american.

What's the most perfect way to act festive & American on the eve of July 4th? 

Hike up to 11,000 feet to: 

AMERICAN LAKE

Well... I guess scarfing down ice cream afterward is pretty American too... 

which we did...

Anyway, today we got ready for the parallel universe to Cathedral Lake, which we did last week.  American Lake runs along the opposite valley as Cathedral & is completely beautiful in a different way.  The trail began with about a billion rather steep switchbacks through fields of the whitest aspen trees, quivering in the wind, & wild flowers growing up in the pockets of sunlight between the trees.   

My aunt calls it Oz, but I call it Home. 

      

The steep switchbacks eventually gave way to a pine forest that smelled like Christmas (the best holiday... I can say that because I am Jew-"ISH," emphasis on the -ish).  Nature smells so good in Colorado.  It might not smell that good on me after a 5 hour hike, but it sure does smell better than the Floridian nature... if you can call it nature.  Another great aspect of the Colorado nature is how much pride people take in it.  Wilderness & National parks are used everyday & people are outside staying fit everywhere.  Like I said the other day, hiking Aspen Mountain is a morning exercise for the locals.  The Floridian morning exercise is just walking outside & sweating.  Somehow all that fresh mountain air & lack of humidity truly make a difference.  You just want to be outside here; respecting & taking advantage of nature at its finest.

Allora, the pine forest curled up higher into the alpine, where a giant scree field emerged overlooking the entire valley.  Pine trees as far as the eye can see spread into the other mountains & right up to American Lake.  American Lake is a beautiful crystal turquoise clear body of water that reaches out to the base of a mountain face.

Although Cathedral also ended at a beautiful mountain lake, American Lake was just mesmerizing.  The wind danced over the water, the sky hovered protectively around its mountains, & the trees raced up their rocky faces.  There was a totally different ambiance at American Lake.  Is it because the 4th of July is tomorrow & I'm just feeling patriotic?  Or is it because I just love America so much?  Or... I will never know, it was just perfect.

After the trek back down, the sun receded behind the clouds & it provided a perfect cool down.  We were all pretty exhausted, so we resorted to ice cream.  We have 0 shame... we hiked this morning & we our proud of it.  Plus, we were celebrating our American roots!

Have a great evening everyone!  And Happy 4th of July Eve!  Ciao!