 11,318’). The triangle name is deceiving since there is also a “little” climb thrown in called Battle Mountain Pass (elevation 9,253’). The total elevation gain for the route is 5,981 feet.

We couldn’t have scored better weather for our ride. It was a classic Colorado bluebird day with barely a cloud in the sky. Temps were ideal, so our rain jackets stayed tucked in our jersey pockets. We just had to sit back, pedal, and enjoy the ride.

Finishing this loop is an accomplishment, particularly for someone coming in from sea level. Heck, I was pooped! And 80 miles is the longest Jake had ever ridden in one shot, so he was totally psyched to have done it. His Facebook post that day read:

Copper –> Vail –> Minturn –> Leadville –> Copper. Surprise of the day: The Continental Divide (!)

Hopefully you have friends coming to visit this summer and that you’ve got a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with them. I’ve found over the years that I often bypass great things to do that are right in my backyard and instead seek out those bigger, further-away adventures. But friend visits are an inspiration to take advantage of those good things close to home.

Hope you’re having a great summer!