Enter your trip report here...This is my first crack at a trip report! I don't even really know why I am doing it other than trying to put into words all the things that are flying around in my head right now!

Yesterday I climbed my 28th 14er! In many ways it might have been the most significant one I have ever done. Not because it was the greatest mountain! It wasn't because of my climbing partners! (I did this one solo). It was because of the circumstances of the last 18 months.

My son and I climbed Castle and Conundrum on September 14th of 2024. I felt great. Usually after climbing I take some time off from working out. I am now 62 and sometimes rest is the best thing for my body. The weird thing was is that I could never get back into a workout routine. Something just didn't feel right. Toward the end of the year, I had a message show up on my Fitbit that indicated an "irregular heartbeat". So, like many of us, I ignored it thinking it would just go away! It didn't. I was busy at work, my father-in-law passed away, and it was the holidays. I didn't have time to deal with it.

In early 2025, my wife, son and I went for a short hike at about 9000 feet elevation. I was shocked. I couldn't breathe. My wife put her foot down and made me call the doctor as soon as we got back to town. After many different doctor visits and several tests, they determined that the mitral valve in my heart was failing. I needed open heart surgery. I couldn't believe it! I had always kept myself in decent shape, I couldn't believe I had to have open heart surgery.

In mid April, I had successful surgery. Everything went fine. It really wasn't as bad as you might think it would be. Unfortunately though, when I got home a week later, I developed a very nasty cough. It coughed so bad that I ripped open my incision. To make matters worse, I coughed so bad it broke one of the titanium wires holding my sternum together. Brutal. It gets worse.... I developed a nasty staph infection and another hospitalization and 3 additional surgeries followed. They took the 13 wires holding my sternum together and replaced them with 3 metal plates and 18 screws. They had to dissect part of my pectoral muscles to increase the blood flow over my sternum to promote healing. I was a mess. I was released from the hospital on June 5th of last year. 25 nights in the hospital. 4 total surgeries.3 chest tubes coming out of me and I was on an IV pic line of antibiotics in my inner bicep for 60 days. I could barely walk to the end of the driveway. I was on a 3 pound lifting restriction.

I kept asking my doctors if I would ever return to normal. They were confident that I could.

At one of my low points, my wife went down to the gift shop and bought me a t-shirt with the Colorado logo and some mountains on it. She told that she wanted me to wear this on the next 14er to honor all the medical staff that treated me so well.

This brings us to yesterday's adventure. I have been itching to get back on a summit. My loving wife was a bit worried. In fact, we hiked Horsetooth Rock in Ft. Collins las week so I could prove to her that I could do it.

Most of the 27 14ers that I have done in the past have been with my son. Unfortunately he was not available, so I wanted to do this one alone. Now before you start ripping me, please listen to my reasoning. I did not want to try to keep up with anyone. I did not want to hold anyone back. I felt it was very important to go at MY pace. I had everything I needed and many people knew where I was, and when I would be checking in with them. This was deeply personal to me. I had to do this.

I left Loveland at 2:00 in the morning and started at the Denny Creek Trailhead. It was a beautiful walk through the forrest and along the stream. I love the smell of the pine trees. I was moving slow, but felt decent.

It felt like I was in the forrest forever. When in the heck was I going to get to tree line? I was moving at a slow, but pretty comfortable pace. I have been working hard on the elliptical but I was still somewhat surprised on how slow I was moving. I have to admit that some doubts were starting to creep in.

My faith in Jesus is very important to me. I kept repeating Philippians 4:13 over and over in my head: "I can do all things through He who gives me strength". I know, I know...I am somewhat using the verse out of context, but it was encouraging me, so please give me some grace!

I finally made it above tree line. Now, finally, I felt like I was making some progress. I was going slow and everyone was passing me, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other!

The summit finally came into view! Thank God! I can get up there in no time!!! Wrong!

I finally made it to the saddle. It feels like it is just right there!

I am always amazed when I hike these mountains, how nice and encouraging everyone is. The people on the trail on Monday were amazing. If we ran into one another, I want to say thanks to each of you for the encouragement.

Now let's do some rock hopping and get to the summit!

I made it. I have never been so emotional on a summit. To think what I had been through and where I was standing was incredible to me. I couldn't have done it without my incredible family, amazing friends, loving church, exceptional medical professionals, and the prayers of 100's of people I don't even know. In the end, this wasn't just about me, it was about each of them as well.

It was also about many of you as well. I spend a lot of time on this website (especially when I was recovering). I don't participate in the forum, because I don't know how much a 62 year old guy who hasn't even completed 1/2 of the list can add to the conversation, but I have learned from many of you! I have been entertained by many others. Thank you for encouraging me when you didn't even know you were doing it. I got on this website and dreamed of the day I could summit another one of these incredible mountains. I don't know if I will ever complete all of them, I probably won't. It doesn't matter to me. I am enjoying the journey!

I thought I was alone on the summit and I took off my layers to get a picture in the shirt that my wife had bought me while in the hospital.

I wanted to honor those people as my wife had suggested. Suddenly a couple appeared from just off the edge. They were out of the wind grabbing a bite to eat. I think they thought I was crazy. Here is an old guy, crying, taking selfies, in a t-shirt, in high winds and cold weather. I had to explain myself. It was awesome because it ending up that she was a nurse that worked closely with cardiologists in another hospital. It was a blessing to get to talk to them and for her to see that their patients do recover and live full lives! I was blessed that I got to meet both of them and take pictures of one another!

Now I had to get down the mountain...My truck is down there somewhere!

At my age, I am finding that going down is not much easier than going up! I can't believe how tired I look in the picture below!

I put one foot in front of the other. It was a long day. It was a tiring day. It was a refreshing day. It was great for my soul!

I made it!

I left my house at 2:30 am. I got home about 7:30 pm. What a day. I am blessed. God is good!