8.16.2010

Not quite an epic adventure

Over the weekend we drove up into the mountains west of Denver. It was truly a thrill and a joy, and probably the most exciting thing I've done all summer (yeah, that's the kind of summer that I've had.)


A fairly nice lake, though its reservoirness detracts from its niceness. Natural lakes are, quite simply, vastly superior to any manmade body of water.

Yeah.

It may not look it, but we're actually pretty high up here, elevation-wise. We spent most of the trip at elevations between 8000 and 11000 feet, and many of the mountains (including those in this picture) are over 14000 feet, placing them among the tallest in the continental United States. Wow!

Leadville is an old (emphasis on old - also, decrepit) silver mining town that is, officially, the highest incorporated city in the United States (thanks Wikipedia!) Along with being the one-time host of a gay and cultivated social life, it was once the birthplace of some truly fabulous fortunes. Nowadays, however...

It's also near the headwaters of the Arkansas river. Incredible!

The long and not-so-winding road - to the future!

Coming soon: My journey into the wild and wacky world of Denver architecture!

This post brought to you by Nutella, the original hazelnut spread.

5 comments:

annalisa said...

I love the pictures! It's beautiful there!

Leadville looks like a special place! How many people live there now?

I love that it's called Cloud City (on the top of the sign) Do you have some sites there?

P.S. Nutella is amazing!

Aitch said...

Great pictures Timbo! Sounds like you and Dad had fun on Saturday. Are you going to climb any of those 14-footers while you're there?

Can't wait to see your pictures of Denver.

Since you are sponsored by Nutella, could you please send me a jar or two?

Lara said...

I tried to buy fake Nutella the other day when Glen was making crepes and my kids wouldn't touch it. Two weeks later and there is still this jar full of a chocolate nutty confection that sits untouched in my cupboard. You'd think the fact that it is chocolate might inspire some Nutella disloyalty, but alas apparently I'm raising a family of food snobs....

By the way, I like the long road into the future.

mom said...

Love the beautiful montains and the random meadows and lakes. I think you and dad have a first by being the first to visit the highest incorporated city in the continental US.

Where are you going this weekend? Royal Gorge, Estes Park, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak?

Pete said...

Leadville is the home of what some people believe to be the most difficult ultramarathon in the world (because of the elevation and the steepness). I read an interesting book called "Born to Run" that talks alot about the race . . . and I have wanted to visit Leadville since. It is not a well written book - but is interesting and gives a lot of insight into the Tarahumara people (a.k.a. "the running people") -- which is the main reason I even opened the book.

p.s. -- Now that I see what I've written, I am voting my post as the most boring post ever.