You've been inside too long now

One of the major reasons I left Chicago (and was willing to have a placement in the middle of nowhere Colorado) was I want, no NEED, to be outdoors waaaaaay more than I have been in the last 5 years. The main thing I've done so far here is biking around deserted country roads with my housemate, Chloe. Well, this weekend we had what I have called "The Initiation Hike". It was our first hike as a group (well one guy missed out, but two people from last year joined in) and we apparently didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. We should have guessed from the directions from a friend to "turn off the highway when there are two roads to side" and "just drive until you can't and get out and walk up the mountain". Well, we think we turned off the right road, but it never ended. So, we just pulled off the road when we could and started walking up the mountain. We were the "La Jara Trailblazers!" Seriously, no trail and learning that objects are further and bigger than they appear. It was quite a bit of fun with friends, though. Minus my one mishap, we all got up and down the mountain. The terrain is really interesting here. We are about 15 minutes to New Mexico, so it's more desert than forrest, so the we were exposed to the sun for the most part. Since there was trail, we were getting pricked by cacti left and right. And, we had to watch out for rattlesnakes (which I really think I saw one... and ran). Does anyone have experience with high altitude? Well, it makes a difference when exerting effort, for the worse. I may be a little out of shape, but it definitely makes you breathe a bit deeper and take things a little slower. However, it will make hiking in lower altitude easier after being used to this! I am looking forward to this being the one of many, at least the one of a few the rest of this season and many more next year!

And, just to put this out there, I don't really condone "trailblazing". Trails are there for a reason, that we can enjoy the wilderness while the animals make home around it and the mountain only has to deal with one trail of people stomping on it. More than likely my one and only trailblazing experience, but it is quite the adventure!