Boulder is amazing- does not have a job market or anything, but I guess you don't go there for the jobs. A short week is definitely not nearly enough time to take it all in, just barely enough to leave you wanting more. It helps out to have recommendations from people that actually live there and enjoy the outdoors as finding the coolest trails doesn't come easy for the hikingchallenged. Luckily GH's* brother and his girlfriend live there and gave us enough info and overall help- we got to do lots and see lots given the limited amount of time.While we were in the Boulder Park we saw a sign alerting hikers about Mountain Lion "activity" in the area. The sign simply said that if you hiked around there you should be familiar with how to handle Mt. Lions? WTF? What does that entail I wondered- does one get down on one knee and beg the illustrious Mt. Lion not to eat one? Does one run and scream like a madman? Does one growl in response to his/her growl? Does one jump on it before he/she jumps on one? Really; I musta skipped this class in highschool or something.
A little too late I learned that among the locals it is unacceptable to slow down anybody's process driving either up or down the mountains. Apparently the local etiquette is to pull into the pullout areas along the sides of the roads to let people pass. I figured I was driving way too fast, while trying to look over the edges, down the mountain already with the wet roads and all, and the asshole tailing me would just have to suffer- guess I didn't subscribe to the acceptable behavior. GH's brother said that the locals are really sick and tired of all the tourists and stuff to which GH replied that the tourists are probably a big part of the local economy so the locals should just suck it up.
The Rockies were busy while we were there, lots of people on the trails, breeders, Germans, old people...... We were supposed to make it to Sky Pond but ended up going in the opposite direction and making it to some lakes along the way- saw an elk bathing though. GH had to severely cut back on his smoking habit, he can't hike and smoke very well at the same time apparently, although he did perform quite admirably considering this trip was probably the most physically taxing event he has encountered since having to draw milk from his mother's breasts. It was raining cold, cold rain when we got there and then the rain suddenly vanished and it warmed up again.
The most amazing thing about being there hiking was the everpresent possibility of accidents- the danger, the closeness to steep falls, the rocky inclines. One false move and you're, well, trailkill. There was a tragic accident in the Rockies the week before we were there. A trained ranger died from a fall and head injuries, he is the first death in 90 years according to National Park Services news. It must've been his time to go like his mother said. Each night when we got home, I was awed that we'd made it back in one piece. Considering the crappy vehicle we rented, the closeness of the roads to steep enbankments, the lack of rails alongside the roads, the tiredness that slinks into one's body the further one gets from the parked car.
Colorado simply brought me back to the very real fact that I'm merely a minicule speck in the grand scheme of things if that. I can't wait to go back there- this time I'll bring the right equipment- the right shoes, jackets and a decent camera- oh, and someone who can actually keep up on steep hikes......
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*GH= Gay Husband
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