Colorado

Our trip out to Colorado for Abi & Alex’s wedding went smooth and we (Cindy, Roland, Caleb Stuckey & I) have stayed at a ski inn for the first three nights.   We hiked in the Rocky Mountain National Park the first two days (see the attached pictures) and it was beautiful!    We saw elk, moose, & deer, up close; some small animals and lots of birds.  No bears, mountain lions or bighorn sheep (all of which we would like to see).  The we hiked as high as 11,000-12,000 feet, though most of our hikes were closer to 9,000-10,000 feet above sea level.  Our inn is about 8,000 feet.   We got to meet up with the Stahl’s on Tuesday for dinner for Karissa’s birthday.  Strangely enough, at the restaurant we ate at, I saw and met a guy and his wife who use to be in one of my past small groups at Eastview (they had a timeshare and were vacationing in the area).    

Thursday morning we headed to the Aspen area (ish) and are stayed in a little house out in the countryside (about an hour away from Aspen).   Thursday night, June 30th was the wedding rehearsal and Friday, July 1st was the wedding.  The wedding was scheduled for 4pm, but, being an outdoor wedding, it was been changed to 11:30am due to weather (at the recommendation of a Park Ranger).  The reception remained in the evening down in Carbondale, a nearby town (about an hour a way from our VRBO house).  

I am sad neither of my grandma’s was able to be here with us, but I also realize from what we did, it is a lot of traveling and can be a bit harder to breath at first at the higher altitudes.  I had a congestion and a bit of anxiousness upon arriving.  Cindy had similar plus headaches (which portable oxygen really helped).  It sounds like Alex’s dad got the headaches pretty bad too.  I am glad to have had a few days of transition to the higher altitudes.  Aspen, Colorado is about 8,000 feet too, but I think the wedding is closer to 9,600 feet.  

Hiking at 12,000+ feet above sea level. 

Rock Cut, Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Elk crossing the road at 11,000+ feet above sea level. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking at 11,000+ feet above sea level.  

Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking at 12,000+ feet above sea level

Rocky Mountain National Park

An ant on a wildflower in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Cindy, Caleb, & Roland Birdwatching at Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Wildflowers at 11,000+ feet above sea level at Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Birdwatching at 11,000+ feet above sea level at Medicine Bow, Rocky Mountain National Park.  

Elk near road near base of mountains.  

Cindy and Lavell.

Sunset in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

A pond near i’m Continental Divide.