“Why don’t you just take the car and drive around?”…Say what? – Me, explore alone! Gosh, I haven’t done that in a long time. Plus I exceptionally directionally challenged. I tend to get lost even with the GPS lady yelling ‘PROCEED TO THE ROUTE’ over and over again. Surely this was not going to be easy and I had a flight to catch back home.
In case you are wondering, this conversation actually happened in my head. Yes, I tend to talk to myself at time…and No, that does not make me a weirdo…Seriously 🙂 🙂 🙂.jpg)
Last week, I travelled to one of my favorite places ever – Colorado – for a beautiful workshop organized by Lemonade and Lens. Day 1 and 2 were busy with about 15 other photographers learning, talk shot and photographing tons of pretty wedding photography inspirations (more on that soon! :)). But Day 3 found me all alone in the hotel room with over 6 hours to kill because flight issues. 5.00am and I was wide awake and having this conversation with myself – Should I be adventurous and go exploring the foothills of Colorado or Should I just snuggle back in the huge king size bed with what seemed like 20 thousand pillows ALL TO myself (those of us with kids or pets know what a luxury that can be). Well!Luxury tends to take a back seat with me 🙂 So I quickly jumped out of bed, gabbed my camera gear and headed out, GPS in hand, to get a little lost in the foothills of Colorado.
My first stop was Davis Park. This was close to where the workshop was the previous day and I really wanted to get a chance to see the sunrise from above the mountains. Ahem, some of that was a little bit of a flop because I realized late that the sun actually rose from the other side of the foothills around Davis Park but none the less the morning glow was absolutely divine with not a single person around me. I did have the company of several bunnies who seemed to show me the way to some gorgeous views from various pullouts around Davis Park!
My second stop sent me further south to the Garden of The Gods….Oh my gosh! – They reminded me of the Arches in Utah – The red rock and pointy pinnacles seemed out of this world. Garden of the Gods seemed to be a somewhat of a tourist spot. I am sure the locals also use this dog-friendly hiking area but probably know all the little trails that are not frequented by the tourists. I spent the first hour doing the “touristy route” around all the famous red rocks that seems to have strange names like ‘Kissing Camels’ and ‘Siamese Twins’. But soon I was longing for some solitude and elevation. I wanted to see above the tree tops and admire all the rock formations without the ‘ooh’ and ‘ahhh’ of other people!!. So, after doing a couple of circles around the area (I told you I was directionally challenged – I was really lost and could not figure out where the real hiking paths were ;)). I stumbled upon Palmers Trail – a 3 mile loop that promised to take me back to the parking lot. So after a quick text back home that essentially said ‘I am off hiking…call for help if I don’t message back in one hour….LOL’ , I hit the trail.
Now if you have never done solo hiking, I really really really….no I really…do recommend it. What a magical experience to be around nature just by yourself. A million thoughts race through your head, but resist the temptation to think, shut off the cell phone and just hike. As you go up and down the path, a sense of calm overcomes you and you somehow feel more in touch with yourself and the beauty around you. It is very therapeutic. Many times on the trail, I would just stop, look around and practice all the wonderful breathing techniques you learn in yoga class – Side note, I don’t do yoga. But the way I was breathing, deep breaths to fill my lungs with the pure, sweet unadulterated oxygen from the trees around me – I can only imagine being taught in a yoga class 🙂 🙂I really don’t know how the hour passed. I did meet a couple of other people toward the tail end of the trail. They were starting their journey – cell phone and water bottles in hand. For once I was so glad that I did get up at 5.00am to start my day. Between Davis Park and Garden of the Gods, I got a chance to explore this little paradise state and experience a sense of calm and contentment that can only be had getting lost in the mountains!
karthika - Thank you Nadeen! It was heavenly 🙂 – I love Colorado so very much!! 🙂
Nadeen - So, so beautiful – your images and your words! I feel like I just took that peaceful, nurturing hike with you!