A chocolate birthday cake for Jude

Today, Jude turned 19.

He arrived home from college for Thanksgiving break on Thursday night, while I was still out of town. And he was good enough to pick me up at the airport late morning on Friday. It was so great to see him, it had been over a month.

It has been a pretty chill weekend. Jude wanted to make shrimp tacos last night and today, he decided that we would have home-cooked steaks. So, we went to Rugby Scott, our local butcher that gets their meat direct from their farms, and Jude chose some rib eyes and filets. Marcy cooked up some carrots and chard and we had a delicious dinner.

Today, Jude wanted to watch soccer and football. We had Arsenal playing Spurs this morning, a game the Gunners dominated, which was a wonderful birthday present for Jude. The Broncos were off on a bye week but Jude watched some of the other NFL games on today. We went downtown for the Chriskindlmarket, which was on the campus where Anna goes to school at Community College of Denver (they share a campus with UC Denver and Metro State University).

After dinner, we did gifts and Jude loved the watch that Marcy chose for him.

With his new birthday watch

Arriving in Times Square for the first time

I have been going to New York several times a year for over a decade. Anna often asked to go on one of these trips, because she loves New York. Marcy took her there a year ago for her 16th birthday and the stars aligned for Anna to come along on my latest trip and do some college visits.

Visiting the Lincoln Center campus of Fordham University

On Wednesday, we visited Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus (in the North Bronx) and NYU. Anna loved Fordham and surprisingly disliked NYU. Fordham has a beautiful campus, is a smaller school but has great international programs, including a campus in London and Madrid.

Walking back from NYU, we came across a bizarre wedding, and we got cake!

As we walked back from NYU we came across this scene with dozens of people crowding around taking photos. It was Kevin from The Office, and he was officiating a wedding of a Ramp employee. It was all very strange, and we just happened to sit down in the right spot and the wedding party came really close to us. And they gave out cake.

The Book of Mormon on Broadway is about to start

On Thursday, I had to work and Anna spent some time in exploring the city by herself, that she just loved. We did one more college tour that day, at John Jay, which Anna also didn’t like. Both NYU and John Jay were high on her list before this visit but they have both been ruled out now – that is why you do college visits. That night, we got tickets to the Book of Mormon musical. It was fantastic.

Walking through Central Park

Friday, was the day I took completely off. We started walking to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. Then we walked through Central Park and took the tram/gondola over to Roosevelt Island in the East River. I had never been and it was a wonderful change of pace from the bustle of Manhattan. Lots more walking including a stop by the Arconia (the building in Only Murders in the Building) and then dinner on a rooftop restaurant near the Empire State Building.

Dinner at A to Z on the Fifth Rooftop on our last night

It was over too quickly, and we were up bright and early on Saturday morning for our flight home. Then, we were home for barely 30 minutes before we drove down to Colorado Springs for our annual Air Force Falcons football game – the tickets were bought before we knew we were going to NYC. It was a fun game, but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing into the stadium, so we left a little early.

Cheering on the Air Force Falcons

Today, I was back down in Colorado Springs for the annual Manitou Incline hike. Jude came home Saturday night, and Marcy, he, and I drove down this morning to tackle it. It was perfect conditions and we all made it up there, although no one broke any records this time.

At the top of the Incline

The busy weekend culminated in a crazy Broncos game where they came from 18 points behind with six minutes left to beat the Giants.

Birthday breakfast at Snooze downtown

Anna turned 17 on Tuesday. And given it was a school day and a workday as a cheer coach, Anna had a full schedule. So, we decided to go out for breakfast. Jude came home on Monday night, so he could join us, and then he caught the bus back after breakfast to CU for classes.

With her birthday cheesecake

As she did last year, Anna requested a cheesecake for her birthday cake, and Marcy made a delicious one. It may have been the best cheesecake I had ever tasted.

Last weekend was homecoming but Anna was not all that into it this year. But she did get dressed up and went for photos at the lake with everyone but her favorite photo was the one Marcy took on our front step.

Anna in her homecoming outfit

Last night, Marcy and I went to see Paul McCartney at Coors Field in Denver. He was amazing, one of the best shows I have ever seen. At 83 years old, he looked fit and still played a solid 2 1/2 hour show. It was so great to hear many of the old Beatles hits as well as Wings.

Paul McCartney at Coors Field

Off to college he goes

It has been a big week. We had been building up to this day all summer. On Tuesday, we drove Jude to college in Boulder. He is officially a freshman living in the Farrand Hall dorm at CU. It was a bittersweet day. We still find it hard to believe that the boy we had nurtured all this time is now a young man, starting a new stage of his adult life.

In his new dorm with Anna

One of the good things about having Jude so close is that we are able to visit quite easily. He said he wanted his bike and a few other items so when Marcy and I had a Ridhwan meeting in Boulder we suggested we grab some dinner and deliver his items to him. It was good to see him, even thought it had only been five days.

He is adjusting to college life and enjoying it so far. He was very tired when we saw him today, having stayed up “very late” on Saturday night and he didn’t get up until 11am. His classes are going well, he is enjoying all the freshman activities and meeting new people, as well as hanging out with some of his friends from South. He likes his new roommate which is good.

Anna goes off to school as a junior

Of course, this week wasn’t all about Jude. Anna started her junior year at South. Although she is only taking one class at South High School this semester, her other classes are all college classes at the Community College of Denver where she is working towards her associates degree in criminology.

Jude and I on the summit of Mt Lincoln at 8:30am

Jude and I started doing 14ers when he was eight years old, so this year marks the eleventh annual hike. We decided to do the famed DeCaLiBron hike. It is called that because you summit Mt Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross all in one loop hike.

While that sounds incredibly challenging, it is actually one of the easier 14er hikes. This is because you start above 12,000 feet in elevation and the hike itself is only 7.5 miles long, as the 14ers are all close together.

This trailhead is hard to get to in a regular car and since we no longer have the Explorer, we decided to rent an SUV on Turo. This way we could drive to the trailhead on Friday night and then we could sleep in the car and be on the trail early on Saturday.

We hit the trail just after 6am and we made our first summit, Mt Bross, before 7:30am. It was an easy hike over to Mt Lincoln, an even easier hike up Mt Cameron but Mt Democrat was challenging. The last half mile is steep and very rocky. Then we got to the summit around 10:15am, it started raining, which soon turned to snow. Needless to say, we did not linger at the summit.

It had just started snowing on the summit of Mt Democrat

By the time we got back to the main loop trail the sun was out and it was warmer. We made it back to the car before noon and we both tired but in good shape.

Setting out from Herman Gulch on Friday night

Last weekend Marcy and I went on our annual backpacking, and what a trip it was. I had been planning this trip all year and thought I had figured out a good blend of uncrowded trails, beautiful scenery and reasonable challenge.

I nailed the first two, but the last one I misjudged completely. This hike was brutally tough, the most difficult we have ever done.

On Friday night the Uber dropped us off at Herman Gulch trailhead just before 6pm. We had done this hike many times before, it isone of Marcy’s favorite hikes, and we were at our campsite at Herman Lake by 7:45pm.

We had Herman Lake to ourselves but by 8am it was already getting crowded with morning hikers. We hit the trail on what I expected would be our hardest day, I just didn’t know how hard it would be.

Following the Continental Divide trail along the ridgeline with great views

We followed the Continental Divide trail all morning and into the early afternoon before we left it for the summit push to Mount Nystrom. Here, the trail was hard to find, and the going was slower than usual. Plus it was really windy. By this stage it was already past three o’clock and we were already behind schedule.

The next part I knew would be challenging as we were hiking above treeline with no marked trail. What I didn’t know was when we got down to the trail below treeline, it would be just as sparse and difficult to find. It got to 5:30pm and we had a decision to make. Do we camp in this beautiful valley or push to our final destination still several miles away. We decided to push on.

A moose enjoying an evening paddle in Saint Louis Lake

The hike up Saint Louis Peak was brutal. We couldn’t find the trail and the mountain was about a 40% incline. We finally got up and over by 6:30pm but there was still 4+ miles to go. Needless to say those miles were not done quickly, as I was completely spent, so we finally made it to Saint Louis Lake just after 8:30pm, when it was nearly dark. As we were setting up camp, we noticed a moose paddling in the water of the lake.

The next day was challenging in a different way. We were doing fine until the final three miles. There the trail just ended, despite the map telling us it was there. We went searching for the trail but couldn’t find it. So, we fjorded the river twice as we tried to make our way to our campsite, way behind schedule again. We made it to a beautiful campsite on the river by just after 8pm.

Enjoying time in the sun after a cold night

We hoped the final day would be smooth with no surprises but that was not to be. Again the trail disappeared despite what the map said, and again we had to fjord the river. The hike up the backside of Ptarmigan Peak was challenging and by this stage I was completely worn out. So, it was slow going. We decided not to summit but do the bypass which ended up being just as long, or so it felt. We had a little rain but nothing too bad and we finally hooked up with the main trail again.

We made it! An exhausted Peter & Marcy at the Ptarmigan Peak trailhead

By the time we got to the trailhead it was after 6pm, and once again we were a couple of hours behind schedule. We were exhausted but glad to be done. An Uber back to Keystone and then dinner at Chimayo and we were home by about 8:30pm. The kids were very happy to see us after their longest time minding the house and pets.

It was a long and challenging trip and next year we decided to make it easier on ourselves. No more 18-mile days, we are thinking 10-12 miles a day, and include a “rest” day where we keep our tent up and just go for a day hike.

I already have some ideas and will start planning soon.

The traditional kids photo with Lily joining via FaceTime

This past week we had the annual summer trip to Keystone with the Dahlens. For the first time ever, it was eight of us instead of nine, as Lily had to stay back in Iowa to work and attend classes.

The other thing that was unique about this week is that Jude, Marcy, and I had to leave for a day for Jude’s orientation at CU Boulder. That was super worthwhile, as they had a separate parents’ program, and Jude got a little feel for what college life will be like. He got to stay in one of the dorms for the night. He also selected his classes and was able to secure the ones he wanted.

Anna and Marcy on horseback

Back to Keystone, where the rest of the week was action-packed. The girls all went horseback riding one day, down near Fairplay. It was a beautiful ride, but Anna didn’t feel that great and by the end was having a major allergic reaction to her horse. So, it was straight to the urgent care, where they gave her oxygen, a nebulizer, and an EpiPen, which made her feel better. For a while, we thought this might involve an ambulance ride to Frisco because Anna was having real trouble breathing. But thankfully, she avoided that.

In Urgent Care after horseback riding but feeling a little better

Meanwhile, Nathan, Jude, and I went for a hike at Loveland Pass. It was a gorgeous day, so we climbed one of the 13ers near the top of the pass.

On the summit of Cupid Peak

The three of us played our annual round of golf at the River Course in Keystone (no cart incident this time).

Rafting down “The Numbers” on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista

There was a day of rafting that was a blast for all involved. Chloe, Mandy, and I decided to skip the rafting. I took Olive for a hike in the mountains near our place, and Mandy and Chloe had a relaxing day. That night, we all went on a ghost tour of Breckenridge, which was a lot of fun.

On Buffalo Mountain, not that far from the summit

Then, on July 4, Ella, Marcy, Jude, and I got up early to tackle Buffalo Mountain. Once again, we didn’t make the summit, as the weather was closing in, so we decided not to risk it. And we wanted to get back to meet the others at the farmers market in Dillon.

That evening was the traditional Mexican restaurant dinner, although our regular place, Dos Locos, was closed for the holidays. We tried Lime in River Run, which was excellent (I think I prefer it).

Another great week is in the books. We are already starting to talk about the 2026 trip.

Jude arrived back from Nepal last Sunday night after an epic trip where he flew from Kathmandu to Delhi, then to Zurich and on to Denver. It took almost 36 hours door to door.

He was tired but in good spirits. He enjoyed his last few days at the National Park and then his two days in Kathmandu before flying out. He made a couple of American friends at the hostel and went out with them and just wandered around the city. He has had a quiet week at home as his body adjusts back to Denver time.

Marcy and Anna with David in downtown Greenville

Meanwhile, Marcy and Anna left first thing on Monday morning to head to Greenville, South Carolina, for Anna’s first college trip. Marcy’s aunt and uncle (who are basically the same age as Marcy) live in Greenville, so Marcy and Anna stayed with them the first night. They both went to Clemson, so they were happy to sell Anna on how great their alma mater is.

Clemson is number one right now

They visited Clemson, Charleston, UNC Wilmington, UNC Chapel Hill and NC State. Of the five colleges, Anna said that Clemson was her favorite. She said NC State was her second favorite. She loved the feel of both campuses, and they also have a great cheerleading program.

Stopping for lunch at the top of the mountain

With Jude still in Nepal, for Father’s Day this year it was just the three of us. I decided we should go for a hike in the mountains so we were out the door by 9am and on the trail just after 9:30am.

With my favorite girl on top of Bergen Peak

We did Bergen Peak, a trail near Evergreen, that is a good challenging hike and not that crowded. Marcy and I did it about 20 years ago but I don’t think we have been back since. It was a hot day but thankfully we had some cloud cover for the second part of the hike. We did the 11.6 miles in around 5 1/2 hours, which included a nice break on top of the mountain for lunch.

Jude with his favorite elephant called Rupa

We hear from Jude most days. He is enjoying his time in Nepal but it is hard work at the Elephant Sanctuary and he is exhausted at the end of the day. He only has two more days and then he spends his last four days in Kathmandu before flying out on Saturday night. We can’t wait to see him when he lands back in Denver on Sunday afternoon.

Just after Jude’s high school graduation ceremony

It was a big week.

Jude graduated from high school, and Anna finished her sophomore year. Then, Jude left for a big end-of-high-school trip to Nepal via Dubai.

His official graduation photo

Getting to the finish line for Jude was not easy as he had a bad case of senioritis. But he buckled down and did what he had to do to make it through. His grandparents drove out from Iowa to be with him which I know he really appreciated.

Jude receiving his high school diploma

The big day was this past Wednesday. He had to be at the DU, where the ceremony was, at 9:30am. We arrived by noon and the ceremony got going at 1pm. As these things go, I thought they did an excellent job. The speeches were good, and not long winded, and they added some nice touches. I particularly liked hearing from the dozen seniors at the end, many of whom came from difficult circumstances around the world.

The celebrations begin as all the graduates throw their caps into the air

The immediate family celebrate with Jude

When it was over we met Jude outside and he was happy, I think it was a relief to get this all over with. Marcy’s cousins, Michele and Tony drove down from Pine and we all gathered for a celebratory dinner of Indian food – Jude’s choice.

I had to take a redeye to NYC on Wednesday night as I was speaking at a conference on Thursday. So, I wasn’t around as Jude got ready for his big three-week trip to Nepal. Luckily, I was able to make it back in time to see him off at the airport.

Jude in Dubai in front of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

He flew from Denver to New York, then to Dubai where he had a 17-hour layover, and on to Kathmandu, Nepal, where he arrived on time early this morning our time. He hooked up with his volunteer group, where he is spending two days for orientation and then on to Chitwan National Park where he will be volunteering at the elephant sanctuary.