"Bridge Mtn #16, solo, 13.2 miles, 4,000’ gain. Happy 1st full day of Winter....the days get longer from here. The clouds made me feel lonesome but the sun fought through now and again. It cheered me. The thrill and adrenaline are fading even when I climbed on the outside of the exposed beehive sandstone. I’m sad I need more danger to feel satisfied but I’m happy I’m becoming more experienced. I guess it’s the evolution of my existence. Merry Christmas. 🎅 " — paula.raimondi • Dec 22, 2019

"11.19.19....Charleston Peak #87 w/Karla (22nd in 2019) 9 miles, 4,000’ gain in 5:37hr. Ski Lee out and back. We started at 10:20am in mild weather. The route I took us on mostly protected us from the 40mph wind until the summit. After we descended, the Winter clouds devoured the mountain, the temps plummeted and it began to snow. It was near white out conditions on the most treacherous part but we made it safely down. Luckily the clouds lifted for the drive down the mountain. Today we experienced the final dry summit of the year and were there the moment Autumn snow arrived. It was so magical. I extracted every molecule of joy from this mountain this year. Thank you to all my friends who made Buddie memories with me and explored and showed me new routes. It was my most successful year in these mountains. Only 13 more to go to reach my goal of 💯. Goodbye.....for now...." — paula.raimondi • Nov 19, 2019

"played hooky during a conference in Vegas :) a long day of 30 km and 1850 m of gain... with lots of hiking (18 km) and decent gain (750 m) above 3250 m. Weather was warmer than forecast by ~ 10 oC, had I known would have brought more fluids. The hike is nice, views are great from the summit as the Spring Mountains are surrounded by desert on all sides. " — apfelstrudel • Nov 7, 2019

"played hooky during a conference in Vegas :) a long day of 30 km and 1850 m of gain... with lots of hiking (18 km) and decent gain (750 m) above 3250 m. Weather was warmer than forecast by ~ 10 oC, had I known would have brought more fluids. The hike is nice, views are great from the summit as the Spring Mountains are surrounded by desert on all sides. " — apfelstrudel • Nov 7, 2019

"11.5.19 Charleston Peak #86 (21st in 2019) ⤴️TC⤵️TC⤴️TC➡️NLT➡️Devils Thumb➡️NLT/TC 17.5 miles, 6,300’ gain, 7:03hrs. I started off solo with minimal water expecting to buzz this like I normally do in 5ish hrs. After about a mile or so up TC, I turned around defeated planning to go back home and feel sorry for myself and maybe take a nap. I wasn’t able to run the parts I normally run. I felt like I was towing a truck. I’ve had a long year of athletic accomplishments, a lot of PR’s and bucket list items checked off....and to be honest, I’m burnt out mentally. I was disappointed I was so slow and feeling soooo tired. I was nearing the trailhead and happened to run into my Friend Karla as she was starting her day up to the Summit. I told her I wasn’t feeling it and I was upset that I have been fast all year and today I was a depleted wreck. She said, “nope, let’s go and do this. You can take me up Devils Thumb for my 1st time and we will enjoy this day.” She schooled me that every workout won’t be your best or your fastest. This gave me a reality check and we had a great Buddie day. I still felt absolutely horrible and slow the whole time but I wasn’t alone anymore. Her Friendship and ..." — paula.raimondi • Nov 5, 2019