Omayra Acevedo, Colorado Rocky Mountains. I sit on my chair, turn the computer on, log in, pull up an empty Word document, and I begin to type: “Beautiful Surroundings…” It’s one of my favorite steps to writing. Creating a title that will, hopefully, give you, my reader, not just an idea of what’s to come, but will spark your curiosity enough to consider reading my column. It goes without saying that a lot happened in 2020, to all of us. However, 2021 has already offered its new challenges – to me, at least – but has also expressed its amazing opportunities. I will admit that I go through my negative process of dealing with challenges, but I know that, inevitably, things will work out. It’s just the not knowing when or how, that drives me bonkers. 

My hyper-creative mind starts to think about so much when I’m in need of creativity, which occurs a lot of the time. This leads me to scroll through my photos and relive memorable moments in my life. 

As I was skimming through my files, I found pictures of Del Norte, Colorado. An exciting small town, situated on Highway 160, between Monte Vista and South Fork. It’s rich in history, and is named after the grand river of the north. Its abundance of wild game, timber, plants, and the fact that it is also near so many bodies of water, makes it an ideal location for building communities. Though, its frigid winters make it difficult for anyone to succeed in planting their roots. Still, if the Ute Indians could do it, why can’t modern society?

Thanks to the striking of gold and silver in the early 1870s, Del Norte became an official town in 1874. It was a profitable mine at that time. Just like most towns in Colorado, it experienced highs and lows for a few decades. It wasn’t until Colorado vested in its outdoor tourism that the town began to shine. At close to 8,000 feet above sea level, it offers beginner to advanced hiking trails, camping, fishing, rafting, and rock climbing. Being that it isn’t too far from the Wolf Creek Ski Area, skiing is also an option when staying in Del Norte in the winter time. 

Regardless of where you choose to travel in Colorado, or for how long you stay; you can always count on a few things. Indoor activities, outdoor activities, local experiences, unforgettable memories, something for the entire family, a great place to eat, a fireplace, wildlife, an escape, and of course, beautiful surroundings. 

(Originally published in the February 4, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)