Rockies

Been in Denver for nearly a week now. Stayed over the weekend because didnt want to fly twice. First thing that I liked abt Colorado was the mountains... It was 95 degrees in Denver and one can see the snow capped mountain on the horizon and so I decided to drive up there during the weekend. I met Parulkar on friday and we went to Wynkoop (www.wynkoop.com) a local brewery and shot some pool with his friends. Denver is nearly 6000 ft above sealevel. I remember going for 3500 ft treks in the smokies. Denver is a very nice city. Its 80 degrees for 9 months in a yr with very less humidity. Its pretty clean with low real estate prices. I for one was impressed.

I was told to visit the Estes park in the rockies and so at 11 on a sunday morning I started driving towards the mountains. I did observe that Colorado was a very biker friendly state and many professional bikers come here to practice. I reached Rocky Mtns National Park at 12:15. The rockies are the part of the Tundra region. Tundra is a russian word for "land with no trees" and the rocky mountain peaks have such cold temperatures that trees cant survive. I particularly like snow capped bald peaks and this was a real treat to the eyes. I had always dreamed of driving through these such alpine peaks, sampling air at 12000 feet. CHECK THESE PICS (http://morninglight.us/reports/trailridge/index.htm)

The tundra region has a very sensitive ecology and shrubs trampled under ones feet take many decades to grow back so stayed on the trail path all the time. I was driving through the Trail Ridge road which is closed during the winter and is open only from memorial day to mid October. Its was a 5 hour drive though these amazing mountains and I will cherish this experience for ever.

I have made up my mind that the next time I am in Rockies in May, I will climb these peaks.