Thursday, September 20, 2018

2018 Wellness Program - Challenge 9 - EPMC Annual Hiking Challenge

From July 1 to September 21, 2018

Sign Up

Pick a Level:
Bronze - 4 easy hikes, 2 moderate hikes
Silver - 2 easy hikes, 3 moderate hikes, 1 difficult hike
Gold - 1 easy hike, 3 moderate hikes, 2 difficult hikes, 2 additional hikes of any level

Keep track of your hikes on the wellness board outside of the cafe.

Find hikes here and very good descriptions of hikes here

BONUS - participate in a group hike with the wellness committee

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I chose the GOLD Level.

Hike #1 - Two Easy Hikes in one - Bear Lake and Alberta Falls done July 4, 2018

Alberta Falls Trail is a 1.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Horses are also able to use this trail.








Bear Lake Nature Trail is a 0.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from March until November.






Hike #2 - Easy Hike - Lily Lake - July 6, 2018

Lily Lake is a 0.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until November.







Hike #3 - Easy Hike - Sprague Lake - July 9, 2018

Sprague Lake Trail is a 0.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.







Hike #4 - Two Moderate Hikes and one Easy Hike in one - Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and Emerald Lake - July 9, 2018

Emerald Lake Trail is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November.




Dream Lake Trail is a 2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, birding, and snowshoeing and is accessible year-round.




Nymph Lake Trail is a 1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking.




Hike #5 - Moderate Hike - Gem Lake - July 12, 2018

Gem Lake Trail is a 3.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Glen Haven, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, camping, and nature trips and is best used from March until October.







Hike #6 - Two Moderate Hikes and one Easy Hike in one - Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and Lake Haiyaha - July 16, 2018

Lake Haiyaha is a 3.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from June until November.

Dream Lake Trail is a 2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, birding, and snowshoeing and is accessible year-round.

Nymph Lake Trail is a 1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking.








Hike #7 - Moderate Hike - Lily Mountain - July 24, 2018

Lily Mountain Trail is a 3.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.







Hike #8 - Hard Hike - Estes Cone from Lily Lake Trailhead - August 1, 2018

Lily Lake to Estes Cone Loop is a 8.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Beaver Point, Colorado that features a lake. The trail is rated as difficult and primarily used for hiking.








Hike #9 - 2 Easy and 1 Moderate  - Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and Dream Lake - September 16, 2018

Bear Lake Nature Trail is a 0.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from March until November.

Dream Lake Trail is a 2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, birding, and snowshoeing and is accessible year-round.

Nymph Lake Trail is a 1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking.









Hike #10 - Hard Hike - Twin Sisters - September 17, 2018

Twin Sisters Peak Trail is a 7.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Horses are also able to use this trail.








Hike #10 - 1 Easy, 2 moderate and 1 Hard Hike - Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail  passing Alberta Falls , The Loch, Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass and Sky Pond- September 19, 2018

Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail is a 8.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September.













This was a great challenge. Can't wait for next year!







Tuesday, July 3, 2018

2018 Wellness Program - Challenge 12 - Halfway Check In




So it's time for the Halfway check in on the Wellness Program. Today is July 3, 2018.

I have not lost any weight - I am still at 171.6.

Hips and Chest have gone from 43" to 42"

Waist has gone from 37" to 39" - this is because I have been fighting ovarian cysts since the 10th of June and these tend to cause bloating.

Thighs have gone from 23" to 22" (more defined then before so I think it's muscle tone and losing the inside the thigh fat)

Arms have gone from 13" to 14" (getting some muscle in my arms!! YEAH!!)

My blood pressure is 122/87 with a pulse of 82 today. This is one of the LOWEST reads I have had all year and I am WAY excited about this.

I wanted to me down to 150# by August 1 - that is not going to happen.

My other goals - Eat healthier, Exercise at least 30 minutes per day and find someone encouraging to help me on my journey - I have done and will continue to do. I now want to be down to my 150# goal by December 1, 2018.

The health issues with the Ovarian cysts has really messed me up. I am working on pain management and adding some supplements and things to my diet to see if I can naturally get rid of them along with the pain management from my doctor.

While it's not where I had hoped to be, I am still working on my goal.

Monday, June 18, 2018

2018 Wellness Program - Challenge 10 - Forest Bathing

Forest bathing is the practice of immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere.

This challenge requires you get outside 15 minutes per day for 5 days.




What was your experience?

That in the early hours of the morning Estes Park is not a mad-house and the it's quiet and you can see the beauty.


Where did you go?

Thursday, June 14 - sitting along the river walk by the post office very early in the morning.
Friday, June 15 - sitting by a pond watching the ducks and listening to the river flow past.
Saturday, June 16 - sitting by the river in the national park, early in the morning
Sunday, June 17 - sitting on a rock under the trees up the hill from where I am living early in the morning
Monday, June 18 - sitting at the top of Trail Ridge road at 12,009 feet watching the sun rise.


Did you feel more relaxed after having been outside?

Yes - but that went away quickly as I had to be around others who were driving to and from and busy, busy, busy.


While this is a great concept - the effects didn't last long for me. Within 5 minutes of leaving my little area each day there were people that were loud, being rude or foolish and the sounds of traffic and the like. It's sad to say that the calming mood this exercise gave me was quickly destroyed by others doing things that, in the early hours I was doing this exercise, 5 AM-7 AM, should really not be a part of Estes Park. It's like the human race can't be quiet and people don't respect a new place, they treat it like where they are from and just keep doing what they always do no matter what.





Friday, June 1, 2018

2018 Wellness Program - Challenge 13 - Recognize Others


This challenge was to Recognize Others.  Fill out a Kudo for a co-worker or nominate someone to be the Wellness Employee of the Month.

I did both.



I did a Kudo for my co-worker Ellen Meinking for constantly answering her phone at all hours when something at work happens that I have never dealt with before. Being another night shift ER Admitting worker - she knows the challenges that I face and is always willing to help.

I did a Kudo for my supervisor Ellen Roach for being the kind of boss who "has your back" in a tough situation. She makes you feel appreciated and encourages the best from her employees.

I nominated fellow employee Pam Duemig for being a great team captain and leader for our Walking Challenge (#6) and for putting in the most miles each week. She was encouraging and inspiring. I thought she deserved the month to be recognized by all employees.






2018 Wellness Program - Challenge 6 - Get involved in the EPMC Community - Walking Challenge

This walking Challenge took place from April 9, 2018 until May 24, 2018. (It was supposed to be April 1, 2018-May 17, 2018 but there were some delays).

You needed to get a team together.

This started off as a challenge for itself for me. I work nights and don't know any people really outside of my department. I asked a couple people I knew and they waited 2 days to get back with me to tell me no. I had a momentary trip back to high school when no one wanted the nerdy girl on their team. It was a bit of drama but it worked itself out.

I ended up on a team with:

Melissa Addison (me)
Lynn Stepaniak
Deidra Hues
Maria Yazzie
Sally Steele
Susan Steele
Erin Hayes
Monica Annicks

Pam Duemig (team captain)

The challenge is to walk the Appalachian Trail. (2,189 miles). Each person is required to walk a minimum of 5 miles per day/35 miles per week.

Equivalents:

Walking - 2500 steps = 1 mile
Biking 7 miles = 1 mile walked
30 minutes aerobic activity = 1 mile walked
30 minutes gardening/mowing/etc = 1 mile walked
60 minutes of yoga = 1 mile walked
1 mile swimming = 1 mile walked

I kept daily totals and turned those totals into the captain every Monday.

Total miles walked:

Week 1: 36.7 miles - best day 8 miles in 1 day.
Week 2: 36.3 miles - best day 8 miles in 1 day.
Week 3: 26.7 miles - best day 6 miles in 1 day.
                THIS REALLY made me upset because I had done so well before.
Week 4: 31.1 - miles - best day 7 miles in 1 day.
Week 5: 55.0 miles - best day 10 miles in 1 day.
Week 6: 29.7 miles - best day 7.6 miles in 1 day.
Week 7: 28.6 miles - best day 7.6 miles in 1 day.

Grand Total: 244.1

I needed 245 miles - so I was .9 short.

Miles came from walking, yoga, and aerobics mostly. Had a few from gardening/mowing/etc no swimming or biking for me.

This was a great challenge with vacation and moving in the mix. The discipline to keep going was hard and there were days I would have been a lot higher if I had just gotten off my duff and walked.


Thursday, May 10, 2018

MountainAires Spring Concert May 6, 2018

The MountainAires Women's Choir is a choir for women of any age. The youngest is in her 20's and the oldest is in her 90's.

The group puts on a concert every May and every December. I have been a member since January 2016 and I sing Soprano I.

Rehearsals started in January for the Spring Concert. We met every Thursday from noon-1 pm. There were sectionals as well for each section (Soprano I and II, Alto I and II). Kasey (our director) and Verlene (our pianist) do a wonderful job of keeping us all in order.

This year's concert was titled WEATHER OR NOT.


Here is a copy of the Program. It's all songs about the weather!



There was a nice article in the ESTES PARK NEWS.


The concert went very well and was nicely attended. Everyone had a wonderful time and loved the song selections and guest singers.

Here were some of the shots I got before the concert. Couldn't get anything during the concert because I was singing :)

Mary Skinner

Caroline Duncan

the Cake!

Bob the Drummer

Opening Clarinet Piece

Verlene and Kasey

And here is the shot from the Newspaper article with the full choir during one of our rehearsals.