I just went on a walk through Washington DC, trying to clear my head for this writing session. I don’t typically walk with an iPod or anything, so my ears were flooded with the noises of the city, the squeaky brakes of the buses followed by the loud hum of the engines. There was a little trash here and there. Thinking about this piece made it more difficult to take in, a little more claustrophobic than normal.

That’s not a knock against DC – it’s simply the reality of city living. More to the point is the fact that the mountains have sort of grabbed a hold of me of late. After an extended stay in St. Maarten in February, I wrote about how the island had come to feel like home, and the incredible landscape and outdoor opportunities of Colorado are starting to dig in their claws. Every adventure-related travel outing has been a home run thus far (Conundrum hot springs, hiking a fourteener, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountain drives), and camping beside the Green Mountain Reservoir outside of Silverthorne kept the ball rolling.

I was able to get some ridiculous photos thanks in part to Mother Nature, who decided to drop a double rainbow right on top of the reservoir, the pot of gold seemingly within sight of our campsite (although I was recently told rainbows don’t have ends, apparently each person sees a different end). A mixture of light and dark clouds spread out over the tops of the nearby hills, spreading the direct sunlight and providing a backdrop that, when you’re standing there looking at it, appears fake (in a good way).

There was a large group of us, the occasion an annually held lobster boil. Nearly 200 lobsters were flown in from New England for the feast, kegs of beer and over fifty people rounding out the party. It was simply glutenous – there’s no way to sugarcoat it – but it was one hell of a good time, especially given the scenic conditions. When you enter Green Mountain Reservoir, be sure to drive the entire loop around the park. It’s beautiful, and there are cliff-jumping opportunities on the far west side of the reservoir. Bring your boat and fishing pools, too.

On the way back we stopped at St. Mary’s Glacier, which is essentially in the foothills just outside Denver. I am sorting through those photos now and should have them soon. Here are a few of Green Mountain Reservoir: