On the WTW

We have already had as many walkers as we had two years ago and we’re getting close to our record year last year.  I love it!  I don’t love having to chase down every detail, but I do love the project and I’m proud as a peacock.   The small lodging places that have been with me from the get-go make my WTW life so easy. Baldpate staff is awesome- the best yet.  Nancy at the Eagle Cliff House continues to take such good care of people.  The Allenspark Lodge is consistently a treat and dinner at the Fawn Brook Inn is such a special way to celebrate the accomplishment.

I think the hardest part for me is the beginning of each trip.  No matter how wonderful the prior week turned out, the next week is a whole new group.  We start all over trying to hit a vacation home run.   I always breathe a sigh of relief when walkers get to the Storm Pass day.  By then they get how it all goes and they have a certain confidence.   They’re starting to unwind.  They’ve gotten tired and dirty and have the healthy glow.  The stress of life has been left somewhere on the trail.

Where is all this going?  I really want to start another trail.  I’ve decided it needs to be somewhere that’s beautiful of course, has good hiking trails, fun lodging and maybe isn’t overly crowded.  I hear it every week- people love the parts of the WTW where they’re all alone.

On the Store

The store continues.  Staff is good.  There are a lot of new people in Estes this year maybe due to the centennial.  I miss the old crowd.  I want someone to ask me how to climb Mt. Alice instead of asking where the park is.

On France

I have several people hiking our Alsace inn-to-inn self-guided this year.  I will be going over for a few days, beginning with some alone time in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland.  Can’t wait.  Someone said, “Aren’t you scared to be alone?”  Are you kidding?  I will hike till I drop then head for Kaysersberg in France and meet a self-guided group.  David is then coming and we’re hiking north doing some familiar routes and some new.  This region is special to me and offers consistent lodging, good hiking and of course fine dining.  Remember- it’s France.

I’ll be doing a private Alsace trip in the fall of 2016 and there’s a possibility that I’ll be offering another trip you can join.  Several WTW people are interested.

On Boots

The Warming House hangs it hat on real boots.  We continue to offer boots from Lowa, but this year we are also offering boots from Han Wag, a small German company that specializes in bunion boots.  They’re winners.  Put a great pair of hiking boots on someone and it can change their lives.  We’re also carrying some Lowa running shoes with PU midsoles.  They hold their shape and don’t compress like EVA.  They’re doing well and they’re super-light.  Make a good traveling shoe when you don’t want a lot of weight.

On Beau

Beau turned 3 on my birthday.  He’s so special although he still barks at the customers.  He has a new little brother, Baymax, who belongs to one of my employees, Melinda.  They live in the neighborhood and you should see them play.  Baymax is still young, but he loves Beau and they play till they flop.  New dog for me?  Maybe November.