8/3/18, Rocky Mountain National Park - Glacier Gorge, Colorado

It had been about two weeks since my return from Kenya and the need to get out of the house was growing ever so stronger. I had finished writing the Kenya story, shot my bow more than once, and needed a break from all the books I was reading.

It came time for another adventure. The first quandary I came across was to question if the trip was worth doing alone. After talking to a friend and my brother, they gave me the agreeable advice that being alone on a hike is preferable to being alone in a house. I knew immediately that Rocky Mountain National Park should be the destination for the hike. After I made my decision to go final, I spent the rest of the day uncovering the rules of the park. The next morning, I began an adventure into what to me was completely new and largely unknown.

My solitary journey began with a two and a half-hour drive to the park on which I encountered the festivities of driving through Denver traffic. After I narrowly escaped bumper to bumper traffic in the mile-high city, I enjoyed the smooth country roads that winded through the rocky-mountains and led me to Estes Visitor Center. The friendly park ranger that I talked with on the phone the previous day neglected to inform me that the hike he recommended to me takes an additional two-hour drive through the park to reach. My plans swiftly shifted from hiking to Timber Lake to hiking a nearby trail system, Glacier Gorge. Glacier Gorge consists of a few separate hikes you can undertake depending on which route you take.

My greatest concern on the way to the park was that I would totally regret undergoing this journey alone, but as soon as my footsteps made their mark on the first trail not a single regret was in my mind. An excitement I am becoming more familiar with the more time I spend out west burst up inside me like water gushing out of a spring. I became eager to see what was around every corner. Less than a mile from the head of the trail system is Alberta Falls. I pulled my camera out of my bag only to discern after a quick change of the batteries that it was not at all functioning properly. Since it was drizzling that day, I was moderately concerned that water had somehow gotten into the camera ruining it. Losing the ability to use the camera took some of the enjoyment out of the trip, but at least I still had my phone camera to capture a few quick snapshots with. The shots wouldn’t come out as picturesque, but good thing for me it isn’t too difficult to make national parks look captivating.

I spent no more than 10 minutes at the falls and moved on to a fork in the trail system where I was forced to make another decision. To take the left trail meant hiking to Mills Lake and beyond, that is Black Lake. The right-side lead to a location called the Loch and almost three miles past the Loch is Sky Pond. My final decision to take the right trail was based solely on the fact that Sky Pond sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. Hiking to the Loch was a non-strenuous two and a half miles. On the way I tried to use my life straw water filter only to find out I had another piece of non-functional equipment. Luckily, I had no real need of the filter since I had three water bottles packed away in my day pack. To continue to Sky Pond, you had to hike around the Loch, which allowed me to take full circle camera shots from around the Loch and made for what turned out to be the most enthralling photos of the trip. Passing around the Loch the rain picked up and gave me the chance to wear my rain gear I had not yet used but have owned for the past year. Instead of being annoyed by the rain I was welcoming it for it added more challenge to climbing the rocks and made for interesting photos as the clouds rolled in low.

Coming close to Sky Pond, I took a part breather-snack break underneath the cover of a rock. The place I was taking refuge was right off the trail and hikers were unable to see me until they came right upon me. I might have unintentionally spooked a few trail goers. Realizing the uncomfortable situation I was creating, I rushed through eating my granola bar and took back to the trail.

The final section of the trail to reach Sky Pond was almost a vertical climb up rocks that were soaked mostly from the rain, but also partly from a nearby waterfall. After letting a few folks safely make their way down, I speedily made my way up eager to see the beauties of a place that earned the name Sky Pond. I climbed up high on a rock to capture a full view of the lake. The lake was a glistening blue surrounded by ice and growing green trees. I took what I thought were a few decent pictures and made my way down to the water to feel the temperature. I spent a good deal of time just standing by the water contemplating if I should attempt to climb the steep peaks surrounding the water. I ultimately decided it wouldn’t be the wisest idea going that far off trail completely alone. It was a decision I didn’t easily come to. My thirst for more adventure was also starting to die off after hiking unaccompanied for two hours and twenty minutes. I was happy being alone for most of the trip, because it gave me the ability to set my own pace and I was able to stop at any random moment to stare at a flower or a rock. I was disappointed with myself though that my spirit of adventure was crumbling after only a little over two hours of hiking. Once my final-destination in my mind was reached I was ready to head home. I even skipped out on hiking an offshoot trail that would of lead me to Andrew’s Glacier. I wondered how I could write about this trip with any pride after casting aside multiple opportunities to increase the intensity of the hike.

With a feeling of mortification, I started on my way back to the trail head. On the way down two hikers were booking it down the trail and caught up to me. I become quickly irritated when drivers in traffic tailgate me, but it jumps onto a whole other level when hikers do it to me on a trail. My competitive spirit wouldn’t let go of the lead, so I kept a speed walking pace a few steps ahead of them for about two miles till they finally split off onto another trail. My shame increased knowing I had sped across all the beautiful spots that others had stopped to marvel at just so two hikers wouldn’t pass me. The sun came out and gave a new outlook on the park. This didn’t help at all with my remorse.

While I carried my shame down the trail to my amazement, a cow elk walked out onto the trail no more than 10 yards in front of me. The creature stood there for a couple minutes letting me admire it. I waved to two other hikers trying to motion that there was something of interest to see. After this lovely encounter, the hikers struck up a conversation with me for the last bit of the trail. I was more than happy to have my first human conversation of the day. My attitude had suddenly flipped, because I knew if I hadn’t rushed down the trail I would have never ran into the elk and that quickly fleeting but much needed conversation would have never of occurred.

The clearing of the clouds also allowed me to pull out my Bible and read from Psalms 19 by a small stream. It is a Psalm that I chose to read because it uses creation to glorify God, but it was verses 12-13 that gave me peace that day. “Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion.” – Psalms 19:12-13. Nature is a fantastic way to find rest, but ultimately it is only the forgiveness and grace of Jesus that brings true peace. This quick moment in the word reminded me of the redemption quality of God that I learned so many times in Kenya. I serve a God of redemption who doesn’t let anything His children do end in vain.

With that last moment by the stream I was able to finish the hike with a contented perspective. I explored the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and can go back to my family and tell of all that I saw. Similar to Caleb in Joshua 14:12, I will go back to the hill country I explored and bring others along with me.