First Fly Fishing Experience

Last Wednesday Jason (my boss) took me up to Rocky Mountain National Park and taught me how to fly fish. We started at Wild Basin trail head and hiked about 4 miles up to Ouzel Creek. One of the reasons we had to go up so far is that the water was running like crazy until we got up there.
I didn't catch anything and Jason only caught one, but the trip was a very good time and a learning experience (lets just say I lost a lot of flies to trees and logs). Here are some pics of the trip.


-Fly Fishing Boy


-Jason


-I think this is by the Calypso Cascades.


-The St. Vrain Creek.

Just another day at work...

Today the Brothers summer staff went out for a day away to enjoy some of God's creation and do some team building. We went to Saint Mary's Glacier about 1 hour and 15 minutes away to do some hiking and fishing. Jason did the fishing and everyone else did the hiking. After hiking the mountain I sat on a ridge and looked down the crazy steep snow sticking to the side of the mountain and wondered if I had enough ______ to Glicade (Spelling? Meaning:slide down on my butt) down it. So, after about ten minutes of debating and looking over the edge (which I might add had no paths down it) it leaned over and slid down. The video shows some but the crazier part was farther down where there was only a 15 foot gap between two boulders that I snuck through. Steve and Nate followed after they saw I made it to the bottom alive.

Definitely not a regular day at work...but I sure learned a lot.... Every test we face makes us stronger (as long as we live to learn from it).

I love you all.


-checking out the Saint Mary's Lake...below the glacier(which is actually a snow cap)


-Sarah (nate's girlfriend) nate and steve checking out the view.


-What a view.


-Messing around on a ridge.


-The slide mountain..


-Standing on the edge debating whether or not to go down (and Praying).

Jefferson Lake

This past Sunday and Monday I went to Jefferson Colorado and did a bit of hiking and some camping with Steve (summer staff and in the same grade from Dordt) and Noah (roommate at Dordt and Home Maintenance and Repair at Brothers). It was a bit cold because we were camping at about 10,000 ft, but we remedied that by sleeping in the back of Noah's van. Initially I did not like the idea of sleeping in a van while camping, however, after a bit of time I realized that its already 15 feet away from the site...so we might as well stay warm and sleep in it.


-Steve, Noah, Me in front of Jefferson Lake.


-the campsite (we slept in the back of the van because it was warmer and less work)


-Noah hiking around the lake.


-Standing in front of the lake

New Things

As some of you know, yesterday a "apartment cleaner dude" rang the doorbell and asked if I wanted to take the desk that the neighbors left in their house when they moved out. I of course said "sure....well, let me look at it first". When it was all said and done I acquired a queen size pillow-top bed with a box and frame, a lamp, corner table, two crappy paintings, a garbage can, and of course a sweet desk. Here are some pictures of the items.


-The bed, box, and trash can.


-The lamp and corner table.


- Here it is...my new - Free - Desk.


-Ohh yah, I bought a bike last week...its a cheaper one...but its still nice for my standards.


-The Bike 2

I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all..

I love the park.

This past Saturday Ryan and I went up to Rocky Mountain National Park and did some spring hiking. We had to go through a lot of snow, but on the way down it was a great deal of fun to slide on the snow (though we fell quite often). Thank goodness I finally got up to the mountains..I was beginning to think I would go crazy; seeing them everyday and not being able to climb them.











-ryan


-Ryan and me on one sister..

In other news...A friend gave me two free tickets to the Colorado Rapids Game last Thursday and I got a free ticket to go the Rockies Game today with Jason, Jamie, and another one of our friends. Soo...I have been really blessed lately to be able to enjoy some of the things Denver has to offer with out breaking the bank.

Crazy Historians...

Check out what I found when I was cleaning out the old Dordt email:





Last Spring the Senior History Majors staged an overthrow of the Dordt History department...and took these fun pictures in the process. I am pretty sure there was a article in the Dordt Diamond about it....the Zircon if I remember correctly. Hope you enjoyed them.

ps...don't email me at my Dordt account anymore...

Back to Castlewood Canyon and the Rock Wall

This past Saturday Sean, Brett, Me, and Nicole (a volunteer that worked with me last friday) went down south to do some Sport Climbing with cousin Jason. The weather turned out beautiful, everyone was in a good mood, I am still sore today, but more thankful to Jason and Jamie for taking us out for some sweet climbing. Here are some pics...


-Brett on the wall


- Nicole (from NE Iowa..Bellevue) who came with us.


-Sean hanging on the wall.


-getting up there...on an easier climb


-Brett hanging on for dear life (not really)


-I made it to the top of a pretty tough crack to climb.

Moab, Utah, and Arches National Park

This weekend Sean, Luke, and I, decided to go to Moab, Utah, to do some spring camping. We left on Thursday afternoon and got back tonight at five. In between....well it looks a bit like this...


-This sign tells a true story...only because Arches has many great places to climb apposed to hike...and climbing is a bit more dangerous.


-Entrance to Arches National Park and visitors center.


-Our Campsite in Devil's Garden Campground (we woke up early and got there at 630 to get it..first come first serve)


-My new SWISS ARMY tent.


-me and Luke right by our campsite and the trailhead


-Pine Tree Arch


-Landscape Arch


-If you look close you can see me under Delicate Arch.


-a bit of the landscape by Delicate Arch


-Sean and Luke by Broken Arch.


-Climbing on Broken Arch


-Sean and me near Partition Arch


-Climbing near Partition Arch


-Sean by an Arch


-Luke on the edge near Delicate Arch.


-After we raced to the top of a short climb near Delicate Arch


-Climbing using the walls near Devils Garden Trailhead


-The dudes..