So I got in the car and started driving. Initially, the weather was really, really ugly and I thought the trip would be a bust. But as I got higher up into the mountains the weather got better and better, so I kept on going.
My original destination was going to be Breckenridge, but I determined that there was no way I could make it there and look around and have enough time to get back for the first session at my conference. So I called an audible and found a road that looked promising and just took it. Before I knew it, l was at Loveland Pass at the Continental Divide. So i decided to get out and hike.
The air was still pretty cool and my ears and hands got cold pretty quickly. And I was really out of breath. The sun was just starting to peek over the top of the mountain behind me, and soon it started to warm up.
So I kept climbing, stopping to take photos along the way. It was an absolutely beautiful morning, and I kept wishing Kristi and the kids could share this with me. So when I got to a little rise, I. Got a couple of bars on my phone, so I called them. That made the experience. Of course, the signal was weak, so we kept getting cut off.
And I kept climbing. Along the way, there were little streams of melted snow running down the mountain. I cupped my hands and drank some, and it was cold and amazing. Finally, after crossing through a patch of snow that was blocking the path, I reached the top of the ridge and saw more incredible snow-covered mountains on the other side. It was breathtaking (or maybe it was the altitude).
I spent about twenty minute on top of the mountain looking around and taking pictures. I collected some rocks to take back to Kristi, which has been a tradition ever since we were dating. Then I headed back.
Along the way I kinda lost the trail and forged a little bit of my own. But I was headed in the right direction, so I knew I'd be okay. Along the way, I happened to look up and saw something watching me from the top of a boulder. It was small, about the size of a cat, and furry. I was able to get pretty close before he moved. And as I climbed up the hill toward the animal, I noticed another one, a little larger. They didn't seem to be too concerned with me, and actually let me get within a few feet. I think they were hoary marmuts, but I'll have to research that later. Anyway, from where I had climbed to, I could see that trail and that I wasn't on it.
As I headed back down toward the trail along a cliff, a cloud climbed up the side of the mountain and enveloped me. Kayci and i were just having a conversation the other day about what it would be like to be inside a cloud, so I made a little video for her with my phone. I'll post that later if I remember.
Anyway, I headed back down to the car, hopped in and booked it back to Denver. I got back just in time for my first session at 9:00. And I was a happy, happy James.
Here are a few of the photos I took:
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