Dancing with Lightning: Setting the Self-Support Female Fastest Known Time on the Colorado Trail
by Nika Meyers
New date! Wednesday, February 9, 6pm
Advance Registration Required | Free for members, $5 for non-members.
Over the past decade, Nika has fallen in love with long-distance hiking since working for a trail organization in Vermont. Along over 10,000 miles of trail she is known as Early Bird; a mountain fairy darting among the trees and rocks, doing long days, and letting her wild spirit fly free.
This July Nika wanted to connect with the Colorado landscape she calls home and find a deeper sense of place among the high alpine ridges surrounded by the hiking community she so deeply missed during the quarantines of 2020. She wanted to listen to the sound of rocks crunch under her feet, experience the high alpine under a big starry sky, watch the day turn into night and back into day, meet people from all walks of life, and show up and say “yes” to a challenge that would show the little girl inside her that she could dance with discomfort and find strength in unlikely places.
On July 21st she set out from Denver with the hopes of reaching Durango in under 10 days. After 500 miles of wild beauty, exciting monsoon weather, and eating countless potato chips she finished the trail in 9 days, 14 hrs, and 19 mins. Through photos, videos and stories Nika will share moments of wild magic, honest disbelief, unexpected fear, sleep-deprived silliness, and overwhelming happiness.
About Potbelly Perspectives
ACES’ Potbelly Perspectives speaker series features Aspen locals and visitors who share their exciting accounts of world travel and adventure through images and stories. This series provides an opportunity for community-building and story-telling that engages Aspen locals and visitors alike.
COVID-19 Protocols
To help keep our community healthy, attendees ages 13 and older will be required at check-in to show proof that they have received the complete Covid-19 vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test on a specimen taken no longer than 72 hours prior to the event. Photo ID will also be required for verification. No information will be stored or copied to ensure privacy is protected.
For proof of vaccination you can use:
- CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
- Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from your healthcare provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
For proof of a negative test you can use:
- Written proof of a negative Covid-19 test from a licensed healthcare provider that includes the date and time of the test as well as the result. A digital photo or photocopy is also acceptable.
Individuals who do not have proof of vaccination or a negative test result will not be permitted entrance. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. All individuals age two and older are required to wear a mask indoors when within six feet of another person at all times except when temporarily eating and drinking. Mask wearing will be strictly enforced.