The other life...

Well, maybe there is more to my life than hiking.... although looking back at the last few months of entries in my blog, you wouldn't think so...;-)....

I am still working a full 40 hour week in adult acute care. I am learning a lot, not necessarily adding much to my PT skills but I'm witness to families in distress, decisions about end-of-life care, the experience and accompanied wisdom of people in their 80's and 90's, the challenges and rewards of care giving, the harsh reality of chronic illness, the effects of poor life style choices and unfortunately the reality of a health care system that is sick to the bone.... Without going into too much detail or onto a political rant about all that is wrong -seeing and defining what's not working is one thing, coming up with a solution quite another-, the last few months have definitely given me a broader perspective on the challenges we face in health care as a nation and more specifically as individuals, as a patient or a provider.....

My contract here ends a the the end of August and I'm not yet sure where I'll end up working after that. As I've limited myself to "the greater Santa Fe area", it's harder to secure a travel position and I might end up piecing together various jobs for a few months. It really is great to be in a profession where there are plenty of opportunities!!!

I am no wiser on which path my career will take in the long run...: Setting? Specialty? ...? I trust that time will tell and in the meanwhile, I'm trying to learn at least something from every different professional experience I'm encountering....

Practicing close-ups...

Another hard day in the Rocky Mountains.... ;-)!

Another day, another hike,.... This time with a 3rd companion: Wiley joined us and obviously loves the outdoors as much as we do!!!!





"If that chipmunk can get up there, surely I can too!"

Over 12.000 feet again....

We hiked up Raven's Ridge -first time without snow for me- to Deception Peak, rock scrambled to Lake Peak -FUN!!- and strolled up Penitente Peak....... a day-long escape from the Santa Fe town heat.....




Deception Peak and Lake Peak (12.409 feet)





Scramble up to Lake Peak



View of Nambe Lake


Although we collected plenty of mountain mileage, we found some time and energy along the way to carry out our own little research project, measuring blood pressure and heart rate at different altitudes and exertion rates (NIH grant application to follow -NOT ;-) ! ), and still made it down early with plenty of time and energy left for a nice dinner in town.

Columbine heaven...

For the Colorado alpine state flower lovers.......

Another midwestern transplant in NM?!?!

My friend Lisa was in town for a few days, had a job interview .... and a job offer..... Excitement, pro's and con's to consider -over dessert of course-, decisions to be made.....



The beauty of the state (YES!) and the mid-summer Albuquerque heat (Not-so-much) are just a few in the endless list of factors for decision making....

Happy 4th of July!

My first 4th as a US citizen and it was a good one...

We woke up early -after sleeping outside on the patio again!!!!- for pancake breakfast on the busy buzzing plaza in Santa Fe. The special treat was not the frozen strawberries or maple syrup but meeting Pete, Jamie, Nick and Ella who were in town from Boulder for the weekend.






The rest of the day was filled with chilling and eating plaza diner apple pie on the grass, a walk to the rail yard and great farmer's market, a late afternoon hike and outside dinner at the brewery watching the firework display. We didn't have the greatest seats in the house but enjoyed the display nevertheless..

RED - WHITE - BLUE - hike

Red leaves


White rock


Blue skies

Getting high...

After months of talking about hiking Santa Fe Baldy, we finally did it!!! The highest peak in New Mexico south of Taos stands at 12622 feet tall. The peak looks deceivingly close from the first few miles on the trail, but I can tell you it is not so ;-)!!!




At the top!!!


It was a beautiful hiking path, initially through the lush green woods along crystal clear creeks up to the tundra with bare rocks and sparse wildlife, even still some snow...







Blood, sweat and tears... well.... maybe not the blood and the tears, but definitely some serious tachycardia, altitude headaches and 'heavy' legs,.... I am convinced Doug was a mountain goat in a previous life, he flew up those steep rocks in no time.... I am just good at the down hill part, the one that doesn't require that much effort and skill... ;-)!

We made it down, got home and even made it out of the house for dinner that night (without requiring a wheelchair to and from the car!!!!).. what an achievement... AND WHAT AMAZING BEAUTY!!

Wildlife on Baldy

Marmots, pikas and chipmunks... those we heard and saw but were too slow to take pictures off.....

Flowers and plants can't move, an easier target for a slower photographer....

On top of the world... well it felt like it....