Out on the Water

Portland's fall season is not quite as colorful as other parts of the country due to our large evergreen population, but it still is beautiful. The short, cool days confirm the end of summer and the beginning of a new pace that accompanies the onset of winter.

Work at the hospital has been steady, but I am eager to begin exploring next steps for my professional career. A passion for healthy lifestyle and nutrition has inspired me to entertain a potential career in functional medicine health coaching. The current model of western healthcare is life-saving but incomplete/reductionist. I am excited by the thought of uncovering the root cause of disease, thereby encouraging patients to prevent illness through adopting lifestyle changes vs. dispensing pharmaceuticals to mitigate symptoms. 

 

My hiking boots are mostly stashed away for the season, so my free time is spent winterizing the garden, cycling and paddling on my new inflatable stand up paddle board. With the pool closed since March, it feels therapeutic to get out on the water. I am also making a point to read most days (lasted recommendation: Fiber Fueled) and, of course, make time for my loving boyfriend. Happy 30th birthday, Tom!

Frog Lake

Willamette River

Crested Butte, CO

Nothing says fall like the golden aspen trees in Colorado. Anna and Alex's friends rented a house in the mountains last week for work and play, which became an opportunity for me to visit one of my favorite places and people. Traveling during the turmoil of 2020 is somewhat controversial, but the benefits outweighed the risks in this instance.

 

I flew into Denver on Wednesday, and spent the evening with my girlfriends, Sarah, Anna and Lexi. We reunited on the rooftop lounge at Linger in the highlands. For the rest of the night, I watched Parks and Rec with my niece, Aspen. Just like the good old days!

On my way to the mountains on Thursday, I stopped for a morning workout at Red Rocks. It felt great to be at elevation again. The 4-hour drive southwest of Denver became gradually more scenic as I neared my destination.

Crested Butte is possibly my favorite mountain town in Colorado. It's a special place filled with unspoiled beauty year round. I arrived at the house to be greeted by Anna. The large deck overlooking Mt. Crested Butte was an ideal gathering place for our group of 8. We were blessed with perfect weather; mid-70s with unlimited sunshine. 

On Friday morning, Anna and I went for an easy hike close to town. We began on the Woods Walk, staying to the left at most junctions, which offers the higher trail and slightly better views of the valley. The first quarter mile starts through an aspen grove and then opens up to reveal a grand vista of Peanut Lake, Gothic Mountain and Mt. Crested Butte. The trail continues down into the valley with glowing aspen groves off to the left. At the end, the path splits off onto the Lower Loop or the Bud Trail, which connects to the Upper Lower Loop. Both routes continue further up the Slate River Valley. Watch out for bikers!

That evening, the group caught the shuttle into town for food and drinks. We circled through Public House, The Eldo Brewery and Montanaya Distillers.

On Saturday morning, I joined Anna and Alex for another combo hike located along the scenic Ohio Pass. Swampy Pass is an easy trek through some of the best aspens in the valley, and offers views of the iconic Castles rock formations in the West Elk Wilderness.

  

Just down the road lies the trailhead to Beaver Ponds--a short but rewarding hike through aspens and a forested floor covered with ferns. A dirt trail leads up to the ponds, where the view opens up to reveal the Anthracite Range mountains. It's a great spot for picnics and camping.

 

On our drive back to town, we stopped in Gunnison at one of our favorite breweries, High Alpine Brewing Co. That evening, we shared a family dinner and board games outside on the deck.

Everyone was sad to leave on Sunday. Despite getting an early start, we encountered a substantial amount of traffic on the drive back to Denver. I also noted the familiar haze of a nearby wildfire burn. Saying goodbye to Anna and Alex is never easy, but I felt grateful for the time spent together and for the wonderful getaway. Looking forward to our next reunion in December!