Buena Vista CO

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to scope out the town of Buena Vista Colorado. I saw the collegiate peaks and hiked all the way up cottonwood pass. One of the reasons I wanted to write about this trip is because BV, CO is totally underrated. It’s a tiny quiet town surrounded by the biggest rocks my tiny Kansas brain could comprehend. Hiking up cottonwood pass seemed really fun at first but I got halfway up and wanted to come back down, however, I pushed through and I am so happy I did because the view from the top made my bones stop aching. If you have ever hiked a mountain, even Mount Sunflower in Kansas, those few seconds when the horizon opens up and you realize how high you are and how much earth is under you, the altitude sickness goes away in an instant.

It was a little cold and obviously, it got colder the further up you were able to go. After we all had worked up a sweat we traveled a few miles north to visit some natural hot springs, this part was by far my favorite. In total, they had six pools with different mineral content and an all-natural cold pool that was just runoff from the rocky mountain snow that melted. Some pools were big with pink, green, or blue tints to the water from sediments like calcium, lithium, and sometimes radium. My mom has extreme arthritis and back pain but even she was relaxed after taking a dip.

This trip took me a total of four days but what I gained from it seems like a lifetime’s work. By unplugging from my life in Kansas I was able to formulate some sort of self-efficacy in regards to my future career. I have never been a confident person and it is something I am constantly working on but my affinity for the outdoors/ something bigger than myself has fueled this hippie-dippy fire inside and I haven’t been able to squelch it. Like the Cottonwood pass, there are many different avenues you can venture on to filled with amazing sights to behold but sometimes that can be overwhelming. I have learned to pick a trail and get hiking, outside and in life too. Outdoor recreation is pertinent to my success and I would argue that others can benefit just as much.

I write this post to, of course, tell you about a cool trip I went on but I also would like to urge anyone reading this to take a spontaneous trip sometime. It does not have to be expensive but the importance of finding yourself is worth any dollar amount you could think of. Whether it’s the interactive museum in St. Louis or a study abroad trip across the globe, go for it. You never know what will stick with you when you get back. This past year has been one of the hardest to get through but there is always something waiting to capture your attention, inside or out.