You Blend Me Right Around Baby Right Round

Getting into shape/pursuing a healthy lifestyle usually goes hand in hand with adopting a serious affliction for smoothies, which also usually goes hand in hand with forking over a large sum of money for a blender. Rejoice, the Ninja Master Prep! Under $40, eligible for Amazon Prime shipping, what more could you possibly want?

The blender comes with two sizes of containers (the smaller one is great for individual portions) and offers plenty of bang for your buck. I've been able to blend all kinds of smoothie ingredients, from ice and frozen fruit to kale and other greens.

It's not the most quiet blender in the world, but it's not as deafening as many other models. Plus, at this price point, can you really complain? It's been up to the task for every recipe I've made and is still going strong a year later with almost daily use. 

It's designed upside down from how most blenders are, but I actually love it that way. It's much easier to clean and load up. That long grey plastic thing in the middle is what the blade is attached to, which makes the blade easy to grab, pull out, and rinse off without risking cutting yourself (always a bonus for the accident prone like myself). You can wash easily by hand or throw everything in the dishwasher. Plus, you don't have to worry about spilling anything once you've added all your ingredients. 

I'm very spill-prone and constantly worried about whether I screwed on the bottom of previous blenders tightly enough, but with this blender you just pop the lid on and then attach the motor and press down. There aren't multiple settings, but I never knew how to use all of those on other blenders anyways. Keep it simple, right?

You do have to hold down the top to keep it blending, but I've never made anything that has taken more than a minute-ish, so this hasn't been an issue for me. I truly love this blender and highly recommend it for anyone that wants to enjoy the wonderful world of smoothies on a budget. FYI I didn't get paid by anyone to say any of these things, I just wanted to share some blender love with you all. Happy blending!

May's Adventure Dog: Scarlett

**Wow, that was fast! A foster from DMK Rehoming will be taking Scarlett in. Thanks Outdoor Beginner readers!**

And Now, For Something Completely Different: Snorkeling in Looe Key

Despite what the recent trends of this blog may suggest, I do actually venture outside of the state of Colorado. I used to spend my winters working in Florida (less glamorous than it sounds, believe me) and I’m willing to try almost anything once (unless it involves jumping out of anything or close encounters with carnivorous animals). My boyfriend and I headed down to Key West for a weekend getaway, and had an absolute blast snorkeling in Looe Key.

The Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center is reasonably priced and highly recommended by yours truly (and our resident Key West expert/friend who lives in the Keys). For $39 per person, you get a half day of snorkeling plus all the equipment that comes with. If you’re stupid and forget sunscreen (totally NOT me and Billy), they also sell biodegradable, reef-friendly sunscreen for only a few bucks (I was 100% convinced I would shell out $20 for an 8 ounce container. Not so!).

The dive center is actually located on Ramrod Key, about a 35 minute drive from Key West proper. We were staying on Summerland Key, so it was a bit shorter from there. It’s super easy to find and is literally right off the highway, so you can’t miss it.

Trail Review: St. Mary's Glacier

St. Mary’s Glacier is a bit of a hidden gem, so I’ve been a little reticent to share it here. They actually removed the “Glacier” part from the highway sign so fewer people can find it, but I guess I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m okay with (potentially) ruining that. It’s definitely a hike you should do once, if not to say you’ve seen/been on a glacier, than for the spectacular views (although this is admittedly a common theme in hiking in Colorado).

On the topic of common themes, this was also a heck of a hike for me as a beginner. However, it is one of many trails that are tough, but doable. I’m a big believer in taking as many breaks for water/getting oxygen as you need. The point of hiking is to enjoy your beautiful surroundings, so why put pressure on yourself to get done AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. It’s not a race.

Elevation is always a factor for what to wear while hiking, but this is particularly true at St. Mary’s.  It is WINDY. We went in mid-September, while it was still quite hot in Denver, and were bundled. As always, dress in plenty of layers and carry a backpack to carry them as you peel them off on the way down.

Finding St. Mary’s does require some driving on non-paved roads, which can get a little rough. Take the St. Mary’s exit of off I-70, after passing through Idaho Springs (which, by the way, is the mother of all post-hiking lunch options. Hit up Tommy Knocker’s Brewery, BeauJo’s Pizza, or Smokin Yard BBQ. All are epic). It’s about an hour drive, depending on traffic.

Jog A Dog at Denver Animal Shelter

Do you live in the Denver area? Do you have a mild to moderate obsession with dogs? Do you enjoy walking and/or running? Would you like a Thursday night activity that keeps you from binge-watching Netflix on the couch with a bottle glass of wine? Then Jog A Dog is for you!

Trail Review: Gem Lake in Estes Park

This out and back trail was the first hike I ever did after moving to Colorado. The elevation in Estes Park is no joke, so if you're new to town like I was, plan on taking lots of water and lots of breaks. It was slightly demoralizing that a very small fluffy white dog lapped me on this trail, but the views along the way will help ease that pain. Multiple breaks will help ease the pain of your lungs screaming for air.

On that cheery note, you hook up with the Gem Lake trail after parking at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. It's about four miles round trip. We hit it pretty early on Labor Day weekend and still found parking, but it was jammed by the time we got back. As with every Colorado trail in the summer, you're going to need to wake up early.

Lumpy Ridge is an hour and a half away from Denver, right outside of Estes Park. The trip is easy now that all the highways have been repaired from 2013 flooding, and is super scenic. You also get to go through Lyons, which is a super cute mountain town. It’s your halfway mark to Estes, and always a good place to stop for food or gas.

The Sweatiest I've Ever Been in March, aka My First Snowshoeing Trip

After several weekends of hibernating with Netflix on my couch, I decided to be a real Coloradan and embrace winter. I have been cleared to walk as much as I want to, so I taped up my ankle and hit the trail!

I was actually really pleased by how well the basics I learned from REI served me, except for one giant thing I forgot. POLES. Please don't try to snowshoe without them - your legs will thank you.

Thanks to Google, I found Bent Gate Rental in Golden, where my boyfriend and I rented out snowshoes and got powder tails put on them all for $24, which coincidentally is the price of one rental at REI. REI killed it with the basics of snowshoeing class, but their rentals are super pricey, so if you're headed in the direction of Golden, Bent Gate is your best bet. Jax is near Fort Collins, and there's an even cheaper place up in Estes Park if you want to hit RMNP.

Anyways, Bent Gate is right on the way to Golden Gate State Park, where we were headed, and also next door to the one of the best pizza places EVER. If you don't stop at Woody's after a long day on the trail, you are a fool.

Golden Gate is another wonderful state park within an hour from Denver. It took us a little longer since we went to the main entrance of the park for some trail recommendations, and then had to drive all the way around to the trailhead at Rifleman Phillips Campground. Apparently, you can just drive to the campground straight from Denver:

What we did instead was stop at the Visitor's center and then went west, north, and back east to get to the trailhead (yellow circle). Our drive is outlined in blue. Obviously much longer, but the drive was really pretty and stopping at the Visitor's Center was great for us first-timers.

The full version of this map can be found here on CPW's website.

Back At It

Just like that, it's been almost another month since I have gotten out to run...or really, walk/run. The first phase of my running recovery plan involves not so much running and more just walking, but I was eager to continue the road to recovery. My first walk/run didn't go so well - walking 3 minutes and running for 1 over the course of 30 minutes. My bum tendon was sore, swollen, and generally unhappy.

My physical therapist set a lower bar. 5 minutes of walking, 1 minute of running. Repeated three times. So basically running for three minutes. What a snoozefest...but I'll take what I can get. I was ready to get back out in a few days and try again.

My Bible. I can only advance to the next level when I've done the current level 2-3 times with no adverse reactions (swelling, pain, etc).

Then, I had an allergic reaction to the tape I was using on my ankle. My entire leg was covered in hives and was severely itchy.  couldn't start using different tape until that rash went away. And I couldn't start running without tape to support my tendon. Sigh.

Fast forward two weeks,the rash is finally gone, but it's snowing cats and dogs (that's a thing, right?). This morning, it was only eight degrees, but the sidewalks had melted in yesterday's sun so I couldn't resist the temptation. I walk/ran my heart out, and by that I mean I slowly jogged and power walked most of the way. 

Appreciating the little things, like the nearly constant winter sunshine in Colorado.

The View From The Couch

I've realized it's kind of challenging to blog about fun outdoorsy adventures when I'm currently working with this:

Straight from my couch to you

I've been dealing with tendonitis for four months, but admittedly haven't been a very good patient for most of that time. Since January, I have buckled down, put on a boot, and took a break from any and all potentially cardiovascular exercise. This means no hiking, no running, no horseback riding (the true tragedy), NOTHING.

Staying positive hasn't been easy, but I've kept myself from going crazy thanks to a few things:

1. Working with my physical therapist on a recovery plan. Planning out a regiment for getting back in shape gives me something to look forward to, and my therapist's never-ending optimism that I'll be healthy in no time has been a huge help.
2. Finding out what I can do. Strength training and basic yoga were both on that list, so I've focused on getting stronger and more flexible. This will not only (hopefully) decrease the chance that I will re-injure myself, but also has kept me from going stir-crazy.
3. Staying involved in my normal activities as much as possible. I continued to walk to work in the boot because I would have lost it if I had to go from sitting in my car to sitting in an office all day. I couldn't ride, but I went to the barn anyways and petted some horses and tried to absorb knowledge from others' lessons. I couldn't walk dogs at the shelter, but I could play with the cats and give them some loving.

Fitting In

An article last week from 5280 (magazine in Denver) caught my eye. Unfit: Being Overweight in America's Slimmest State chronicled Rebecca Palcso's struggle with being very unathletic in the sporty person's paradise that is Colorado. Rebecca moved to Colorado in an effort to motivate herself into being fit, which you may assume went like this: I moved to Colorado, all the healthy people made me want to be healthy, now I'm running an ultramarathon! Spoiler alert, but it didn't.

Sweaty, happy, and out of breath after my very first hike in the Rockies

Trail Review: El Dorado Canyon State Park

In the spirit of working off the countless amounts of carbs I (happily) took down on Thanksgiving, I spent my Black Friday hiking with my better half in El Dorado Canyon. Despite the less than encouraging name, the Rattlesnake Gulch trail was a perfect post-Thanksgiving day hike.

The best part about El Dorado Canyon State Park was that (like Staunton State Park) its less than an hour from Denver. The drive is super easy, except for the fact that the last mile of road isn't paved. As long as it's not super muddy or bad weather (why would you be hiking in that situation anyways?) you should be fine, even if you don't have four wheel drive. There was a Camry parked next to us that presumably survived the drive up and back.

Surviving Winter: Gear Up For Cold Weather Running

I got the urge to begin running in mid-October, which was a pretty poor choice on my part. Within weeks of starting Project Become A Runner, winter arrived in Colorado. Here's my guide to not freezing your ass off (completely) as a winter runner.

Under Armour ColdGear compression layer and Big Logo Storm hoodie. Hat from my first race, the Ugly Sweater Run. Run the race and get one too!

November's Adoptable Adventure Dog: Charlie

**Update** Charlie was adopted shortly after this blog was posted! Thanks Outdoors Beginner readers!

Hydration Basics: How To Make Sure You Won't Be Hating Life On The Trail

I realized I may have jumped the gun by diving into finding the right reservoir before going over basic hydration tips. Staying hydrated (no matter how you actually take in the liquid) is one of the most important ways to make sure you enjoy yourself outdoors. 

You may be wondering, "It's 5 degrees in Denver right now, so I don't think I'll be breaking a sweat any time soon. Do I really need to worry about staying hydrated during a polar vortex?"

The answer is a resounding yes. Colorado is dry, and gets even drier in the winter. Even if you don't live in Colorado, your body uses up a lot of water to heat up the freezing cold air that you breathe in all winter long, making hydration a year round priority.

Adventures in Hydration: My Quest To Find The Right Bladder

By now, I've realized that most people actually refer to bladders as reservoirs, but why pass up the opportunity to use a completely ridiculous term for outdoors gear? Plus, it's funny to see people's reactions to sentences such as, "I need a new bladder, mine keeps leaking."

Immature humor aside, I've been on the hunt for a reservoir once I started wanting to go on longer hikes. Your first and most obvious option for hydration is a water bottle, but a reservoir lets you go hands-free and bring a lot more water with you, which is important if you're going to be out on the trail for several hours.

Worth Your Time: REI's Snowshoeing Basics Class

2015 will mark the first time I don't migrate to Florida for the winter in several years, so I'm super excited to spend this winter trying out snow sports. I tried both downhill and cross-country skiing once last year, so not only am I excited to learn more about those sports, I'm pumped to try out snowshoeing so I can hit the winter sports trifecta.

Step one of my foray into snowshoeing was REI's Snowshoeing Basics class at my local store. The class was free and definitely worth my time. I highly recommend it to any fellow beginner as a great complement to your outdoor education journey (that sounds very Colorado-ey of me, doesn't it?). 

Since hitting the trail myself, this blog has become a mash-up of the REI class plus my own experience as a first-time snowshoer. The REI class gave me a really solid foundation of knowledge, so I definitely encourage you to check it out for yourself - classes run throughout the winter. Worst case scenario, you get a 20% off coupon to use and you found out you don't want to attempt snowshoeing. 

Hiking the Eastern Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

Now that I've finally gotten around to writing this blog, there may be limited time for you to take advantage of the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. There were snow flurries in the mountains today, so get out there while you still can!

The entrance to the eastern side of RMNP is right outside of downtown Estes Park. Now that Highway 36 is completely restored after last year’s flooding, the drive is an easy and scenic hour and a half from Denver.

Staunton State Park, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways...

I’ve been to Staunton Stake Park twice, and I’m already in love. When my parents visited from Maryland a few weeks ago, I needed an option for hiking that wasn’t too far from Denver. It also had to offer doable trails for people living essentially at sea level. Staunton has all of this (and you don’t have to sacrifice views!). Not only did my parents survive the trip, but our friend Leah who legitimately lives AT sea level (the Florida Keys…lucky lady!) also enjoyed an excursion at Staunton.

Staunton is one of Colorado’s newest parks (like really new – it just opened in May 2013) and it does not disappoint. It's less than an hour from Denver, and the drive is not only gorgeous but easy. Totally manageable for tentative mountain drivers and the park is easy to find.

Campground Review: Platte River Campground in Pike National Forest

I’ve had this idea in my head for a while about camping on the river. I was envisioning a very zen experience with riverfront camping – waking up and opening up the tent to be right on the water. The fact that I learned it’s actually a horrible idea to pitch a tent that close to water (flooding, etc.) is irrelevant, but in my quest to camp on the water, my boyfriend and I decided to try out a weekend at the Platte River campground in the Pike National Forest.

September's Adoptable Adventure Dog

**Update** Rory was adopted the weekend after this blog was posted! Thanks Outdoors Beginner readers!