subject: Welcome To Colorful Colorado [print this page] Welcome To Colorful Colorado Welcome To Colorful Colorado
It all started with one click and two putts as my '94 Buick Skylark drove out of the drive way. With high expectations for the trip and very low expectations for my car, we half smiled as we went along are way. Not excited for the 16 hours of driving I had to do, I focused on what fun we would have skiing, hiking, and being burly men with a little too much freedom. 20 hours later, with more caffeine then blood in our systems, and looking like we turned into zombies, we made it to the colorful state of Colorado.
After 15 minutes of slipping and sliding on the Hously's mountain of a driveway, we made it to our home for the next three days. It's a beautiful log cabin with a heavenly view over-looking the great thundering Rocky Mountains.
With barely any sleep and barely able to stand, we headed towards the wonderful and magical Winter Park. (Now, I have never skied before but my friend Austin, reassured me that I would be "fine"). After a ten minute ski-lift ride, hills so steep my hands sweat and less oxygen then in a space shuttle; I had a hard time believing him. This was a mountain and I was about to learn how to fly! After a hair raising two times flying down the mountain, I was getting good! My legs, feet, and buns were feeling like someone stomped on me with cleats (or like that scene in Star Wars where the Ewoks released a pile of logs to trip up the evil empire's walker). The fantastic Mary Hously saved the day with some fabulous home cooking.
Warm bellies and well rested, Austin and I were ready for an adventure, climbing up Birthood Pass. It really should be called Mount Doom or Middle Earth. I heard scientists saying that it's harder to climb Birthood Pass then it is to climb Mount Everest. I leave nothing to the imagination. Snowshoes? Check. Water? Check. Endurance? Well, we'll see. After an hour of hiking we said, "What a view so far!" After two hours of hiking we said, "Are we there yet?" After three hours of hiking we said, "I need water, give me some water!" With a half hour left to go we said, "Where's my oxygen tank?" Finally, after three and a half hours of turmoil, panting, and crawling we made it to the top. We felt like kings of a nation of ants as we looked high and low. It was a spectacular view up top of Birthood Pass.
After we waved goodbye to the Hously's, the Rocky Mountains and Tom the cat; and as we headed toward home, I couldn't help but think to myself, what a marvelous adventure it was to visit a great state of beauty and wonder. What a marvel it was to boast in the great freedoms we have, for I am truly touched by the majestic wonders of the earth.
