Adra Writes

We (my car and I) finally made it to Salida, Colorado!

Junction City K.S –> Salida, Colorado (563 miles)

Salida, C.O –> Rocky Mountain National Park (190 miles)

Arriving in Salida, I was overwhelmed with joy and relief to FINALLY arrive and see a familiar face. My two-day drive turned into a four and half day drive filled with stress, extra expenses I didn’t budget for, and a good sunburn. But being in Colorado after years of dreaming about it felt like I achieved a lifelong goal of my teenage self.

I was awe-struck by the incredible mountains surrounding my friend’s home. I was even more shocked when she told me she had summited several of them (most over 14,000 ft)! It was amazing, and I felt like the universe was finally smiling on Evie and me. We spent the next couple of days hanging around her beautiful home and hiking.

I was so excited to go on a hike after spending such a long time in a sitting position. My friend took me on a short (3 mile) but high elevation-gain hike up to Water Dog Lakes in nearby Monarch, C.O. As we started up, I started dying from the lack of oxygen in the air. I was not aware that we would start at around 10,300 ft in elevation and, over a 3-mile stretch, peak at around 11,300 ft in elevation. I think it was a test to see if my lungs would burst after 1 day in C.O. I admit that it almost worked had we not stopped every 100 ft so I could gasp for air. I wish I knew about the portable cans of oxygen prior to the hike, and I would recommend anyone going to Colorado, any high elevation area as a matter of fact, to get some before doing any outdoor activities just in case.

Besides my general health, it was a beautiful, lush, green, fairyland and I emerged, out of breath, to a glacial lake. It was strange for me to see a lake on top of a mountain, but it was a magnificent sight to gaze upon while enjoying the sun and a nice beer. We walked around the lake perimeter and explored a smaller lake to the side. Even in June, the lake water was too cold for a swim (making our floats and bathing suits obsolete weight) but our time was still enjoyable for lounging, photography, and a good time. It really was the perfect way to kick off our week together. We spent the next day or so in Salida. My friend gave me a grand tour of the small town: the deer that roam the neighborhoods, antique shops, and the best apothecary I have visited to date. Afterward, we planned our trip North, packed the car, and said farewell to little Salida for a few days.

Our time in Salida was short because we were eager to head North and witness the famous Rocky Mountains. Neither of us had been to the National Park before, and we were ready for an adventure. The sun shined on us that day, and we took a leisurely drive through the park and made sure to stop at all the pull-offs to soak in the views and take some pictures. The landscape amazed me by how different it was compared to the mountains we have in East T.N. The Rockies seemed intimidating and stronger than the more rolling, peaceful mountains I call home. However, when you take a moment to look at your feet you see the most delicate flora spread before your eyes. Honestly, the whole experience was euphoric.

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Even to this day, it amazes me how mountains are all so different in feel, view, and structure, even though they are all mountains. Each mountain or range has its own aesthetic and feel that can only be understood or even recognized from first-hand experience. I am always eager to go hiking in a new place now because I cannot wait to feel and see the different energies flowing around and refreshing me.

After the long, slow drive, we found our camp spot about 20 or so minutes outside the park. It was a great spot in an established campground on some BLM land. We set up camp and decided to tackle Granite Pass for our hiking adventure the next day.

Sneak Peak: There is hitchhiking involved!

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this saga. Be sure to stay tuned for Part 4 coming later this week!