After my last post, some folks reached out and asked what happened and why I had shoulder surgery. Well, here you go! After falling off a ledge while trail running and tearing and detaching pretty much everything in my left shoulder, I needed to have reconstructive shoulder surgery, putting me out of commission for nearly four months.
Between rehabbing my shoulder and working a ton, there hasn’t been much time to write anything, nor was I motivated to do so, given the fact that I had to have my shoulder screwed back together and could barely tuck in my shirt, let alone do any outdoor activities.
In January (though not recommended by my surgeon or physical therapist), I finally began logging miles on the trail and road. Thank goodness, because fast-forward to Presidents’ Day weekend, Lauren and I joined our friends Alaina and Will in Breckenridge, Colorado, for some skiing and snowshoeing (again, not recommended by my surgeon or physical therapist).
To make a long story short, my shoulder held up on all occasions; the 9,600 feet of altitude that we called home felt great; and skiing the Bliss Bowl at 12,500+ feet felt even greater. Even better was the company I was able to share it with!
Lauren and I were long overdue to get back to Colorado, and doing so with friends made it an all-around perfect winter escape! Like all of our mountain retreats, Breckenridge provided a much needed revival after some busy months at work, helping us to decompress and hit restart.
Of course, being active in the Rocky Mountains and feeling good got me thinking, “What’s next?!!“ At this point, it's TBD, especially as far as climbs go, but now I’m motivated to get back out there. I have some climbs in mind but still have a lot of planning and coordination before I can announce, but stay tuned to see what comes to fruition!
Regardless, this trip was confirmation that mentally and physically, I am ready for some summit attempts, which is a great relief after putting my shoulder to the test, as it has been riding on my mind ever since surgery.
So...to sum up the trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, in three words: “Ben is back!”
Climb on!
Be sure to check out the gallery to see the fun and activities in Breckenridge!