Leaving the Denver area was a little bit sad, but we still had a few adventures in store. We headed West on Interstate 70 toward Veil, where we planned to do a few activities on the slopes. Along the way, we took a little pit stop to tour Mt. Evans.
The detour was quite a bit farther off the Interstate than planned, it was well worth it. Conquering that road made me realize that I really can do anything I want to. I felt like some kind of a super hero, well until we passed the bikers riding up the same mountain in the hail, sleet and pouring rain. The road to Mt. Evans made every other road we have ever taken look huge, straight and safe. We climbed thousands of feet in inclement weather, going no more than 10 miles an hour.
Once you pay the park ranger to drive this road, there is literally no where to turn around for 8 miles. After the first, torturous 8 miles, we arrived at Summit Lake.
We had arrived at 12, 830 feet. We all jumped out to see the beautiful lake and fish. We put on our sweatshirts, but Sydney didn't last 5 minutes in the cold wind.
Jake and I took a hike to further explore the area. It was beyond amazing.
This was the map of the view from our hike.
We came across this little cabin on our hike and figured it must be someone's former home. Nope. It is there incase people get stranded up on the mountain and cant get down the mountain safely because of the weather. It is stocked with instructions and fire making materials.
After we were all too cold to stand it, I talked to the Rangers and asked if we should continue to the top or turn around. They suggested we continue on to the top so we continued onward and upward. This is where the road became very dangerous. There are no guard rails to save you from going over the edge of the mountain. The rangers explained that they tried to use them, but there is so much snow that the rails can not withstand the weight and fall off the mountain with the melting snow. The road was full of blind corners on a road wide enough for only one car.
With white knuckles, we made it 14,265 feet on the highest paved road in North America!
After a quick stop at the top, we headed back down the narrow road and then got back on the interstate heading west.
Just before dinner time we arrived in Veil at our 2 story hotel. The kids were beyond excited to have stairs at the hotel. I was ecstatic to have my own room with a door that locked! I slept better that night than any other night ever! Sydney and the boys enjoyed the loud loft as well!
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