Day 06 – Rapid City, SD to Denver, CO – July 30th, 2007 - 398 miles

We are finally got off I-90 today! Leaving early we took off through the blacks hills on secondary roads to Wyoming so we could take I-25 S to Denver. The black hills is probably the first forest we had seen since New York. The dark pines look almost black because of the huge contrast to the burnt golden grass. While driving along the secondary roads we ran into a number of deer on the road. I was surprised to see how easily they move over or through the farmer’s fences covering the land. Past the black hills the land turned back to rolling prairie/cattle ranching land. The rockies might have been the most beautiful thing I have ever scene after all those plains.

After a quick break at my friend Mitch’s house in Denver we hoped back in a car and headed to Mt. Evans. This mountain is highest peak in the US you can drive up with the peak being at 14,240 ft. Once you get to the start of the park entrance the drive up is a windy hair raising 15 mile drive to the top. It is so high at the top that the thin air makes you easily disoriented and uncoordinated. To top it off I was getting dizzy every time I looked over a 1-2K foot cliff. Mountain goats and sheep were every where on the mountain and often hard to spot because of how well they blend into the rocks. I was walking along a path when a goat picked up its head less then a foot from me and scared the bejeezus out of me since I had no idea he was right there.

Anyway enjoy the pictures: