The Centennial State.

One of my best friends recently moved out to Denver for work, providing for the perfect excuse to go out and visit the Centennial State. I’ve never visited any of the Mountain States, but have heard a lot of great things about them. People are said to be a bit more cordial than on the east coast, the climate is dramatically different, and there are endless outdoor activities to enjoy. Economy flights to Denver International Airport can be as cheap as $90 round trip as well! Needless to say, we were excited to get out there.

My buddy now lives right in downtown Denver. There are some unique characteristics of the Mile High City, but for the most part, the look and feel is like any other urban environment, the only difference is the expansive view of the Rocky Mountains in the distance - it’s beautiful.

I intentionally did not do a whole lot of research before visiting, outside of looking into a few of the most popular places to see. When we went on our first venture into the mountains, I was surprised by what I saw and experienced. First of all, the air out there is much thinner, there is no humidity, and the sun is hot. Also, the altitude alone takes a lot out of you; just walking up a few steps left me feeling winded during the first couple days of our trip. Secondly, the landscape was not what I expected. Sounds silly, but upon seeing them, it became instantly clear why they are called the Rocky Mountains. Unlike the lush green bases of the Swiss Alps, these mountains were all rock. In the foothills just outside of Denver, there is also very little vegetation, outside of cacti, wild succulents, and some trees scattered here and there. Most of the rock itself was also bright orangish/red - It was so desert-like!

As we ventured further into the mountains, the vastness left me astonished. There was a bit more greenery, pine and aspen trees as dense as can be, and crazy wildlife like deer I have never seen before, and moose! It was 75 degrees in the city, and by the time we climbed into Rocky Mountain National Park the temperature dropped to sub 40 degrees. Simply driving around felt like an adventure.

Long story short, we visited a bunch of places the week of our trip, and I think what surprised me most was just how different the climate/environment was compared to what I am used to on the east coast. And it’s true what people say about the culture, people smile ambling down the sidewalk in contrast to east coast frowns, and cashiers at the coffee shop are genuinely interested in how your day is going. It is cool to think that cultural and physical environments like these are as accessible as they are, right here in the USA. After returning, I couldn’t help but research everything there is to know about Colorado, its founding, development, and why the climate is the way it is.

Here are a few fun facts that I found super interesting:

• Colorado became a state in 1876, and because its admission occurred 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it became known as the Centennial State.

• There has been a strong influence of Native American culture on Colorado, particularly with food and artwork making a unique contribution to Colorado’s sense of identity. Unfortunately, Native Americans were driven out by Spanish explorers traveling north from Mexico in search of cities possessing gold and silver.

• The migration of Spanish explorers had its own imprint on Colorado. Many of the state's towns, rivers, and mountain ranges, all still have their original Spanish names. Even the state’s name is derived from the Spanish colorado (translated “red” or “ruddy”).

• Throughout the various natural landscapes (e.g. eastern plains to western mountain ranges) the state rises from 3,350 feet in elevation to over 14,000 feet.

• Hot and cold spells reaching 90 degrees or falling below 10 degrees are not uncommon with dry descending winter airstreams that flow from the high mountains getting warmed by compression as they descend, raising temperatures 30-40 degrees in less than an hour - this is why snow cover melts so quickly out there.

• Elevation, the amount of exposure to the sun, and the orientation of mountain ranges and valleys to the general air circulation are the major factors that determine the climate of the various Colorado landscapes.

Needless to say, my wife and I already have plans to head back out there in a couple months! Considering the amount of parks and exploration there is to do, I don't expect this to be our last time visiting either. Quarantining throughout this past year has had us (and I’m sure most people) itching to travel. What better place to visit than one of the most naturally beautiful places our country has to offer. I highly recommend the good olé Centennial State!

Hope you enjoyed the week end read,

Dionisio III