Recipe: Banana Pops

Some folks believe you are what you eat. If that’s the case, then our household becomes “fruity and fun” during the summer.

One of our favorite recipes requires no baking.

JILLYWRAY’S BANANA POPS

Ingredient List
Bananas
Vanilla Yogurt (whole milk yogurt)
Popsicle sticks
Aluminum foil

Directions
1. Cut bananas in half, then peel
2. Push popsicle stick into cut end of the banana, leaving ½ protruding out
3. Dip banana into yogurt
4. Wrap in aluminum foil
5. Place in freezer for at least 6 hours
6. Enjoy!

For additional texture and flavor, after coating your banana in yogurt, roll it into granola, then wrap with foil and freeze.

What’s your favorite summertime recipe?

Care and Feeding of Mountain Climbers

Loved ones are often challenged to understand and support their mountain climbing friends and family members.

Key point to remember => Climbing is a highly creative process, no different than screenplay writing, painting, dancing, cooking or composing music.

The following recipe will help you achieve sanity and success while living with and loving your mountain climber.

1. Allow for ample air and light
2. Love them even when they withdraw
3. Believe

First, allow room for your mountain climber to receive ample air and light. That means they will be outside up in the mountains for long periods of time exploring the environment. It does not mean they do not love you. Rather, they are vibrating on the same frequency as the rocks. They are driven to go and be “in their element” in order to stay charged and happy. It’s an energy thing.

Second, love them fully when they withdraw. Planning, discipline, long hours of research and studying maps are the prerequisites for pushing new grades and birthing mountain climber projects. This does not mean your mountain climber does not love you. It simply means your climber is preparing to go and vibrate on the same frequency as the rocks and thus must prepare accordingly. It’s an energy thing.

Third, B-E-L-I-E-V-E. Believe in your mountain climber’s dreams and objectives. Sharing in their aspirations will enhance your relationship. What goes around comes around. It’s an energy thing.

Trip Report: Dreamweaver Attempt

Dreamweaver – Attempt
May 10, 2007

I’d been looking forward to getting up on Dreamweaver, an alpine route on Mt Meeker, for some time. With lots of snow up in Rocky Mountain National Park, I had “guide beta” that the route was likely a snow climb.

Unfortunately, my climbing partner was unable to sneak away from the office and join me. So I decided on a solo attempt.

Setting my alarm for 2:30 am, I hit the snooze button many times. Enough times that I arrived at the Longs Peak trailhead at the SLACKER LATE HOUR of 5:45 am!

Hoping to salvage something out of the day, I decided to at least hump the gear up the hill and take a look at the mighty and aesthetically pleasing Dreamweaver.

Reaching Chasm Junction at 7:30 am, I took some time to survey the terrain/route. There was sloughing from the Loft.....enough to get my attention. With all that moving snow, Dreamweaver looked big and intimidating to me. I proceeded to approach Chasm Lake BUT in about 1/4 mile there was considerable sloughing across the trail. I could hear lots of water running underneath the snow and my ice axe sunk in without resistance.

Within minutes Mount Lady Washington spit off rock and ice which made a crashing sound as it tumbled down the slope. That sealed the deal for me and I promptly turned around – leaving Dreamweaver for another day.

As I walked back toward Chasm Junction, Big Horn Sheep flanked me on both sides. Big Horn Sheep symbolize a “seeking of new beginnings”. They tell us to assert ourselves in new beginnings. “When the ram shows up, it will teach you to bring forth the powers of the mind and imagination and use them to seek out new heights and new adventures.” (Animal Speak, pg 308 by Ted Andrews)

Click here for pics of Dreamweaver, Longs Peak, and Sheep.

In Honor of Mothers

It is no accident that Mother’s Day is celebrated in the Spring. A time when our Mother Earth is creating, emerging, birthing the beauty of all things.

My daughter has been asking me what I want for Mother’s Day. My reply is the same each time she asks this question. “A mother’s gift is her child.” Being fortunate and having a wonderful life, each day feels like Mother's Day to me.

These humble words below were inspired by my daughter and hero.

FOR THE A-GIRL

Flowers in Spring
Sun flys the air
Fresh blooms
Swirling
Maypole hair

What be this gift?
From source you say?
Grateful tidings
Love, brilliance, graceful-play

Happy Mother’s Day!

Springtime in the Rockies

Spring weather in the Rockies....you gotta love it!

TODAY's PLAN
After 7 weekend itineraries came together and then disintegrated......a colleague suggested that perhaps I'd be into "going big" on a possible ascent of McHenry's Notch which would give me an opportunity to peek at the Hourglass Couloir & Sister Sweetly. Then I'd also have some time to visit with my "Stoneman" on Stone Man Pass. (I often talk to the rocks because they talk to me.)

SHORT HIKE
Departing the Glacier Gorge trailhead at 7:00 am this morning, the air was calm and the snow was falling. I proceeded up the trail - moving through 2 inches of snow and then by the time I was up at Mills Lake there were 4 inches of fresh gnar just floating on the crust.

Past Mills Lake, thick clouds began to lower, cutting visibility to no more than 20 feet and the snowflakes were growing bigger and falling at an ever increasing rate. Feeling uneasy about doing "helen keller" moves on 4th class terrain and possible point releases while soloing - I turned around.

LONG NAP
Once back in Estes Park the sun came out! AND it looked downright evil up in the mountains. Not one to miss an opportunity, I decided to "go big" by taking a nap, reading and catching up with some emails.

How do you go big?

Here's some pics from the day.