A Colorado State of Mind: Serendipity in the San Juans

While the West San Juan Mountains are tucked away in the southwest corner of Colorado, they feel like the heart and soul of the state. The towns- Telluride, Ouray, Ridgway and Silverton are a mix of old and new- depreciating mine shafts next to high speed gondolas and ski lifts, luxurious shops along with rustic saloons, locals among tourists. Telluride is the most exclusive of the bunch, clearly operated by a tight knit group of (mostly) wealthy locals, but still feels approachable and heartfelt to outsiders. Ouray ("you-RAY") is simply stunning, there is no way around it. Mountains tower over the historic buildings on all sides, verifying its nickname as the Switzerland of America. Ridgway, filming location of the original True Grit, has a charm of its own, nestled on green ranching land with equally impressive mountain views and a smaller, sprawling historic center. Silverton is my kind of Colorado- a no frills, efficiently tucked Main Street with welcoming historic hotels, saloons and shops, mostly occupied by friendly locals donning western hats and boots, for a purpose, not for show.

What all these towns share are the majestic San Juans- arguably the most alluring mountain range in Colorado. From each of the towns mentioned, you are not far from incredibly impressive hikes to jaw dropping turquoise, jade and cerulean alpine lakes, meadows of wildflowers resembling a Crayola crayon box, and thundering, soul stirring waterfalls. At times I would cross over a ridge, and almost not believe what I was seeing. Most memorable was my approach to Island Lake, nestled at a gasping 12,400 feet. While a good handful of hikers were found roaming around Ice Basin Lake, a slightly further trek to Island Lake- a few hundred feet higher after crossing a rushing river and meadow, was rewarded with solitude. There I was, looking down at a glistening jade beauty tucked away above treeline in an alpine wonderland, and I had it all to myself. I stood, paralyzed, and watched in wonder; one of those serendipitous moments in life I will always remember.