We've been home close to a week and I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the experiences I had in Colorado. We tried to count how many times we've been and I think it's twelve or thirteen. But this is the first year I really felt like I was able to fully appreciate the majesty of the Rocky Mountains.
First, there's the preparation. Last time we went (2008), I had to pack in the biggest suitcase we had. This year I packed in the smallest. I took just as many clothes...they're just smaller. And I didn't have to fight with the seat belt on the plane. Last time I almost had a melt-down because Ron was telling me to ask for the extender. This year there was plenty of belt to tighten.
Once we got to Estes Park and made our way into the Park to "our" rock (claimed many years ago because we spent so much time there) I was big horn sheep-like in my ascent and descent. It was one of those moments I'll not soon forget.
A couple of days into our stay Tyler and I decided to walk up Old Fall River Road. It's a one-way dirt road that stretches nine miles. We didn't do all nine miles - maybe a couple of miles - but it was a steady incline and we did some off-roading to explore big rocks and caves and waterfalls that most people don't get to see from their cars. We had lunch on a huge rock and I got two great war wounds. And I learned a lesson I'd repeat almost on a daily basis: going back down is often harder than getting up.
Then there's Alluvial Fan. In years past it had been a huge struggle for me to even walk up the pathway to the information marker. I had to stop three or four times to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my ears. This year, I had to stop - to let Tyler catch up to me. It really was indescribable.
Years ago, Ron, Kate and Tyler climbed to the top of Alluvial Fan while I sat perched down below. In the last two or three years, Tyler has made the trip by himself, armed with a walkie-talkie so I could monitor his progress. This year I was determined to go with him. And I did. We climbed for about three hours and got higher than ever before. At one point the water was too high to continue bouldering alongside the river so we had to go up and over a huge pile of fallen trees. We were at about a fifty or sixty degree angle and it was pretty intense. Tyler was a great guide, although I know he was terrified for me.
After the tree pile incident, we wisely decided not to go back the way we came, but rather take the Fern Lake Trailhead back down. All in all, it was about a four and a half hour trek. And, had the weather cooperated, I'd have done it again. And again. As it was, we did scale Alluvial one more time, but rain cut us short and we had navigate some pretty slippery slopes. At one point during our first climb I told Tyler that had I known what it was like up here I'd never, ever have let him do it alone.
I found myself regretting all the things I missed out on for all those years. But, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to really take in the beauty and serenity that surrounded us. As my grandmother used to say, "How can anyone see this and be an infidel?" And, there's always next year, with new trails to explore and new heights to be gained.
