Rocky Mountain High

 Mt. Chapin, Chiquita, and Ypsilon viewed from Trail Ridge Road, RMNP.

I know it's a cheesy title for a post about Colorado but John Denver's words really describe exactly how it makes me feel to be back in the Rocky Mountains for the first time in two years. Anyone who has ever seen the Rocky Mountains can attest to the literal connotation of Colorado's state song...although California's Mt. Whitney has a higher elevation than any of the peaks in the Colorado Rockies, the mountain ranges of Colorado have a total of 25 fourteeners (peaks with an elevation over 14,000 ft) to California's 5. As much as I love the Sierra Nevada, I have to admit that there is a stronger physiological reaction, a feeling of complete euphoria and adoration every time I see these mountains; a high the Rocky Mountains provide every time I venture here.

As I drove around the curve on Colorado Highway 36 where you get a first glimpse of the small mountain town of Estes Park, I exclaimed something to the extent of, "Holy crap that's amazing!" The view took my breathe away as it did every time I came around that corner during the two summers I lived and worked at the YMCA of the Rockies. This time, however, I was stunned by the ridge of mountains blanketed in snow that surrounded the Estes Valley.

I haven't spent much time in the snow but I found my day in this winter (although technically it's spring) wonderland to be so pleasant. After spending some time on the beautiful grounds of the YMCA of the Rockies and reminiscing everything I love about this place, I also had to have my reunion with the Rocky Mountain National Park. I found that I was so cozy hiking around in my down jacket and the Chilean hat I bought at the YMCA general store since my other Chilean hat (which I bought when I was cold in San Fransisco) is lying forgotten about in a dresser drawer of my apartment in Santa Monica.

 I drove up as far as possible on Trail Ridge Road and admired the stunning views of Mount Ypsilon, Chapin, and Chiquita (a trio of ~13, 12, and 11 foot mountains respectively which my dad and I climbed to the top of in summer 2007). As I traveled back down the mountain and then up to Moraine Park and Bear Lake, I kept hoping to get a glimpse of Longs Peak, but the awesome fourteener was hidden behind a wall of menacing looking clouds. There was a stunning view of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak from Bear Lake.

Picture: Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak viewed from Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park.