USA

overview / intro

As I continue to add 14ers (14,000+ ft elevation peaks) to my accomplishments list, I have to venture farther from Denver. For Shavano and Tabeguache, I had to wake up at 2 am, to drive to the trailhead, so I could start around 6am.

The peaks are near each other, so I hiked up Shavano, then down to a spot between them and up to Tabeguache peak. On the return, I had to repeat the trail back up to the summit of Shavano and back down to my car at the main trailhead. It's kind of like 2 mountains for the price of 3.

I also set a FKKT. That is a tongue-in-cheek play on the FKT world. FKT stands for Fastest Known Time, where super athletes continue to out do each other for a run, hike, paddle, or other challenge to get the quickest time along a set route or set of goals. FKKT is much more fun and less serious. It stands for fastest known kilt time; which is doing one of these adventures while wearing a kilt.

As far as I know, this is the FKKT for a Shavano hike. Also the FKKT for the Shavano-Tabeguache-Shavano route. Since I doubt anyone has ever claimed that before, it's probably also the FFKKT (first FKKT) for those routes. And to go one step further, it doesn't seem like anyone has ever claimed a FKKT on any route anywhere, so this is a WFFKKT (world's first FKKT). And that's as far down the rabbit hole that we need to go. Too many acronyms can make one dizzy.

Since fun is the key concept of FKKTs, there are very few formalities around them; there is no need for exhaustive documentation and proof. The recommendation are that you should proclaim on some social site that you set a FKKT. There needs to be no research before or after about a legitimacy of a claim; which leads to a fantastic situation where multiple people can hold a FKKT at the same time with blissful ignorance.

Therefore, without further ado. Here ye, here ye. The following shall be known:

• I have set a FKKT on a Shavano hike
• I have set a FKKT on a Shavano to Tabeguache to Shavano hike

My times are estimates of the following. From the trail to the summit of Shavno was 1 hour 54 minutes. Later (after going over to Tabegauache and back) my time from the peak to the trailhead was 1 hour 25 minutes. Total up and down time for Shavano was 3 hours 19 minutes. For the full route to Tabeguache and back was 5 hours 59 minutes and 30 seconds. That is a sub 6 hour time, which is unheard of. But mostly it's unheard of because no one has ever talked about a FKKT record before.

Additionally, these are all inclusive times, including two stops to remove rocks from shoes, eating and picture breaks on each summit (twice on Shavano), a long chat with a former national park service ranger from Montana since I'm planning a trip up there soon, and a pause to help some lost hikers on the way down. However with FKKT's being more about the enjoyment at a chill pace, I am not worried about removing some that to figure out the real moving time / pace.

I hope to set and hear about more of these FKKTs. Enjoy !
Link to my official 14ers.com trip report : https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20519

Trip Map

Map/list of all the peaks that I've "bagged".

Pictures

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14ers album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
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MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

I decided to complete one more ultra run this year, my 10th overall. After reading about great hikes around the Rocky Mountain park region, I decided on a loop that starts in Grand Lake, then goes into Rocky Mountain National Park and along the CDT (Continental Divide Trail). The total mileage was right at 27 miles.

It was a very cool trail that provided some scenes that most visitors to the park don't get to see. There was wildlife, forest, flowers, valleys, lakes, rivers, rocks, and hardly any people. Check out what I saw with the pictures below.

Pictures

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and USA - Colorado album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

A week of camping is always fun. When it's out in the mountains right by a lake, then it's even better.
We headed out near Turquoise Lake near Leadville, Colorado. During our time there we biked, hiked, and did some paddling in the lake.

Pictures

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USA Colorado album

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Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

Had a relaxing week of camping near Leadville, Colorado at a campsite near Turquoise Lake. On one of the days, we decided to hike up a nearby 14er. It happens to be the highest in Colorado, 2nd highest point in the lower 48 states for the US. And Prudence decided that she wanted to do it too.

Trip Map

Pictures

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14ers album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

Time to start off the Colorado summer with some camping & 14er hiking.
Decided to find some dispersed camp sites in the woods near the east side of Mt Sherman. Had some delicious fire cooked supper and then got some sleep. A early wake up and short drive to the parking at the trail head was just after sunrise.

Then it was a quick hike up some rocks and snow to the saddle between Sherman and next door neighbor Mt Sheridan (a 13er). We hit the peak of Sherman, celebrated and decided to extend the day by going over the Sheridan. It was a very cool experience. There was no one else on the mountain (unlike the packed Sherman) and there was a journal in a water proof container that we got to add our names to. There was a huge wind break built out of rocks on the top, and on one of the sides, there was a window of sorts that looked back towards Mt Sheridan.

Got to slide down some snow and make our own path down the rocks on the way down.

Trip Map

Pictures

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14ers album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

It was hot !
Like it only got down to 80 at night. And the clear sky allowed the sun to blaze during the day for 100+ degree days.
However that definitely added to the environment. The other worldly landscape that is Arches and Canyonlands national parks in eastern Utah (and a bit of the Colorado National Monument in western Colorado) is what I image a remote desolate trip to Mars would be like.

We took the 4Runner way off road to find a campsite by a dry river bed but with some large cottonwood trees to provide some shade and cover. Through the extended weekend, we also took the 4Runner on some rocky back roads to explore the challenging driving conditions that make the Moab area such a destination for off roading enthusiasts. Even taking "easier" paths with my limited off roading experience, we still got to experience driving on narrow ledges with hundreds of feet of drop off just past the tires, and some slick rock chunks that couldn't even be considered a road. That absolutely needed 4WD low speed and even got a tire off the ground for some 3-wheel driving.

The first day in the park was spent near the entrance. There is basically one main road in the park that goes out and comes back through the entrance. The closest hikes are for park avenue, Lasal mountain overlook, and courthouse towers view. A little further and about half way along the main park road is one of the most popular stops. It includes Balanced Rock and then two shorter hiking paths (less than a mile). One goes to Double Arch and one loops around the North and South windows arches. To complete the day, we also went to the next stop to go on a hike (about 2 miles) to see the well known and photographed Delicate Arch. After an afternoon nap in the heat, we also headed back into the park to catch the sunset from different viewpoints and behind different rock formations.

The second day was completely spent at the farthest point of the park. There you can start a long hike for the Devils Garden trail. It's about 10 miles for the full experience and provides well over a dozen arches and unique rock landscapes. Near there is where the only main campground is within the park (there are a couple back country tent sites) and that provides access to a few other small hikes to additional arches.

Overall, this is one of the most unique national parks in the world with an environment unlike anything you will normally see. Highly recommended.

Recommend:

• Devil's Garden trail
• Delicate Arch
• Double Arch
• the Windows

Trip Map

Pictures

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USA Utah album

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Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

While I'm working remotely (mostly from the couch at home) and while flights are cheap (within the US), we decided to take advantage and visit some friends and family in Long Beach, California.

We were able to work from there fine during the week and then enjoy the beach at night and over the weekend. We got in some stand up paddle boarding, running, swimming, and walks around the canals of Naples Island.

Recommend:

• restaurants on 2nd St
• the local beaches (hidden beach if you can find it)
• running / biking along the beach and shore

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen