August 18, 2010
O beautiful for spacious skies,
 It was a beautiful day as I drove up Pikes Peak with my friends Brian and Keith. The two are brothers that I've known since my college days at the University of Minnesota. They were out visiting for the weekend and wanted to go to Colorado Springs to travel to the top of one of the most famous peaks in the world. They didn't know the history of discovery behind the mountain, but were familiar with the song by Katharine Lee Bates that made it famous.
For amber waves of grain  After a series of switchbacks on the 19-mile-long road, we made the summit none the worse for wear. The weather was cool, which was a refreshing change from the heat in the city down below. We had sweated the morning away seeing other sites, and were now happy to have some cooler temperatures while we looked back from where we came, and east over the fields of Colorado and beyond.
For purple mountain majesties 
The view was nothing short of spectacular, but looking west was unchallengeably the better of the two. The panorama of the other mountains surrounding the 14,115 foot tall peak was simply amazing. Their colors billiantly shouted at each other in varying degrees of green, brown, and purple. I had seen it only a few years previous, but was still probably more impressed on this trip as I was sharing it with two good friends.
Above the fruited plain!
 After a brief stop at a constructed overlook, the three of us followed our own path to explore. I hiked over some rough rocks and found myself on the east side of Pikes Peak overlooking Colorado Springs below, and the plains beyond. The great flatness that stretch beyond was impressive from my high perch. But, despite how beautiful it was, I couldn't help but think of the  difficulties the pioneers endured in crossing it to make...
America! America!
...the special place that Bates wrote about. The land is crossed easily in a jet or car today, but then it was a great desert that claimed the lives of many people and their animals. Water was scarce and attacks from the Native Americans who felt their lands were being invaded were always possible. It was a difficult journey, and one that I'm not even close to envious of as I appreciated the ease of which we made the summit that much more.
God shed His grace on thee There's no doubt about it, the United States and its people have been blessed. We're very fortunate, and have those that came before us to thank for it. Had it not been for the pioneers that broke this land, endured its hardships, and stood the test of time, this country would have a greatly different look to it. And who knows, if it weren't for all of that, it's possible that many of us wouldn't even be here today.
And crown thy good with brotherhood  It was great to have the brothers, my friends, out for the weekend. The time was too short, but we made the most of it. And without a doubt, we had a blast driving to the top of Pikes Peak. Unfortunately that blast almost included a brake fire on my poor car in our descent. Thankfully a ranger check station took the brake's temperature and caught it early enough so, instead of having them go out, we were able to relax at a small souvenir stand near the midpoint of the drive.
From sea to shining sea!
 We made a second stop on the way down, resting the brakes a bit more, at Crystal Reservoir. The view across the lake was just as stunning as at the top of Pikes Peak. It towered over us (left peak), showing off its majesty one last time. From there we headed back to Colorado Springs for a night under the lights at the ballpark, something just as American as Pikes Peak.
Posted by Jason Hussong
August 9, 2010
I practiced judo for six years with Denver Judo, and never once made it to the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs. Tournaments were held there at least annually, and I was never able to make it for one reason or another. One happened to be that I wasn't much for competing, but generally there were time conflicts. The biggest conflict of all now is that I'm no longer able to practice due to a shift in schedules at work. Part of me is disappointed by this because ...
Posted by Jason Hussong
July 1, 2010
It was getting late in the season, despite some snow on the ground in pockets along trails, and I hadn't been out for a good, solid hike yet. I was so busy running around to New York and Rwanda that I've missed out, in a manner of speaking, on some opportunities to explore my own  backyard. But, after all the other traveling I've done, I could hardly afford another annual national or state park's pass to get me on the trails. So, since I really needed to get out, I sent a note out on Twitter... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong
May 31, 2010
On my way back to Denver I had to make one final stop, recommended to me by a coworker. He recently went down there to do an amazing story and told me that I need to get down that way to check it out too. But, after seeing his still photos, which he told me I could share, I wasn't sure I'd do anything but get embarrassed by stopping at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge trying to snap a few of my own. Nonetheless, while they're no where near the quality of Bill's, here are a ... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong
May 26, 2010
 In the nearly ten years I've lived in Colorado I've tried to make it to the southwest portion of the state. But, that distance is actually quite a long trip. For people who live in smaller states ou  t east who possibly don't understand how long the drive is, it takes nearly seven hours to get down there from Denver - that's about the same as if you drove from Boston to Baltimore. Thankfully I was coming from the west on my road trip back to Denver.
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Posted by Jason Hussong
March 28, 2010
My adventures to and from Las Vegas for my birthday took me to a great many interesting and wonderful places. I've been considering how I should write about it all as I saw and did so many things that it's really quite impossible to put it down in one post unless I want it to be the length of a book. And, as a matter of fact, many volumes of books have been written about where I've gone, combined and singularly, that I think it really is only fair to each place, as well as to the reader, to t... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong
March 5, 2010
I read a newspaper article in the last year or so that talked about St. Vrain State Park and how someone saw a moose there. I knew that my chances were next to nil to spot one, but I was intrigued nonetheless to check the place out. After all, I had drived by it so many times on Interestate 25 that I figured I o  ught to stop in for a visit, even if for a brief period of time. Before going I printed out some online directions and information about the trails in the park. To put it bluntly,...
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Posted by Jason Hussong
February 23, 2010
 C  olorado has had quite the mild winter compared to past years that I've experienced. Much of the front range is brown with a smattering of snow spots here and there. As such, I figured I ought to get out and take advantage and fit in a mid-winter hike. It seems like forever since I was on my last hike, and I'm just not prepared to wait until spring or summer for another one. So, in a pretty random manner, I decided to head up to Lory State Park.
I've hiked most of the parks in the metro a... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong
February 4, 2010
I love going to places like zoos. Rarely do I read the signs pertaining to the different exhibits,  but I still find them fascinating. I just love watching the animals, particularly if they seem to have a good area set up for them so they seem happy. I know some people struggle with such places as they see the animals caged and not allowed to live and thrive in their actual habitat. But, if it weren't for places like these, I believe a lot more animals would be extinct and tho...
Posted by Jason Hussong
January 29, 2010
After living in Denver for over nine years I was pretty sure that I knew of most of the interesting spots around town, particularl  y the ones of a touristy nature. Sure, I may not necessarily be in on the cool and trendy bars, particularly since that's not my cup of tea, but I figured I knew of all the major museums and so forth. Well, a few months ago a friend of mine started interning at the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art and I was instantly corrected. In all this time I had n...
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Posted by Jason Hussong
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difficulties the pioneers endured in crossing it to make...
