Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak. Sometimes I don’t know where to start. Where do I go? What do I say? How do I say it? Suddenly, a cat jumps on my lap, a John Denver medley like Rocky Mountain High comes on the radio and my fingers become unstoppable. You would think that songs about Colorado would remind me of where I now am, and they do, but they mostly remind me of my time away from Colorado. I was so homesick that I would listen to Colorado songs all day every day, just in hopes of fulfilling the empty void. 

So, how about it?! How about we create some Rocky Mountain memories and go way high?! How does 10,152 feet above sea level sound? Great! Welcome to Leadville, Colorado. Known as the highest town in America. The average snowfall in the United States is 28 inches. Leadville averages 141 inches of snow per year. Whew! Now that’s a lot of snow! Which makes it a winter wonderland playground for winter sport enthusiasts. 

What else can you do in Leadville? Good question. It all depends on the time of year. During warmer months you can go 4-wheeling, off-roading, hiking, camping and partake in festivals. There’s also the Leadville Race Series. During the race, bikers challenge themselves to ride 100 miles at altitudes that take one-third of their oxygen away. Again, I say, whew! Year-round you can enjoy a cozy stay at one of their cabins and/or lodges, treat yourself to a meal at one of their local eateries and do some shopping while you’re at it.

And since you’ll already have visited the highest town, why not visit the highest point in Colorado. Less than two hours from Leadville, at 14,440 feet, you can find yourself on Mount Elbert. Where’s that? You probably know it best as Maroon Bells. I have yet to climb to the very top of it, but I hear the views are beyond majestic. There are five routes that lead to the summit of Colorado’s highest mountain. Some are a little more challenging than others. I suggest you research it first before heading out on your adventure. 

What a magical place we live in. The Colorado Rocky Mountains – inspiring journalists, authors, artists, athletes, singer-songwriters and everything in between. We have no excuse. There is no reason whatsoever – in my humble opinion, of course – for us to feel ungrateful. A gentle glance outside our windows should be sufficient enough to feel the power of our majestic mountains and the urge to create some unforgettable memories. 

(Originally published in the September 26, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)