Any day you climb a mountain is a good one.

We stayed in Boulder for two days before driving practically straight home. On the first day, we went around the town, which reminded me of a prettier, more interesting Eugene, Oregon. Lots of dreadlocks, lots of college kids in vintage clothes, tea houses, bookstores. We saw an exhibit on environmental art, which was mostly pictures of caribous and penguins walking on snow. Not sure what that proves, but okay. After that, we ended up at a local brewery eating buffalo steak and watching local sports fanatics cheer football on TV.

The next day, we drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked 6 miles to the top of Deer Mountain and back. It was an icy morning that turned into a beautiful sunny day. As we neared the top of the mountain, we encountered snow but by the time we finished the hike, it had all melted from the sun. The mountain is covered in fir and pine trees except for a few deciduous birches and alders that glowed bright yellow like patches of supernatural fire on the mountainside. I saw a couple of birds, a deer mouse, and a tiny squirrel. No moose or elk, unfortunately.

I have pictures, but they are on my laptop right now. Check back to this entry later on to see some.

And now I am home petting my kitties and typing on a decent keyboard. Home!

UPDATE: Pictures