Couch to Fourteener

*They say if you tell someone your goals, you're more likely to complete them. (I'm sure there's a statistic out there, and you know I love nothing more to be a statistic!) So here you go - I'm telling a whole bunch of someone's my goal! I copied this from my other blog, where I try to avoid sharing our families names - because it's public, unlike this where only a few people have the link!*

Ok beloved readers, please stick with me through this one! It will get cheesy in places, I promise you that! But hear me out!

In July I had the chance of a lifetime, my father in law took us (The Trucker, Scribber and Myself) to Alaska for a weeklong adventure! For one leg of our trip, we stayed at a lodge deep in the heart of Denali National Park. It was this absolutely amazing, breathtaking place. No matter where you looked, you felt just in awe of the beauty.

One of the activities that the lodge offered was guided hikes, and since we'd heard there was a good view of Denali that day (which apparently is incredibly rare) The Trucker had his parents watch Scribber and he and I headed out to join the afternoon hike.

Now - let me set the scene for you. The Trucker and I wait at the main lodge for our guide, where we are joined by our group. There is a family, 4 kids and the parents. They all look to be in incredible shape, all athletic. There's also a couple from India - while they aren't as physically fit as the other family? They still appear in FAR better shape than the Trucker and I are.

Then our guide shows up - he asks if everyone has water (check) and no one is wearing flip-flops (again, check) then he takes one look at my shoes - worn out New Balance Running Shoes, that probably should have been thrown out AGES ago. He grabs a hiking pole and tosses it at me, tells me I'll need it.

We load up the Lodge Van, an old 15-passenger beast, which is taking us to the trailhead. Once we load up our guide announces that he'll give us the option of taking the simple hike we were going to take, or the more advanced one, Wickersham Dome, which has an INCREDIBLE view of the mountain. The Fit Family Robinson squeals at the idea of this more advanced hike. While the Trucker is sitting shotgun, rambling away, I am sitting in the middle row realizing that this out of shape, pudgy housewife from the middle of nowhere isn't about to embarrass herself by holding up this families dream vacation. No way. So what am I going to do? Make a fool of myself, and hike this near vertical climb!

Yep. Of course. It's the only logical option right?

Now, I've got to hand it to our guide, Michael, who if for some odd reason you stumble upon my blog? Well, you are an angel, and deserve some fantastic prize, perhaps a lottery win! He could tell when I'd nearly reached my limit and would pop in with some nature spiel, telling us about this fantastic flower we were passing. He would ramble on long enough for me to sort of catch my breath, and off we'd go.

Long story short? We made it (almost) to the top. The Fit Family Robinson was fantastic too, seriously, it's like I brought my own personal cheerleaders all the way to Alaska with me! But more than that, this hike was possibly the pinnacle of my trip. It made me realize that I actually like hiking! Who'd thunk it? (I mean, seriously - I live in Colorado. I can see Pikes Peak from my house. Yet, I had no idea how much I liked hiking!)

Fast forward nearly a month, I'm sitting in church. (Hey, I told you it'd get cheesy!) And it hits me - at least I think it was the idea, I'm pretty sure it wasn't the lightning yet, although thunder did strike soon after. Anyway, I realized, sitting there in my chair, trying to blend in with the background and praying that the people around me couldn't hear my horrendous singing, that I love hiking. I've been trying to think of a way to get in shape, running isn't my thing. I don't really want to pay a gym membership fee. And I don't own a bike (again, I'm cheap!) But, I could hike! I mean, again, I live in Colorado!

So of course, I'm not going to be happy just hiking around the nature center here in town. Nope. No way. I am going to summit a fourteener. And on my way, just because I've proven that I am insane? Why don't I tackle the Manitou Incline too?

So welcome to my journey! I'll be updating here, as I attempt to get in shape, roll down trails and eventually summit a fourteener!