It was just like any normal summer day in Estes Park, Colorado. The air was crisp the birds were chirping, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains stood out in full force in the western horizon. These are definitely the mountains that are mentioned in the song "America The Beautiful". With the sun just peaking in the east it was one of the most wonderful sights in the world. At 6:20 in the morning there are more people walking around on the streets than you would think.
Estes Park is an average sized mountain town located about 45 miles northwest of Boulder. Though it is a beautiful town, the real attraction is another 30 miles west of there. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most breathtaking pieces of land in North America. That was where my girlfriend and I were going.
On a summer day that was this beautiful, there was usually a line a mile long to get into the park, but today we were second in line at the tollbooth. A slight breeze blew through the car as I pulled up to the gate.
"Only two of you in there?" the lady asked. I nodded, paid, and we were on our way. Our plan that day was to start off on the trail as soon as we got out of the car, there would be plenty of time for "ooohs" and "ahhs" on the trail. Unfortunately before we could get to our trailhead we had to traverse the always-tricky Trail Ridge Road. It is the highest continuous paved road in the country. Its twists and turns, most of which are well over 10,000 feet, are some of the most difficult driving in Colorado.