Rocky Mountains

Today was another drive through mesmerizing landscape.  The Colorado Rockies are, well, rocky:

Sometimes you drive around them, sometimes through them!

... and sometimes they form amphitheaters

And in places they are high.... very, VERY high!  From the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians:

"To review the science of high altitude sickness, remember a few facts:

 First, our atmosphere is 21 percent oxygen. That is true at sea level and at 20,000 feet. However, it is the partial pressure of oxygen that determines how much oxygen gets through our lungs and into our arteries. In other words, 21 percent of oxygen at “one atmosphere” of pressure is more than 21 percent of oxygen at “three quarters of one atmosphere” of pressure."  

In other words, the air is less dense so there are consequently less molecules of oxygen per breath.

Vail, Colorado sits at 8,150 feet above sea level

Even before the snows hit and tourists fill the ski slopes in Vail, the place has a real beauty to it.

There are state and national parks all over the place in the state.  Much of the drive today on Interstate 70 followed next to the Colorado River.

The Colorado River is 1450 miles in length.

With a fairly long drive today, I was relieved to get out of the rarefied atmosphere in Colorado Ski country, and I was happy to hang on while the route descended in 5% to 6% grades downhill, finally ending up in a relatively low spot; Denver, Colorado, only 5280 feet (one mile) above sea level.  Finally, I can breathe again!

Travel Log - Friday, September 19, 2014
Departed from Price, Utah at 11:00 AM
Arrived in Denver, Colorado at 7:00 PM, at destination hotel at 7:30 PM
425 miles

States on return trip:
Washington
Oregon
Idaho
Utah
Colorado

On return trip, over 1300 miles thus far, about 1500 miles remaining.