Getting high in Colorado

I'm pretty sure my click throughs for this blog just quadrupled because of the post title...  Calm down, it's not what you think.

I've only recently returned from a week in Colorado, and I'm still living off the high.  NO. Not that kind of high...

I think the mountain air and elevation give me more energy and motivation. Yet another reason to move to Colorado!

And the people you meet on the trails! Characters and coots. The last time I hiked in RMNP I met a pair of elderly locals who hike some part of the trail EVERY DAY. I didn't meet them together, however.  He was hoofing it waaaay in front of her. She sat for a moment to catch her breath and told me with a twinkle in her eye: "We may not walk at the same pace, but we always end up at the same place."



And trail runners! Those are crazy people who RUN up the trail. On purpose. When nothing's chasing them. I can turn into a trail runner, if it's downhill to a pizza parlor...



I noticed a difference in the hikers at elevation from those down below. On the easy walking paths were lots of small children, families, couples, and almost without fail at least one person in the group looked angry/hot/tired/miserable/didn't want to come on this vacation.



Compare that to the folks you meet off the beaten path at 11,000 feet. Cordial, happy, love to share stories of the park.  You have to want to be there to climb to 11,000 feet.



I'm going to live off the air, and elevation, and memories of waterfalls and wildlife for as long as possible. Then, when my thinking starts to get fuzzy, it'll be time to go back for another 'hit'.

Of this.

Stop it- I know what you were thinking. Nature is all the high I need, thanks.

Happy Trails!