Day O, The Beginning of the End...

Every story has a story. Research suggest that acclimatization to altitude is best achieved by an exposure to altitude in excess of 8,000 feet followed by an immediate descent. Mount Evans is the highest paved mountain road in the world and they managed to do it without the safety assurance of guard rails. This combination is conducive to creating an environment leading to diminishing blood flow to the knuckles of one said long time cherished friend. As a courtesy, I drove down (but not without at least one swerve and a "Hey! Look over there!!!").

Mount Evans is 14,264 feet. You can walk up the last section of it to summit a 14'er. It is a little like kissing your sister but it can essentially be checked off the proverbial bucket list should someone choose to. It is crowded at the top and parking is less than abundant. The view from the top varies from seeing the whole world to barely seeing the person standing next to you when the clouds roll in.

After every near death experience, there needs to be a reward. What better offerings to the gods of adventure than a Beau Jo's pizza. I was Nirvanafied. All good things tend to come to an end and with home life calling, my tour guide needed to go. After being dropped off at the Hotel Family Fight and Shots Fired Inn, I spent the rest of the evening putting the finishing touches on my equipment list. I set two alarms. One for 0400 and one for 0430 just in case the 0400 one did not go off or I slept through It. Let the dreams begin and the story of the story unfold. Just sayin'...