Colorado Trip Day 8 (25 photos), by Amber Bryant

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Colorado Trip Day 8

Great group and a great view!

Taking in the views before heading back to the Midwest

We're on our way home from Hat Camp!

"I'll take the holy water, bless you."

Sweet tooth?

Thanks parents, for allowing me to be a tour guide this past week and offer outdoor experiences in one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. One way to preserve the beauty is to expose the next generation to hikes like Quandary and Chihuahua Gulch and develop lasting memories. An appreciation of the experience and the surroundings will hopefully shape their value for nature in a positive way and they can continue to be the ambassadors for the outdoors by "spreading the word." It also makes me smile that I snuck in 20 miles of hiking (half of that up hill) & 3.1 running, and it didn't even seem like exercise!
Melissa Dunbar continues to step up and help out. This was her third year with me and she's beginning to repeat some hikes and has a bittersweet spot in her heart for the Granby Gutbuster. It was special to have Amber Bryant along as well. She attended the 1st trip as a 6th grader in 1998 and her enthusiasm hasn't subsided since. Know that this trip would not exist without competent chaperones. They take care of all the "little things" behind the scenes that need to be done. Thanks again.
The most rewarding part of this week is getting to know these kids on a more personal level. Through their conversations, we can get a better understanding of what "makes them tick." I'm happy to be a part of their growth and look forward to continuing our friendships. Parenting is not an easy job, but it's evident that these students are on a path to becoming great contributors to our community. They're flexible, respectful, funny, naive, helpful, ambitious, talented, and did I mention funny?
The future of the Cool Runners status is "one year at a time." Based on this past week, I'll get some rest and begin planning for 2010-11. Consider the Wolf Lake Trail Run on Sunday, September 26. It's a 3.8 mile trail run at the Bong State Recreation Area. Thank you all again!

Keep moving,

Scott Hollmaier

Colorado Trip Day 7 (200 photos), by Amber Bryant

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Colorado Trip Day 7

Gorillas in the mist.

Mike "leave a little trace" Danos

Quandary Summit

Everyone say "CHEESE," it's 40 degrees!

How many days left?

Getting ready for the Breckenridge Hat Parade!

Today we awoke at 3:45. We went hiking on Quandary Peak, it was approximately 14,265 ft. above ground level with about 3,000 ft. of elevation. It was 5.4 miles in all-it took us 8 hours. We saw lots of cute little animals on this strenuous hike, including dogs, mountain goats, and mostly pikas (cute furry hamster looking things). This was one of our toughest hikes and some people had trouble breathing, but everyone made it to the top! After hiking we all piled into the vans and went to a sick-nasty hat store. Everyone got a crazy hat. While walking through Breckenridge, people on the street thought we were crazy when they saw 17 kids walking with wild hats. Then, when we got back to the house, some girls made cookies, everyone started packing, we're getting ready to possibly watch Alice in Wonderland, and go out to the Dillon Dam Brewery for dinner. We'll be on our way home tomorrow. This was an awesome trip. We will all remember it forever. We all became a closer Cool Runner family. Our 2010 Colorado trip was 'beastly' and an amazing experience, mostly because Mr. Hollmaier, Ms. Dunbar, and Ms. Bryant. Thanks chaperones! We had a great week and you guys made it memorable.

Thanks again chaperones, see you tomorrow families!

Charlie (the one whose last name starts with an N) ©h@®liΩ

Jamie and Brooke

Colorado Trip Day 6 (97 photos), by Amber Bryant

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Colorado Trip Day 6

So easy, a child could do it.

Scotty's Angels

Don't look behind you!

Hungry Boys vs. Gigantor Pizza

The only thing missing was sombreros...

Finally, a free day SLEEPING IN, well until 7. Shannon, Nikki, Mikayla, and Brooke started their day off with an 80 foot climb. It was a really successful trip and one of Mr. Hollmaier's favorites in a long time! After the amazing climbing experience the four girls, Hollmaier and Ms. Bryant went to Frisco for a breakfast treat. Then, the same group went grocery shopping (the last grocery trip for the week)! The rest of the group stayed home, hung out and relaxed. Once the four girls and chaperones came home they had a surprise for Ms. Dunbar, she got flowers for watching the boys. Soon after the climbers came back from grocery shopping, everyone went to lunch. We went to a pizza place, the boys ordered a 36 inch pizza and finished the whole thing in about 8 minutes. Then we shopped for awhile in Breckenridge. Mikayla bought some incense to help cover the up the toots that have been occurring more often recently. Nick lost 40 dollars, but when he got home the 40 dollars reappeared on his bed--this remains a mystery. When we got home, some of the boys prepared a Mexican fiesta. Charlie H. was in charge of fajitas, Nate, Adrian, and Bradley made tacos, and Mike and Nick made quesadillas. It was delicious! Mr. Hollmaier talked to us about preparing for our 14er tomorrow. We are leaving at 4:50 am for our longest hike of the week. When we get to the top, if it is clear, we may be able to see up to 100 miles away! Today was a really great day! Bradley and Adrian would like to say "hi!".

Signed, Mikayla Schultz, Rachel Ceckowski, and Nikki Kile

Colorado Trip Day 5 (157 photos), by Amber Bryant

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos