The Gear Room

  When I moved to Colorado and began apartment shopping, I had a few things in mind. I needed dog friendly, clean and cozy, preferred a nice view and some storage space. If the price was right, I thought a 2^nd bedroom would be nice but not entirely for the reason you might think. Sure, now that I found my place, it has been great to have a room for guests (as I see quite a few of these now that I live in a destination location), but what I REALLY love about my apartment is the guest bedroom’s closet. For this large, walk-in closet has become my gear closet. We all have a way we like to organize and I admit to organizing more than the average person, but I thought showing one way to sort your outdoor equipment might prove useful if the time ever comes to wrangle your own. 

 Hanging your sleeping bags is an easy way to keep your insulation from getting too compressed and, therefore not working to it's labelled rating. No sleeping bag should be stored compressed but synthetics will tolerate it more than down. Another option is to store them in a large trash bag, pillowcase etc.

 I just installed this awesome hook for my heavy packs. Previously they were stored on plastic coat hangers, but the weight of each pack was too much and I kept breaking the hangers. This contraption cost $8 at ACE Hardware and installed in 2 minutes (screws came with it). It also provided me an excuse to wield my drill. Holler!

 2 additional small hooks for satchels and day packs and all bags are off the floor!

 Please don't judge me. Keep in mind I used to manage a gear shop. I sort by style...vests, fleece, rain wear, winter etc. As a tip, tucking the sleeves keeps the jackets from invading your walkway.

                                   Okay, I might have a problem when it comes to puffy vests.

 The odds and ends are easily wrangled in these stacking storage bins. A little duct tape to label and I no longer lose the snow baskets to my trekking poles or extra batteries.

 In organizing, make your categories fit what you have. I had a lot of extra "Bags" (stuff sacks, rain-covers etc) so that merited a drawer. I also have drawers for "Stoves and Fuel," "Misc. Cooking" (sporks, spatulas), "Shades (sunglasses)/Manuals," "Lights/Navigation/Personal" (headlamps, compasses, micro-fiber towels, pee funnels- this one is about ready to be re-sorted to 2 drawers with the addition of my new wilderness medical gear), and "Gear Care/Repair and Security" (holds locks/keys, Tech Washes, Camelback Cleaner)

I'm still working on a proper shoe solution to get those muddy things off the carpet. This does not nearly display all of my footwear. Up top, I keep tents, closed-cell pads, my snowshoes, weights, and a file of maps. Barely visible on the wall are all of my hats and trekking poles. Not shown is a ginormous Rubbermaid to the left (under the jackets) that holds all of my climbing equipment, travel pillows, sleep sacks and bigger cookware. You can see that all of my leg layers are stacked on top of the drawer units for easy access. One exception is that I hang my rain pants with my fav. rain jacket so they're ready to pack as part of my 10 essentials.

This systems has worked pretty well for me. I try hard to keep this closet for GEAR ONLY, which is not an easy feat.

Any methods you use to organize your gear? How about those of you who can't dedicate an entire room/closet to it? Any suggestions to manage footwear? Please share and I'll add any tips/pics to the blog as we continue the conversation.

Feelin' The Love

A group of the Omaha Real Chicks went to North Carolina last week for a girls only water adventure weekend. I was hoping I'd be able to join them but my over-committed self could swing the vacation time. From the few pictures I've seen and the facebook status updates, it looked like an incredible weekend for some incredible women.

How honored was I when they took a jump shot picture and sent it to me stating that I "was there in spirit?!?" VERY honored...and a little jealous...and maybe kind of sad...but mostly honored.

You may recall from here or here, that while I did not invent the jump shot, I sure do love them.

I've been promised at least one blog post from the NC Kayak crew so watch for more to come. In the mean time, let me just reitterate how much I adore these adventurous, life-loving women. They continue to inspire me in their relationships and free-spirited choices. I am just SO honored to have them in my life.

The Responsible Dog Mom

 Have you ever been on trail and attacked? Not by a bear or a mountain lion or even another person but by a dog? It's happened to me. I'm cruising up trail when out of nowhere, I'm sideswiped by a blur-of-a-dog chasing after some unseen critter or even approached by a barking, growling, protective mutt determined to block my progress.
 I love dogs. A lot. But as any Kentucky bluegrass farmer (read: homeowners with manicured lawns) can tell you, a dog untrained is a dog disliked. No matter how big or small.

No matter how cute:

Or ugly:

Sorry about that. Ew.

As any potential landlord can tell you, everyone has the best dog in the world. I don't know when or why we all decided that if we just left our dogs alone they would grow up to be well-behaved, loving and respectful of others. Can you imagine if we did that to kids?!

This week, I am accepting that this guy:

is NOT the best, most well-behaved dog on the planet. He's a rescue, which amplifies his issues. He's very protective of me which means that if you approach our car, our house or even on occasion, my physical person, he will raise his hackles, bark obsessively and generally try to intimidate you. He's never actually bitten anyone but he's snapped at a few people and that makes me nervous.

Sometimes more entertaining is his protectiveness when it comes to wildlife. He will FREAK out when we drive past statues of elk, moose (statues, people!). I live in Colorado. We have a lot of statues around here. We were once approached on trail by some horse-packers. My dog was so nuts around the horses that I had to lay on him to keep him from running up to and barking at them. We've never run into a moose on trail (a miracle out here) but as you may recall from here, dogs look like coyotes to moose so I live in fear of the day when he gets a swift kick to the head for antagonizing.

Then, there's the kid thing. He gets jealous and/or just does not understand kids and how they move. He snaps at kids (again- has never actually injured one). What has this meant for his life? Well, we avoid kids like the plague. When friends bring their kids over, my dog gets put in solitary confinement. No dog parks for him....too much risk that kids will be present. He gets no practice with kids where we live and how do you ask someone if their kid can be the guinea pig? You don't. Generally, bad idea.

So, when Sit Means Sit and their Board and Train program were recommended to me by a friend who had used the program, it seemed like a perfect fit. Bracco is now in the midst of his week away. He's living with a trainer and his family (3 dogs, a cat- who he also hates, 2 kids and a wife) for a week. He goes everywhere the trainer goes, including lots of group classes, and gets practice with kids who are well versed in working with dogs that don't love kids. He's learning impulse control and discipline.

Some may find that SMS isn't their cup of tea. Bracco has to wear a collar...the controversial kind. MANY don't believe in this method of training. In fact, I was one of them until I moved to a place where his behavior threatened his life and the quality of that life. What is cruel? Bracco in solitary or a collar? Bracco killed by a moose or a collar? Bracco running off to be lost in the Colorado wilderness or a collar? Each has to make their own choice but to me a collar is like a spanking...to be used only in extreme situations like running into traffic. You have to be the "bad guy" for three days and then it's small behavioral adjustments as we go (hopefully, rarely needing the collar). I'm not trying to convince anyone here. I'm doing what I feel like I need to do to protect myself (from lawsuit), Bracco (from potentially being put down or killed) and others (from erratic, aggressive behavior).

Board and Train isn't cheap. It's an investment. But after only a day and a half away, here are the results I'm seeing:

He's letting kids touch him!

My dog will never be perfect...and I don't want him to be. I want him to be healthy, happy and included in all parts of my life. I'm trying to be a responsible dog mom. Although, the marmots and I miss him terribly!

Jet Setting

  In the past MONTH, I've been to Utah, Washington D.C., Denver (twice), Breckenridge and had a friend in town from Oregon. This weekend, I am headed back to my old stomping grounds for a wedding in Omaha. Needless to say, I'm tired! I can't believe how busy my weeks get! Seeing friends, catching flights, touring around the country...it's been a whirlwind. There are days I look back and wonder how that happened. Then I remember how bad I am at sitting still. I remember how much I love adventure.

  Here are a few of the highlights:

 Dead Horse Point State Park, UT

 Hiking along the rim

 Da boys

Bracco jump shot

 Oh, hello

 Arlington National Cemetery

 Nationals Game. I LOVE baseball!

 Virginia Vineyard

 From the Newseum

 Peanut

Please pay no mind to the skanky appearance of this outfit. It's a SKORT.

 Just some casual jump shots on the way home from Breck

CO Senior portraits

When Nature Attacks: Part Two

There's an old camp song that goes something like this:

Wait, wait....this is a repeat after me song. Ready?

There was a moose,

He liked to drink a lot of juice,
There was a moose,
He liked to drink a lot of juice,
Singin' way-oh, way-oh,
Way-oh, way-oh, way-oh, way-oh,
Way-oh, way-oh,
Way-oh, way-oh, way-oh, way-oh,
His name was Fred,
He liked to drink his juice in bed,
His name was Fred,
He liked to drink his juice in bed,
He drank his juice with care,
But he spilled it in his hair,
He drank his juice with care,
But he spilled it in his hair,

Now there's a moose on the loose all covered in juice!

Now, doesn't that just make moose sound like they're SO silly and barrels of fun?! The reality is, moose are not to be trifled with. They are massive and can be quite aggressive, particularly a cow protecting her calf. I don't know anyone who wouldn't be intimidated by the rack of a bull moose. Heck, as the saying goes, even a bear will run from a moose. Just because they eat veggies, doesn't mean they won't chase you, people!

So, a few tips to avoid the moose...
   Cows will be most aggressive in Spring and Summer. One word. Babies.
   Never get between a cow and its calf
   Bull moose are most aggressive in the fall. One word. Chicks.
   Bulls may actually perceive you as a competitor. Funny, but true.
   Moose do not like dogs. They look like Coyotes. Coyotes attack/harass moose. If you have a dog, make sure he's leased and under control.

Where do moose hang out?
    In the U.S. - Montana, Maine, Michigan, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, Minnesota etc.
    Moose eat a lot of aquatic plant life so they'll hang out around water sources.
    Cool climates
    Marshes and riverbeds
    Old, mature forests with spruce, aspen and willow thickets
   
If you see a moose...
   BACK OFF! Give it plenty of space.
   Move slow. Stay calm

Signs of aggression...
    Flat ears
    Charging and then veering at the last moment
    Stomping
    Shaking its head back and forth

Attack!!
    You might be able to make a run for it and be okay. A moose doesn't view you as food and is most likely just trying to scare you off.
    If running isn't an option (I always think of this in my snowshoes), keep in mind that moose aren't very agile. If you're being charged, duck out of the way behind a tree or large rock. Try to keep the object between you and the moose.
    If you can climb a tree, do it. Just make sure you get up high enough.
    Moose are great swimmers so don't think the water will protect you.

Then what?
    Once a moose has left the area, slowly leave the area. Stay aware as moose will often return to the same spots..
    If the moose succeed in attacking you (and let's hope NOT), curl up in the fetal position and pray. Do not try to fight it. It could weigh up to 1500 lbs. Try to protect your head, neck and back as best you can. The moose will stomp and kick at you.

Respect the moose and stay aware. Deaths are rare but do occur.

From Anne

Last October, as the RCs were arriving at our Weekend Getaway in Winter Park, I mentioned that my co-leader, Anne, had jsut been diagnosed with leukemia and would not be able to join us for our adventures. Over the course of the weekend, the chicks asked me questions about her and in the end, decided to take up a collection to help her cover the cost of medical expenses. It was truly amazing to watch you rally around another women you had never met.

Currently, Anne is in Denver, undergoing treatment for the leukemia. Trying to keep infection at bay. Being from Minnesota, she's come to rely on many kindnesses from strangers, like the chicks, and more recent friends. She was finally able to jot down her thoughts about the help you gave her and asked that I share this.
She's got a long road ahead of her and I thank you for helping her along that path. Keep her in your hearts over the coming months as she battles a disease so many of us have had to face with our friends, family and loved ones. I figured this was the easiest way to make sure you all got the message. Withough further adieu...

Dear Real Chicks,



This is to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous donations towards my medical bills this fall. I was SO touched when Jessie told me that you had spontaneously offered to donate to whatever needs I was having. It was so thoughtful, and a huge blessing! THANK YOU! Your generous contributions came at such a helpful time...I had not been working much, and was very grateful for your help with my bills and living expenses.


As some of you may have heard, it appeared that a miracle occurred while I was in the hospital...the original diagnosis was acute leukemia, then within days some test results came in that contradicted that. So I was tested for many viruses; all those were negative, as well. So I became a "mystery patient" which is actually a good place to be. :)


Unfortunately the original diagnosis was reinstated in January, so I am now going through the process of natural treatments and doing my best to stay well and at home.


I am so grateful for the generosity of people like you, strangers even, who have reached out to help me on this journey! Please forgive the belatedness of this message. Thank you again for such a touching and generous gift!


With hugs and gratitude,
Anne Vattendahl

For My Somewhat Visually Impaired Sisters

It happened in 5th grade. I found out I needed glasses. My first pair was hot pink and encircled half of my entire head. At the time, I thought myself cooler for having them. I was convinced that they were responsible for the friends I was making at a new school that year. I must have been delusional. I've been wearing my googlies ever since.

Those of us who were born with less than perfect vision know the struggle. Keeping them clean and in good repair is hard. Keeping up on exams is harder. Contact lenses seemed like a good idea for a while but my eyes are sensitive and my eyes would become bloodshot when I attempted to wear them (meaning I only suffer in them through special occasions). My glasses have been through a lot over the years...and I've had to deal with them through moves, finance crunches, weddings, fogging up during cold snaps (can I get an AMEN?!) and outdoor adventures.

  It's finally time to turn them in. As of next Thursday, I will be glasses free for the first time in 18 years!! (fingers crossed that there are no last-minute hold ups) That's right, I'm taking the Lasik leap. While I'm slightly terrified of having any sort of laser mess with one of my five senses, I am equally excited to be able to spend time outside without having to clean contacts with dirty hands. I won't have to worry about my prescription being expired and the nearest (in network) optometrist an hour away. I can fend off a bear in the middle of the night without first having to remember where I put my specs in the tent. It's one less little bottle of solution to try to fly with. I can buy any pair of sunglasses I want! In the words of Willaim Wallace, who fought for only a slightly more noble cause, FREEEEDOOOOMM!!!