Though I’ve lived a life far from dull, it seems as if the best and worst things have happened to me while living in our beautiful state. For now, I’ll stick to the good parts. Luckily, there are more of those than anything else.

In one of my many drives through Rocky Mountain National Park, I decided to drive through some of their campgrounds and sites. The images I saw were reminiscent of an exciting past. A slice of nostalgia set in…in good ways.

One of my many first adventures in Colorado was camping in the winter of 2008. I had only been camping one other time, and it was in Florida. I don’t think I would count that one. Nonetheless, camping is camping, or so I once thought.

The afternoon was warm for winter. Considering my lack of camping expertise, the tent went up fairly quickly. Just before dark, burgers and broccoli hit the camp stove while my friend concocted another first of mine, a hot toddy to go with dessert.

Once the dinner cleanup was complete, I built my first campfire. I had never had a s’more. I tried one that weekend, and I must say, I’m okay if I never have another one again. The warm adult beverage was nice, but I only had one.

The sound of the silent forest had heightened my senses, and I saw no need to change that. I was invigorated. After a few moments of intermittent chatter, my friend held a finger to his lips and whispered, “Listen.”

At first, all I could hear was the crackle of the flames and the beating of my heart. Still facing the campfire, I closed my eyes. The gentle movements of the mountains became prominent. The steadier and quieter I sat, the more I could hear.

The whisper of winter breeze, the occasional breaking of twigs, and the crisp air of the mountains slowly built like the climax of a song. Upon opening my eyes, the song ended. Fortunately, I’ve experienced many remarkable things in nature since. I’m happy to report that the tent never faltered, and never did I.

To find out more about winter camping in Colorado, visit https:// www.reserveamerica.com/articles/ camping/winter-camping-in-colorado. If you want to camp near the town of Nederland, check out these sites: Caribou Lake, Crater Lake, Diamond Lake, and Jasper Lake.