“He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below 
He saw everything as far as you can see 
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun 
And he lost a friend but kept his memory”-John Denver; Rocky Mountain High

As many of us can remember from playing the Oregon Trail in elementary school, if Jedidiah somehow managed not to die of dysentery or smallpox, then eventually your pixelated wagon would reach the hardest obstacle in all of North America, the Rocky Mountains and fall off a cliff or something.

The Rockies have gotten significantly safer since the mid-nineteenth century and today are a major tourist destination for skiing, hiking, and whitewater rafting. However, they are still an imposing physical specimen that should be approached with caution. However, the heart of the Rocky Mountains is a true national treasure, that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

Most people entering the Colorado Rockies will do so via I-70 west. Driving on I-70 will take you through the Eisenhower Pass Tunnel, a remarkable feat of engineering. Now, one should keep in mind that especially during the winter, ski traffic from Denver and poor weather conditions can cause Eisenhower Pass to get quite backed up. Given the location, the road is remarkably well maintained but accidents are still common. Another concern is altitude. Most of the roads and towns are located around 8,000 ft (Denver is 5,280 ft) and many of the places one might visit can be well above 11, 12, or even 13,000 ft. At these altitudes, its important to drink a lot of water and get exercise while from the time you arrive in Colorado so your body can acclimate.

This region of the Rockies is one of the most popular skiing destinations. There are locations closer to Denver such as Winter Park and Breckenridge, to the South in Silverton and Telluride, and to the North in Steamboat Springs. However, most of the most famous, popular, and debatably best quality ski resorts are located in the part of Colorado. This is where Vail, Aspen, Eagle, Cressed Butte, Snowmass, and Beaver Creek are all located. Skiing and lodging can be expensive however so spring skiing (which this year will last into July!) can be a great alternative on a budget.

However shredding powder is not the only activity to do in the heart of the Rockies. The largest town in this area is Glenwood Springs, location of the famous Glenwood Hot Springs at the Hotel Colorado, a historic Victorian structure in which President Roosevelt was presented the first teddy bear in 1905. The prices for the hotel  are actually not bad considering the Hot Springs are included. It’s a perfect way to relax and warm up after a ski day.

Glenwood Springs and nearby locations also include warm weather activities such as adventure parks whitewater rafting. However, the best warm weather activity is obviously hiking. Short hikes can include to Glenwood Canyon or to the base of Mount Elbert (the disputed tallest mountain in the lower 48). If you want an intense backpacking experience than I recommend the four-pass loop/capital creek circuit (the backpacking trip I did). This 50-mile hike includes sights such as Snowmass Lake and the Maroon Bells. The Maroon Bells are a bell-shaped rock formation made famous by an Ansel Adams photograph from the early 20^th century. Whatever you choose to do, the heart of the Rockies will leave you breathless (both literally and figuratively).