Sorry to have fallen off the face of the earth. It's been a crazy couple of weeks, and not necessarily in a good way. I've been busy dodging bullets. Allow me to explain...

I grew up in Boulder, Colo., and spent most weekend of my childhood hiking in the mountains or noodling around among the grass, chokecherry bushes and prickly pear cactus while my dad bouldered or practiced rappeling. It was a great way to grow up, and I learned to love the mountains. Imagine waking every morning to the sce...