TJ Trip Journals
Read MoreDecember 13, 2010 Defining Decisions -By Josh- We all make decisions. I am not talking about the red or blue shirt, frosted flakes or coco pebbles decisions. I am talking about the decisions that define who you are, that moment in your life when things change, and you look at the world differently. When I was seventeen I made a decision, though it was a more important decision than what’s for breakfast. It seemed at least at the time just another step in the journey of life, but that’s not the way it turned out. This decision was different, it was defining. I graduated from an Arkansas High School in the summer of 2003. Later that year, I was ready to begin my journey of life away from home. I wanted to get away from Arkansas and see the world. I had spent the last two years planning for this trip, saving money from my job at the local grocery store, arranging plane travel, and a bus service to take me from the airport to the place I was going to spend the rest of my summer and fall. I had everything planned out food, shelter, and transportation. So that August, I drove with my family for two hours to nearest international airport, and I said good bye to a little brother, a proud father, a crying mother, and got on the last plane that was leaving the airport that night and was off to start life. I remember the feeling of anxiousness and nervousness I had during the flight. This was my first time away from home without my family. There was a moment when it hit me; I realized how much I love them and how hard it must have been for them to let me go. I awoke after what seemed like forever to the captain telling the flight attendants to "prepare for landing". The realization of what I was doing hit me at the same time and with the same force as the wheels hitting the ground. I have made it, I thought, but things were about to drastically change.Read More...
-August 02, 2012- My good friends Staci, Allie, and I climbed up Arrowhead Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. We ended up having the whole hike to ourselves. The trail breaks off the popular Black Lake Trail about four miles into the canyon and then rises straight up for 1000ft over the next half mile to Shelf and Solitude Lakes. We then hiked to the back of the shelf past the lakes toward Powell Peak. At the back of the ledge we began to ascend the only non-technical route up Arrowhead Peak. The first 400ft of the climb is Class 3+ but gives way to moderate Class 2 near the top. The view from the top is amazing and well worth the 12 mile hike! View Photos