My family and I visited Colorado in the midst of the worst of wildfire season this past summer, so my Dad and Uncle John could join me on my final 14er, Snowmass Mountain.
To acclimate to the altitude, we first drove up Mount Evans, where we said hi to some mountain goats and walked around the Mount Goliath Natural Area, famous for its ancient living bristlecone pines.
As a warm-up hike, we visited Crater Lake to admire the views of the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak, one of my favorite places in Colorado.
And, finally, we spent two full days making a successful ascent of Snowmass Mountain, a beautiful journey amidst the wilderness of the Elks.
