Thunderbolts and Lightning
Thor and Zeus stood on top of opposing peaks and battled for meteorologic dominance. I cowered in the middle.
Last weekend, I had a fantastic opportunity to travel to Boulder Colorado to learn a bit about my profession. I extended the start of the trip and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park for three days and two nights of camping in the high country - backpack, tent, sleeping bag, bear-proof food storage container - the whole deal. After getting my back country permit from the Park rangers, I headed out. I spent the first day near Fern Lake and generally got acclimated (both body and spirit) to being in the Park.
On Day Two, I left Fern Lake early in the morning and hiked up to my 2nd campsite - "Sourdough", situated just below the tree line at 10,600 feet. Unlike Fern Lake with its three other campsites, Sourdough sits alone, nary another campsite within three miles. After getting my site set up, I spent the day skirting the tree line and exploring the area, located in a valley surrounded by 2000 foot granite cliffs. I had a great time, and then I heard a loud rumble. Looking to the west, I saw some ominous and dark clouds rapidly advancing on my position. A couple of rumbles later, I exercised the better part of valor and scooted to my site.
Shortly, the rumbles got louder and louder and were preceded by lighting strikes. Rain started. Before getting in the tent, I saw lightning, counted to "one Mississippi, two Missi-" and then heard the thunder. The lightning flashed, the thunder crashed and the rain come down in sheets as thick as lead. The high altitude removed all dampening of the noise of the thunder and the giant cliff walls turned the valley into an enormous echo chamber. As I huddled in my tent, I realized that Thor stood here
and Zeus stood here
and they were hurling thunderbolts at each other in an attempt to establish pantheonic superiority. I don't know who won, but I probably lost. I worried. Clearly, I made it, but as the wind howled, the rain poured and the lightning increased in frequency, I cowered in my tent and tried to answer the question "What is the worst that can happen". Too many things could have gone wrong and when I had one answer ("oh, flood"), I came up with another ("oh, forest fire").
I grew.
I spent Day Three reflecting on the previous night's excitement and decided if I have the opportunity to do it again, I would.
Posted at 11:34AM Sep 06, 2009 by schnee in General |