"I tried to capture the spirit of the thing."

"Colorado Bound" - Pat Donohue on A Prairie Home Companion, October 29, 2011

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For My Cherished Broinninn Alastriona: My New Love, You Have Rescued Me From The Darkness!

This Song Is, And Ever Shall Be, For You And For US, As WE Begin To Build A New Life... Together!

Rivulets Of Sub-Consciousness :

-Or-

Select Selections From My Gangly Ganglia And Syncretic Synapses :

Posted : December 31, 2011

Requiescat In Pace, 2011, you are no more. I choose, this day, to relegate you, and everything you represent, to the past. The dead past. Where you belong. Forever.

I do know and believe that 2012 will prove to be incalculable orders of magnitude better! I am eternally grateful to the few friends and family that stood with me and by me during 2011. There aren't many of you, but you each know who you are and I've spoken to most of you over this end-of-year Holiday. Please remember that your kindnesses and friendship are priceless to me and I'm humbled and honored to have been blessed with your presence! I hope that I can be as solid a friend to each of you, as you've been to me!

So, here's to a legendary 2012, everyone! Let's go put on the foil!

- SCW

Posted : January 1, 2012

At midnight, The AdAmAn Club treated the region to the 89th annual Pikes Peak Fireworks Display from 14,115' AMSL. I had the privilege of meeting several of the climbing members and guests on Friday morning, 12/30/11, as they set out from the Barr Trail trailhead in Manitou Springs. Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, their planned live streaming video feed tonight from the Summit didn't happen. Seeing the display in person, though, was much more special...

Here are a few pics I captured Friday morning at Barr Trail trailhead and a pic that I "borrowed" from the AdAmAn Club of the fireworks display above the Pikes Peak Summit :

( Click On Any Photo To Enlarge )

And now, here's a blast from the past for all of you "Old-Time Hockey" fans :

- SCW

Posted : January 3, 2012

My first 5k of 2012 was the 34th Annual Rescue Run on January 1st, benefitting El Paso County Search and Rescue, here in Colorado Springs. This run was a great way to return, after a 90 day break, and the course was challenging, yet beautiful, with expansive views of the Front Range and a good part of the Colorado Springs area. With a leisurely 1000 start time and not really pushing it by sticking to a standard 3/1 interval, I still managed to put in a 42:08 (estimated 41:31, minus the back start) so I was pretty happy with the time!

Then, I arrived at the Manitou Incline at around 1230 and, gathering my wits (or lack thereof), I made my third attempt in as many weeks to climb the Incline. My previous two attempts were aborted due to several factors, including inexperience, equipment issues and a -35 wind chill, but I learned from those failures quickly. Almost. 1:15:00 later (omitting several rest stops), I summited the Incline for the first time! You can read all about the Manitou Incline here and here.

And, I definitely made it a point to visit REI on January 2, just as soon as they opened, and picked up several pairs of Kahtoola MICROSpikes. Highly recommended! There'll be no more equipment issues for the next climb... :)

( Click On Any Photo To Enlarge )

And now, your Clarke and Dawe fix :

- SCW

Posted : January 20, 2012

I've been quite occupied since the first week of January getting up to speed in my new career and traveling around the US. I've missed a couple of races back in Colorado Springs, but look forward to returning to some sense of normalcy for the February schedule. I'm also looking forward to beginning yet another new chapter in my life and, with the approach of Imbolc on February 1, the timing is significant! I'll be posting more about that, to be sure...

And now, all True Believers should prepare to fall upon their knees at The Altar of The Screaming Mercury Vapor Rectifier!