Where The Mountains Talk To You

In the classic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings, the author J.R.R. Tolkien gives us many enduring and imaginative images. One phrase that stands out in a passage concerning a dangerous passageway is, "the runes were carved into the very living mountains…" You can almost envision those mountains having a life of their own and being able to somehow express themselves to the Hobbits who were on their noble quest.

The magic qualities of Tolkien's fiction are wonderful to read about. But when you go to spend some time on one of the great mountain ranges of America, you can actually almost see how a gifted writer could ascribe magical qualities to those amazing peaks and rolling hills.

Of the many mountain ranges that grace this great land, Colorado seems to have an extra blessing of mountains that have that magic that we are talking about. And whether you are vacationing in Colorado to enjoy her many great cities or if the mountains are your destination, there can be no question that you will find yourself gazing in silent wonder at the majesty of what God has made in the high lands of Colorado.

There are many delightful ways to make a trip to the mountains of Colorado a memorable and special event for you and your family. If camping is within your abilities, that is one of the finest ways to truly get a feeling of intimacy and oneness with theses powerful mountains. There is nothing like pitching your tent with the towering mountains all around you and the tall trees above knowing that soon you will be virtually alone with the wilderness as the sun sets behind those hills.

Sometimes it is easy to feel a bit fearful of wild beasts that might prowl the mountains. And to be sure, it is not at all uncommon to look up and see an Elk or a wandering family of dear drinking from that mountain stream that gurgles gently near your campsite. There are some camping precautions that you can take to assure that more aggressive beasts such as raccoons or even bear do not take interest in your campsite. But Colorado has some of the finest park rangers in the country. They will work with you to assure that you know how to camp safely to keep curious animals from coming too close.

In addition to camping, hiking can give you an up close and personal look into the wilds of the Colorado mountains in ways that are otherwise unattainable. The National Parks System works hard to provide hundreds of well maintained trails that you can use to explore these mountains in safety. You can easily come upon wildlife or witness a falling tree or tumbling rocks on a prepared trail as much as you can wild hiking on your own. But with a prepared trail, you never have to worry about getting lost and becoming one of those tragic stories we sometimes hear about on the news.

The mountains of Colorado offer many fun and exciting ways for you to explore to your hearts content and come away from your time in the mountains refreshed and feeling that you truly have communed with nature. If a bit of danger is in your blood, white water rafting tours are readily available all over the state. The risk level of these tours can vary from mild for a family with children to somewhat dangerous for the adventuresome in your party. And as your are hurled down the raging rivers that cut through the mountains in Colorado, not only will you be full of adrenaline, you will be having an experience that will bond you with these mountains for the rest of your life.

Along with these great options, fishing, picnics and searching for wild moose are other pastimes that fascinate many a Colorado visitor. You will have no trouble finding a great way for you to come close to the mountains. And as you watch the sun set behind those majestic peaks, it will be hard not to want to pour out your hopes and dreams to them. And when the Colorado mountains talk to you as well, they call to you to come back again and again. It is a call that gets in your soul and will be there forever until you comply and return for another great time in some of America's greatest mountains.