Food is Good

For a last hurrah before leaving my native state, dad and I had planned on climbing a fourteener. For those who are uninitiated, Colorado has some fiftyfour officially recognized mountains with summits above fourteen thousand feet. I have climbed a handful or two, and my brother a few more than me.

Well, this was a hell of a weekend to pick for a climb. As I mentioned previously, after our post-convention, midnight dinner at Elways, headed back to Jim’s for some deep conversation. Needless to say, this involved a bottle of scotch, a good deal of wine, and led to a 6:30am bedtime.

Thinking ahead, I sent dad an email and mentioned my desire to sleep in a bit (and requested he not call until he got close to Denver, anyhow). With an eight thirty call, he quickly announced that he had not received that message.

Anyway, he picks me up in Denver, and I had slept a good bit less than my necessary eight hours. Indeed, I only slept for about three.

We take a scenic drive out to leadville, stopping first to get equipment (rei and near vail-frisco perhaps?) then water (red cliff). The water was interesting, as we thought a logical place to sell water would be the liquor store. Not here. What appeared to be a liquor store ((I noted both open and liquor signs), was actually an old guy sitting, watching the day. He very nicely let us use his pipes. I still haven’t figured out how recently the establishment sold hootch, nor whether it would again.

Then on to set up camp. Now, for those of you who have spent any time at all with me, you are likely surprised that I haven’t yet mentioned food. Indeed, this is because there was no food to be had.

My father has difficuty relating to me. Whereas I enjoy food, ideally dinner type food, at all hours of the day, he only really eats dinner. This is not your typical caloric restricted diet, no. He is simply not hungry.

So, yes, astute readers: I was hungry and a bit hungover and rather exhausted.

After setting up the tent-a really simple north face (thanks for the deal, shortie!)-in an exhausted, quasi-delusional state, we returned to leadville for dinner.

Went to a cute little Italian joint in downtown. Okay, probably the only Italian place in Leadville, on the four block strip that constitutes downtown.

I got a tasty pasta with meat sauce (a dish that, for me, was defined by giovanna’s bolognese when I worked for her in high school). It was fine, nothing to get too excited about, but damned if hunger isn’t the best spice. And the food was inexpensive-$10 entrées that include soup or salad, and $15 caraffs of wine. So, a good proposition, all considered.

After dinner, dad picked up the brief wonderous life of oscar wao, and we returned to camp. It could not have been after nine, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was barely eight.

I went straight to bed. Woke up at seven the next morning, well rested and ready to hike to colorados highest point. More on that fiasco later!