The closer we get to July, the faster time seems to be moving. We are down to three weeks before we head out on the trip, and I don’t have everything ready. The two large “to-dos” besides continuing my training are: finalizing and building the drawer design in the back of the Jeep and ordering the final things needed for the trip.

I have gone back and forth on the drawer design for months. The drawers will serve as general storage, our pantry, and our pullout kitchen. If you know me, you know I overthink most things…okay, all things.

The picture above is one of my favorites of Sophie. In 2018, we were in Yellowstone NP on a trip out west. This picture was taken in the rain while we were waiting on Old Faithful to spew. Most of our National Parks have drastically changed over the past 25 years. More people are traveling to spend time in the parks, and this has caused them to expand viewing areas (Old Faithful now has bleachers as you find at a baseball stadium), bus people in and out (you have to ride a bus in Zion NP during the peak season), and severely limit the number of people who can come in per day (several NPs have a pre-entry system now).

Failures for this trip before it even gets started include not being able to get a permit to hike “The Wave” in northern Arizona, no available campsites at Capitol Lake for a possible bid on Capitol Peak, and the closure of the “Decalibron” loop trail which summits four of the Colorado 14ers. We applied for a permit to hike “The Wave” and tried to reserve a campsite at Capitol Lake in March. The “Decalibron” loop trail was closed because of liability issues. It is mostly on private property.

This is both encouraging and discouraging. I’m encouraged to know that more people are getting outside, but the selfish side of me is discouraged that we won’t be able to do “The Wave” or four of the seven 14ers that were on our list. It’s discouraging that a gracious landowner has to close a trail system that has been open to the public for years because of the fear of lawsuits. The verdict is still out on a car-to-car bid on Capitol Peak. Weather and health will dictate whether we try this one.

I’m still spending several hours on the treadmill each week, and I’m trying to build endurance climbing on plastic. The shoulders aren’t holding up very well, but I am getting stronger.

Philippians 2:5 NIV84
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

I thought I’d share my favorite Bible verse with you today. I fail often, but this verse is what I seek to build my life around. May we exude love for others while we seek to bring glory to the Father!

Because He Calls, Old Climbing Dad