12,050 Feet In The Air

Rocky Mountain Valley

Top of Independence Pass

My car is such a good sport!

So the drive through Independence Pass the other day was perfect. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and a cool 60 degrees, 12,050 ft up in the air. About a month and a half ago, when my mom and I drove through the pass, there was three feet of snow on the ground. This time around it looked like a tundra oasis. The only snow left clung to little shaded areas and dips in the mountain allowed for instant ponds. Being the highest thing around, there was no runoff to destroy these pristine ponds; the bright green grass, tiny purple flowers, and crystal blue water completed a scene so perfect that I spent an easy 30 minutes just sitting and watching.

After breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face I decided to explore the area. There was a path that led away from my fellow travelers and up into the snow of the mountain. Although the breathing was certainly difficult, the air felt so light and clean; it was good to have a little physical exertion. As I hit a ridge on the mountain, my perfect scene become even better. In the background, 10,000 foot peaks towered, covered in wildflowers and water. In the foreground, a mother goat and her little kid grazed. They were tucked behind the ridge, protected from the wind and the cameras of the tourists. I sat and watched them for a long time; 12,050 feet in the air and it was just me and the goats. It was a wonderfully peaceful moment.