Rocky Mountain High!

On Tuesday, May 18, we were able to pull away from Arches National Park after the Fiery Furnace hike at about 1:15 pm. We headed back toward I70, turned right, and headed toward Colorado.

There were so many choices of where to go in Colorado. We had already been to the Durango/Ouray/Telluride loop. We could have gone south toward Montrose, through Gunnison and turn north at Poncha Springs or go over to Pueblo and up from the south through Colorado Springs to the Denver area. This would have taken at least a couple of extra days, and there was some ambivalence on Gary's part as he has spent so much time in Colorado ..... both skiing, as well as camping and back-packing, and riding his motorcycle in the early and mid-90's around those magnificent mountain roads.

So we settled on just staying on 70, going through Glenwood Springs, Vail, the Eisenhower Tunnel and then turning north up US 40 through the Berthoud Pass to Granby.

Pretty soon we started to see "that" river (the Colorado) again on our right as we travelled east, and it stuck with us as we saw hills turn into higher and higher mountains.

We stopped for the night at Glenwood Springs RV resort and parked right up next to the mountain. It was beautiful .... see Buster there. But unfortunately it started raining ..... and raining .... and wouldn't quit!

On Wednesday, May 19 it stayed rainy and cold. I worked with Women's HealthSource in the morning, and then we had planned to drive to Aspen. But it was only 40 degrees, with rain and fog, and we really couldn't envision ourselves walking around in the freezing drizzle. So we had a down day. Liz worked on some math (getting ready for her end of the year comprehensive tests),

we did a Target run, and read. I also worked on the blog a little bit. It was even too cold to go to the Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs ... they are out of doors. Plus we knew we were on the way to Steamboat Springs and could sit in the hot water there.

We moved on down the road on Thursday, May 20. We continued east on I70, encountering some amazing road engineering marvels. Here we saw where they couldn't cut away more of the mountain in the pass, so they cantilevered the west going lanes above. It was interesting to see.

As we moved further east, the mountains rose higher and higher.

Then we started to see some mountains with enticing stripes of snow down them. Here are some pictures of Vail.

After we passed Vail, we came upon Copper Montain to the south of the road, and then, just before we were to turn north onto highway US40, we went through the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel, over a mile carved through the mountain enabling skiers (and others!) to get to Vail, Aspen and points west much, much faster.

As we turned north and went over the Berthoud Pass, we saw some impressive tracks presumably left by helicopter skiers. Further up US 40, we saw plains and pastures once again,

with beautiful mountain peaks in the distance.

We knew this was Rocky Mountain National Park, but Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) from Grandby east to Estes Park was only open part of the way due to persistent snow on the road. It wasn't due to be fully open until May 26. So we headed west again, toward Steamboat Springs.

We climbed back up toward the Continental Divide at Rabbit Ears Pass (9,426 feet) -- a glimpse of why the higher passes may still be closed. The Milner Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park is 10,759 feet!

I've never been to Steamboat Springs. It was interesting for me to see as Gary's son Alan had worked there for a season after college and before medical school. I understand he did a number of jobs from van driver to bartender to bouncer .... all which supported a "ski bum" lifestyle. As we dropped down into the Valley, it was easy to be impressed .... it looked lovely.

Friday, May 21 dawned a lovely day in Steamboat, with just a few scattered clouds.

In the morning Gary continued his work on his online dental education. His 50 credits is due May 31st, and in fact

he was finished with those and went on to take his self-assessment online, and submit his portfolio including his

CPR course. He felt great!

He had also gotten a Jury Duty notice in the mail (had never had one before, but they tracked him down!),

which he was able to defer until September. In the afternoon we did a little shopping (were out of printer

ink --- Walmart does have just about everything!), and then spent the afternoon at the Old Hot Springs.

They have done a beautiful job at the Hot Springs. Gary believes he was there 50 years ago, and it was very simple. Now,

as you can see, there is beautiful hard-scaping, a slide (it was closed), big area for lap swimming, and hot

pools reserved just for adults. Major local swim club training was taking place while we were there.

They did take care to make sure you knew where the old, sacred spring waters were, and their history.

Liz particularly enjoyed the climbing wall.

We swam a little late, but were driving by the movie theatre in the center of town and saw they were playing Letters to Juliet. It was just about 7 pm, so I hopped out, confirmed the movie was just starting, and Gary dropped Liz and me out. There were so many teasers, we didn't miss a thing. It is really a cute movie about the ladies that answer letters written to Juliet in Verona ... typically about love problems. Amanda Seyfried, the star, is vacationing in Italy, gets involved in the letter answering process, and facilitates a reunion of young lovers (Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero) of 50 years prior. We enjoyed it. Gary came to pick us up about 9:10, and we went to sleep quickly after another day's adventure.

Tomorrow we would travel north from Steamboat into Wyoming, and more Rocky Mountain thrills in the Tetons and Yellowstone. But our Colorado Rocky Mountain High was coming to an end. But we'll be back someday .... we didn't see it all here!

Julie, Gary and Liz