Great Sand Dunes, Colorado
Afternoon/Sunset
Sunrise/Morning
Grays Peak, Colorado 14er
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
2026 Exploration Photo Essay
2025 Exploration Photo Essay
Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak ~ More from this double 14ers hike here.
Great Sand Dunes, Colorado — Sunset and Sunrise
Mt. Daimonji-yama, Kyoto, Japan - Birthday Adventure
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto, Japan
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, Japan
Arapaho Pass, Colorado - Lake Dorothy, Upper Neva Lake, Lower Neva Lake
Pawnee Pass, Colorado - Long Lake, Lake Isabelle, Mirror Lake
Independence Pass, Colorado - Independence Lake, Lost Man Lake
Devil’s Thumb Lake Trail, Colorado
Loveland Pass and Torreys and Grays Peaks, Colorado 14ers
Scotts Valley, CA including 1440 Multiversity
Rocky Mountain National Park
Through Frost and Flowers // Pawnee Pass 51k Adventure
Reflections // Pawnee Pass 51k Adventure
Through frost and flowers I moved
Evergreen branches glittering
As the light changed from dark to dawn
The last purple petals along the trail
Swaying and leaning toward sunrise
Waiting to be embraced by its warmth
Up and over the pass I went as the seasons changed
Witnessing three sunrises
As I moved down and around the ridges and beyond distant peaks
Over streams and to pause at the edge of lakes, Mirror and Crater
Each one creating a new relationship with the sun
I collected cold water from the creeks
Dipping my arms to keep them cool
Running then hiking
Running then hiking
Up and down the trails
I thought of the words of Rumí
“Quit being a drop. Make yourself an ocean. // Abandon your ego and reap the Beloved’s devotion.”
“Become the sky and the clouds that create the rain, // Not the gutter that carries it to the drain.”
Trekking back up the pass
The final ascent before it was downhill from there
I meditated on what this venture into the wild had meant to me
What it represented, and the many interconnected actions over time that made it possible
For when we are intentional and strategic
And willing to try and try again
New realms open up to us
My body and mind working in unison
Cheering each other on… only a few more steps to go
And then it was done!
Around my neck hung two necklaces
A gold chain and mountain peaks, from my adventures up Colorado’s highest mountains in Leadville.
A silver split twig deer from after my rim-river-rim adventure in the Grand Canyon.
They represent where I’ve been, and all that made this day possible.
*Rumí quotes from The Rumí Prescription by Melody Moezzi
Recap and route:
I used to listen to the UltraRunner podcast and think, maybe, one day, I’ll be able to do an ultramarathon.
Ultramarathons range in distance from 50k (31 miles) to 100+ miles, often on trails or through deserts landscapes.
Up until this year, the longest distance I had done was a marathon (26.2 miles), having run the Kentucky Derby Festival marathon 2x and the Gay Games marathon in Paris in 2018.
This year, I set out to train on Colorado’s mountain trails, cross-train to build support muscles at the gym, and get my nutrition plan and supplies organized so I could do a self-supported 50k before the snow came.
Friday, September 6, 2024, I embarked from the parking lot just after 5:30a, and finished the 51k route in 10 hours, with over 7,600 feet of elevation gain!
I combined multiple trails to create my own route, which ended up being a 51k (32.49 miles. I’m calling it the Pawnee Pass 51k Ultramarathon.
-> Started at Brainard Lake Recreation area, went around lake to
-> Niwot Cutoff Trail, to
-> Jean Lunning Trail (goes over creek), to
-> Pawnee Pass Trail (up and over pass), to
-> Crater Lake Trail (visit both Mirror and Crater Lake), back out to
-> Cascade Creek Trail (take trail til your total mileage hits 17.25 miles - you won’t make it to Monarch Lake but you’ll be close)
-> Return route includes all of the above except Crater Lake Trail
There are multiple creeks to filter water from on both sides of the pass - so bring a water filter. I experienced a lot of direct sunlight so getting my sleeves wet helped keep me cool.
For nutrition, I do a 45-min schedule… 45-30-15-0. (Calories at 45 min, 1:30, 2:15, 3 hrs, repeat) Aiming for at-least 90 calories each time (I start with gels), sometime 200-300 with a protein bar or nut butter packet.
Lake Isabelle, Mirror Lake and Crater Lake all had lower levels of water than I’d seen before.
Ventures into the Wild: Walking in Beauty, Honoring All Life
In August 2024, Theo Edmonds and I spent time at the Grand Canyon south rim, lower Antelope Canyon, and the California coast from Big Sur to Monterey. It was an artistic exploration to understand how natural intelligence can inform and enhance our lives and work.
If any word can describe what I felt at the Grand Canyon, it would be Hózhó, a Navajo (Diné) philosophy and belief in “Developing pride of one's body, mind, soul, spirit and honoring all life.” It is a way of living in harmony - being one with and part of - the world around you. To walk in beauty, to create environments that are inclusive.
Along the Trail of Time that follows the south rim, one step represents a million years as you move through billions of years of history. Every step, a reminder that the small things we let hijack our thoughts are ever so trivial in the grand scheme of things. That our time here is precious - it is our most limited resource - something to be valued, savored and protected. Over the course of the trip, I took more than 165,600 steps.
For Theo, as a Culture Futurist®, one of his main lines of inquiry is to more deeply understand how human conception of time changes the way we approach innovation. In America, there may be no better place to learn more about this concept than those places where the natural environment radically leaves such clear visual indicators of time.
Below are photos, reflections, trail exploration notes, and more.
Personal Reflection // Grand Canyon
My mind was too excited to sleep
My spirit, energized
Out the door before the sun began to illuminate the horizon
Moving through light and shadow, across jagged edges and smooth surfaces
I felt a deep connection to this place
Trails I had traveled
Just not in this lifetime
My legs changing color
Layers of red dirt collecting
As my feet moved across millennia
I laughed, sang and cried
The vastness throwing open its wide embrace to me
Birds flew overhead
Lizards ran between rocks and across the trail
A family of deer ate breakfast on the ridge
Whispers from the past and present floated along the trails
In languages known and foreign to me
We all existed, there, together
In that moment
All that was and will be
Flowing across time and space
Millions upon millions of years
For with each step I moved through time and yet
Each step was now
Both can be true
In the Grand Canyon, I was…
Inspired to dream and push myself
Required to evolve and grow beyond what I knew.
Grand Canyon, South Rim
We spent 3 days at the Grand Canyon South Rim, staying at Maswik Lodge, just a short walk from the rim and multiple shuttle stops. The lodge worked out great for our stay and as a basecamp for Theo to work from. It also has a dining hall with multiple affordable options for meals to fuel your ventures into the canyon.
The first day, I did a rim-river-rim adventure, taking Bright Angel Trail down and over the Colorado River to Phantom Ranch, returning via South Kaibab Trail. I started at 4:25am and it took just over 6-hours total (5:24:34 moving time) covering approximately 20-21 miles (there was an error with my GPS in the canyon) with around 5,000 feet of elevation gain. There were places to get drinking water along Bright Angel and at Phantom Ranch, and restrooms at various points. This is by far the most well-maintained park I have ever visited! By the time I was coming back up S. Kaibab, the sun had risen and it started getting hot out with lots of direct sun exposure. It reached 101-103 degrees at the base of the Canyon that day, with storms blowing in shortly after Noon. Thankfully, I was done before then!
The second morning, we watched sunrise behind the El Tovar hotel, and then I followed the south rim west visiting the scenic overlooks along Hermit Road for multiple hours, taking the shuttle back so I could follow the Trail of Time east toward the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Storms lasted from afternoon to evening, causing flash floods in the canyon. This page is updated daily with Grand Canyon 7-day weather forecasts.
Our last morning, I went to watch sunrise at Skeleton Point which is 3-miles down S. Kaibab Trail from the trailhead, parking at Pipe Creek Vista since the shuttles hadn’t started yet (adds 0.9 miles each way). It was breathtaking, and to make it even more magical, rain from the night before created small pools along the trail, reflecting the surroundings and sky. Of the two main trails, S. Kaibab offers more expansive views of the Grand Canyon. If you’d rather watch sunrise from the rim, walking the rim path along Hermit Road to one of the overlooks would also give you a great view. After sunrise, we drove 2.5 hours to explore lower Antelope Canyon, departing the following day for California.
See list of recommended adventure supplies at bottom of post.
The Havasu Baaja, People of the Blue Green Waters, or as they are known today, the Havasupai Tribe, have lived below the rim of the Grand Canyon for over 1,000 years. They see “humans as elements of the natural world, fully embedded within it. In their view, humans belong to nature.” - I am the Grand Canyon by Stephen Hirst
Antelope Canyon
On our third day in the Grand Canyon area, we drove to lower Antelope Canyon (2.5 hour drive). We did the 11am Deluxe Tour with Ken’s Tours, which limited our group to 6 people, and included a guided tour, learning about Navajo culture and traditions and lunch. Our guide Kelly was Navajo, and spent a lot of time with our group telling us about the history of the canyon and her people before lunch. Inside the canyon is magical and stunning with the colors changing throughout the day.
Our guide was great, pointing out the shapes of animals and silhouette of a Chief, and noting that the height of 1 finger held up against the canyon wall is roughly equivalent to 1,000 years. She also had us pose for photos at multiple spots. If you plan to visit upper or lower Antelope Canyon, book your tour in advance - tours are required to visit both, and can book days/weeks in advance.
Photo 1 by our tour guide Kelly, last photo by Theo of me going up one of the ladders in the canyon, all other photos by Josh Miller.
California: Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey
We drove from the Grand Canyon to Carmel-by-the-Sea, where we’d booked an Airbnb in Carmel Highlands that was on the edge of a canyon, and with a view of the water. The canyon had a redwood grove beside a spring, with some trees wide enough it would take multiple people linking hands to reach around them.
Two mornings were spent at the Point Lobos State Nature Reserve, which has been called “The crown jewel of the California State Park System.” It is a beautiful network of trails that go out along interesting rock formations with views of the shore and ocean - birds flying overhead, and people out hiking, taking photos or capturing the scene through painting. The second time I went, low clouds shrouded the park, giving Jurassic Park vibes - it was a lot of fun to explore.
The second day, we drove to Big Sur to hike in Andrew Molera State Park. The trail, an approximately 8-mile loop, includes over 1,300 feet of ascent, taking you up to look out over the ocean and nearby shores, before finishing your hike closer to the water. Both parks charge $10 entry, and open at 8am. That afternoon we visited Carmel-by-the-Sea, a town known for its welcoming attitude toward dogs (When I made a dinner reservation, they proactively asked if our dog would be joining us). They also have a High Heel Ban on heels over 2 inches. Apparently it isn’t enforced, but its still entertaining to think about.
The last day we went to Monterey, California after my trail run through Point Lobos. I rented a paddle board, taking it up the coast where Sea Lions and Sea Otters floated and ducked in and out of the kelp fields. The Sea Lions could be heard across the water, barking at each other from along the peer and the beach they’ve claimed. After paddle boarding, I walked a few miles up the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, checking out the shops and scenery, and making it to Otter Point where Sea Otters were floating on their backs eating dinner. It was absolutely adorable. We finished the day back in Carmel-by-the-Sea at Terry’s Restaurant and Lounge, a “1929 landmark property previously co-owned by legendary Hollywood actress Doris Day and Carmel’s most esteemed businessman, Denny LeVett.”
Recommended adventure supplies:
*This list is not broadly applicable to Antelope Canyon, outside of your body and clothes the only thing you can take in is your phone or camera and a water bottle.
Satellite device - I have the Garmin inReach mini 2. Requires monthly subscription, but will allow you to signal SOS and have responders notified, it will also connect with your phone and allow you to send a limited number of short text messages when you don’t have service. (ie: I’m running late, but I’m all good)
Head lamp (For trails and walking around the rim in the dark)
Hydration pack (2L - get one with a little extra room for your other supplies)
Sunscreen (Mineral stick for face, Sport spray for body)
Water filtration system - Example of a similar one to what I have. At the Grand Canyon, I filled 1 bottle with creek water at Phantom Ranch as a backup and drank it on the shuttle after finishing at S. Kaibab because that trailhead doesn’t have drinking water and I had used all my fresh water.
Hiking boots or trail running shoes depending on your preference - I did these in trail running shoes.
Gaiters to keep out dirt/sand/rocks
Moisture-wicking shirt with SPF. I wear this one from Columbia and have it in 4 colors, it is easy to wash in the shower while traveling.
Hat, light-weight shorts or running tights, light-weight wool socks (or similar, I wear Feetures with my trail running shoes)
Trekking poles - I did not use these, but if you aren’t used to going up and down with a lot of elevation change, or want help with your balance, consider taking trekking poles with you!
Calories for your adventure! Protein bars (GoMacro Oatmeal Chocolate Chip are my fav), single serve nut butter packets, gel (I carry a Hammer flask with chocolate gel - flask comes with order), trail mix, etc. If you’re going to be out there for multiple hours like I was, consuming calories every 45 min - 1 hour 30 min is a good schedule to start with based on your pace and needs.
Calories afterward! Have protein powder or other nutrients waiting for you in the car of back in your room. Maybe stop and grab a burrito afterward - mine was delicious! REPLENISH!
Plastic bags (1G) - in case of rain, and to keep things protected from sweat.
Put your phone on DND (Do not disturb). 1) Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, be in the moment, the world outside the experience can wait. 2) This keeps random messages from getting delivered during that 5 second blip when your phone gets service, that you won’t be able to respond to. Save yourself the stress of not being able to respond.
2024 Exploration Photo Essay
Photos from throughout 2024 - from hiking, cycling and trail running to travel and cultural explorations.
Taken with iPhone, Insta360 and Canon DSLR.
Colorado
Photos from various outdoor explorations in Colorado, including the Front Range and Rocky Mountain National Park
Pawnee Pass 51k Adventure
Grand Canyon south rim, Antelope Canyon
California: Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey
Pawnee Pass: Lakes including Crater, Mirror, Pawnee, Isabelle, Brainard, and Long, Continental Divide, Colorado
22-mile roundtrip from Brainard Lake Recreation area, past Long Lake to Lake Isabelle, and over Pawnee Pass (12,550 elevation) to Pawnee Lake, Mirror Lake and Crater Lake. Adventure took just under 7 hours with over 5,600 feet of ascent. Sleet and high-winds started when I summited the Pass on my way back, making for a cold and wet return trip. At times it felt like I was in a dance with the storm, running down the trail in and out of its front edges. The descent from the Pass down toward Pawnee Lake is steep and very rocky, but the variety of wildflowers once you got lower is unmatched!
Devil’s Thumb Lake Trail, Continental Divide, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes, Colorado (Sunrise and Sunset)
Willow Lake Trail, Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado
Santa Fe, NM
Ireland 2023
In July 2023, my husband Theo Edmonds and I spent 2 weeks in Ireland, arriving and departing from Dublin. We rented a car at the Dublin airport, and drove to Wesport for a few days before heading to Clifden and back to Dublin.
In Ireland, you drive on the left-hand side of the street, pair that with how narrow many of the roads are, and it was a bit stressful, especially the first day driving for multiple hours across Ireland after our flights! By the sixth day I was far more comfortable, just in time to drop off the car (scratch-free I might add) at the aiport before a week in Dublin.
Below are highlights from the trip including specific explorations, meals, and places we visited.
Achill Head and Keem Beach
Just over an hour drive from Wesport, Achill Head is the most western part of Ireland, and the Cliffs of Croaghaun are the highest cliffs in Ireland. We parked at Keem Beach, where parts of the movie The Banshees of Inisherin was filmed, and hiked up the cliffs for breathtaking views. There are sheep roaming all over the island and cliffs which enhanced the experience even more. Absolutely worth the drive!
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail and Pilgrimage Path (Westport)
Our Airbnb outside Wesport was a few kilometers from Croagh Patrick, which is considered Ireland’s holy mountain. For my run/hike, I covered a total of 14 miles, including part of the Skelp trail, Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail that went through multiple miles of wet meadows inhabited by flocks of sheep, and up the mountain to the church at the peak. There was a cloud resting on the peak, and going up into it felt like I went into another realm, before making the trip back. If you do the Heritage Trail, be prepared for very wet shoes as its quite marshy. Overall, great experience and way to see the countryside from different vantage points.
Connemara
We drove from Westport to Connemara and stayed near Clifden. We visited Killary Fjord, Kylemore Abbey, 12 Pines Island, and the Connemara National Park.
Connemara was the home for many years to John O’Donohue, a favorite poet of ours, whose work - including poetry and writing- leaves a “legacy that directs our search for intimacy to crucial thresholds: tradition and modernity, past and future, life and death, the visible and the invisible world. At the heart of John's awakened beliefs was the premise that ancient wisdom could offer desperately needed nourishment for the spiritual hunger experienced in our modern world.”
FOR A NEW BEGINNING
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the grey promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
~ John O'Donohue, from Benedictus: A Book of Blessings
Dalkey (Hawk Cliff)
Less than an hour from Dublin by DART (and a short walk), Dalkey is a beautiful coastal town with beaches and swimming spots. The water was around 14.6 degrees celsius = 58.28 degrees fahrenheit, and absolutely worth the cold plunge. We walked from the DART station to swim, and then into town for seafood and lobster at Ouzos before grabbing some ice cream and taking the train back.
Dublin
We spent a week in Dublin, exploring the Botanical Gardens, Phoenix Park, museums (including the Museum of Archaeology), the riverfront, and more. Theo and I attended the 3rd International Conference of Possibility Studies with the theme Cultivating the Possible: Reimagining Education and Society where he presented on the role of Artists, Scientists and Business in Reclaiming A Sense of Wonder. Keynotes for the conference included Robert J. Sternberg, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Kim Wilkins and more.
While in Dublin, I celebrated by 35th birthday including a delicious dinner with Theo at Monty’s of Kathmandu, a traditional Nepalese Restaurant.
A few shopping spots I enjoyed:
The Collective Dublin (jewelry from Irish creators)
Siopaella (clothing, bags, accessories - vintage and pre-loved designer)
Dopl (shoes including Rick Owens).
Dining spots:
We met up with friends for dinner at Glas, a vegetarian pre-fix restaurant where we had one of the best desserts I’ve tasted in a long-time. It featured fired apricots, 3 types of sweet potato, ice cream and more! (Note: Presentation was beautiful, but this was not a super filling meal as someone who eats hearty portions and lots of protein.)
Brunch at The Washerwoman was delicious, including the black pudding (Traditional Irish dish also known as “blood sausage” usually made from pork or beef blood, pork fat or beef suet, and a cereal, usually oatmeal, oat groats, or barley groats). Theo had the steak sandwich that was quite good as well!
Sprouts, with multiple locations was a quick and yummy lunch while out shopping. I recommend the Middle Eastern Chicken salad.
Lunch at The Ivy on Dawson was one of the best meals we had in Dublin. From the truffle arancini to my salmon and smoked haddock cake with a poached egg and pea puree. Delicious!
Traditional Irish meal at John Kavanagh The Gravediggers was a great way to experience some delicious local nosh. Founded in 1833, the pub is still in the Kavanagh family who were welcoming and described everything on the menu as “gorgeous” which we loved.
Dublin Airport:
When departing, Dublin is one of the only international airports where there is US Preclearance with customs, which means you don’t have to wait in line in the US to clear customs, get your bags, re-check them, etc. Super convenient. The day we traveled, American Airlines check-in/drop off of checked bags didn’t open til 6am, US Preclearance didn’t open til 7am, and the terminal for our flights didn’t open til after 7:30am - our flight was at 9:30am. Line began forming at 5:30am for American Airlines bag check/check-in. If you only had a carry-on and check-in online you could have go ahead through the preliminary security to wait for US Preclearance to open before 6am.
Westport and Clifden
Our Airbnb in Wesport was a loft on the 2nd floor and looked out over the countryside and was a few km from town. While in Wesport we also went horseback riding.
Our Airbnb in Clifden was a beautiful two-bedroom cottage behind the main house, with horses roaming the yard and lush greenery surrounding it.
The weather throughout the two weeks was unseasonably wet, with rain every day. We had a few days with multiple hours of sun, but otherwise, it was pretty cloudy and often quite windy.
2023 Exploration Photo Essays
Photos from throughout 2023 - from hiking, cycling and trail running to travel and cultural explorations.
Colorado
Kentucky
New York
Wellbeing Summit at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York City
James Peak Wilderness, Colorado
Estes Park, Colorado
Dream Lake, Lake Haiyaha, The Loch, Lake of Glass, Sky Pond, Nymph Lake
Devil’s Thumb Trail to Continental Divide, Colorado
Leadville, CO
Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir, Mt Elbert, Mt Massive
Ireland 2023 (click here for full recap)
Art of Leadership Retreat - San Diego, May 2023
Cities Summit of the Americas, Denver 2023
Washington, DC
Open Society-US Fellows Convening - February 2023
Mexico City Art Work - February 2023
Skiing in Steamboat Springs - January 2023
Triple Bypass Ride 2022 - Colorado
I had an amazing Triple Bypass Ride experience on August 20, 2022 covering 110-miles from Evergreen to Vail - going over 3 mountain passes with 10,000+ feet of ascent!
Huge thanks to Team Evergreen and the Triple Bypass Ride volunteers and planners for making it such a great event! It made my 3095 training miles since January worth it.
I started the ride at 4:37am and finished 9 hours and 8 minutes later in Vail where my husband Theo was waiting for me at the Finish Line.
Checkout photos below from the Triple Bypass and from my training rides along the course, as well as an overview of my training schedule and an overview of nutrition, hydration and clothing used for the ride.
Triple Bypass Ride Wearable Photos
Training Schedule:
January: 296 miles with rides ranging from 11 - 60 miles
February: 272 miles with rides ranging from 15 - 46 miles
March: 439 miles with rides ranging from 15 - 56 miles
April: 372 miles with rides ranging from 25 - 60 miles
May: 629 miles including an 80-mile ride with 3,360 ft of ascent
June: 328 miles including an 100-mile ride in Louisville, KY (flatter, humid)
July: 433 miles including a 110-mile roundtrip ride over Juniper Pass to the Bakerville-Loveland multi-use pathway — RideWithGPS Route
August: 332 miles including an 85-mile ride up Loveland Pass to Vail Summit - RideWithGPS Route. Mileage does not include the Triple Bypass Ride
Hydration and Nutrition Supplies:
60 oz of water on bike/person
2 flasks of Hammer Nutrition Gel (Chocolate and Hazelnut)
8 Hammer Nutrition anti-fatigue caps (4 at beginning of ride, 4 half-way through)
1 packet Skratch Labs Hyper Hydration (Beginning of ride)
3 Nuun electrolytes tabs (Throughout ride)
2 servings Skratch Labs Recovery Drink Mix (After crossing finish line)
Clothing used for Triple Bypass:
Triple Bypass Cycling Jersey
Sun protective sleeves
Cycling shorts
Feetures socks
Cycling shoe toe covers
Full finger cycling gloves
Neck buff and sweat band under helmet
Windbreaker for downhill sections / rain
Wind/waterproof gloves for downhill sections/rain
Transitional sunglasses
2022 Explorations
2022 explorations from hiking to cycling, trail running and snowshoeing. Photos by Josh Miller.
