Hilly and I were on the west coast for talks and decided to come to Aspen a week early, for the Jump Start Week. Genius idea. It is stunningly beautiful out here… aspen leaves turning, warm days and cool nights. Great hike today, up the Hunter Creek Valley. Great bike yesterday, up to Ashcroft. It is paradise, pure and simple, at this time of year.

Vancouver was also a joy. The sponsor persuaded us to do a hellish hike called the Grouse Mountain Grind… 2800 vertical feet up a virtual staircase. And then some of the best views of a city I have ever seen. Wonderful audiences, too. Pretty sweet life we seem to have carved out for ourselves.