A snowy mountain

For months, Emma has been asking to climb the "highest mountain and touch the snow." So for months I told her that we probably wouldn't be able to touch the snow but we may see some snow on the mountains.

So, on Friday, we went up to Estes Park...which is one of my favorites then up to Rocky Mountain National Park. We took "Trail Ridge Road" all of the way up to the Alpine Visitor's Center, which is about 11,000 ft. above sea level. Anyway, Dave drove the way up and I realized by looking over the edges of the road that I have an issue of being in control in scary situations. Now to most people, it really wasn't a scary situation but I think I have a little issue with heights. We were glad to reach the top and after bundling up the kids (32 degrees out) we started up the famous stairs to the top. The air is so thin up there and the wind was really strong. We did make it to the top though and talked some poor guy who didn't even speak English to take our picture.

We could see the dark clouds beginning to roll in as we made our way down the stairs. By the time we got back to the visitor's station, it had started to snow, which was so exciting to all of us. (We acted like we had never seen the stuff before.) Anyway, we were inside for just a few minutes and the snow began coming down sideways. Of course, my wonderful husband is asking a hundred and one questions to the old guy that works there. Pretty soon this other gal that works there announces to the crowd that it was pertinent that we all get in our cars immediately and start down the mountain while the road was still open. OK kids, we are leaving now!! So Emma and I, along with about 50 senior citizens on a bus were scampering to get the heck out of there. So I go over to Dave.....who was present for the same announcement that I was, and he is laughing and joking with the guy about the flood of '82. I know that I had just a little bit of anxiety in my voice when I said, "are you ready?" and he said, "just a few more minutes I just have two more questions." HE WAS SERIOUS! The guy doesn't get worked up about anything (except Husker football) and I couldn't understand how he could not be concerned about being stuck in the mountains somewhere with two little ones.
Literally, I think he asked two more questions cause Emma and I were out in the van buckled in before he came running out with my poor bundled up sleeping baby. He gets Lauren in her car seat as we (I) am hurrying to get out of there. So he says, "you want me to drive?" HE*L no, I have this control issue and this is definately a scary moment in my life and I must be the one in control of this situation. :) So we cleared off the windows and SLOWLY and CAREFULLY made our way down the mountain. I was going so slow that Dave said a few times, "I bet you could go a little faster." I didn't respond except I thought...sure, I bet we could slide right off the side too. THAT'S WHY I WAS DRIVING! At certain points you really couldn't see much in front of you which was maybe a blessing cause you couldn't see over the edge either. After several minutes I settled down a little and of course Dave had to break out the video camera to prove how nutty I was. Once we got below the "tundra" and there were trees, the conditions weren't near as bad and once we got to the very bottom, the ground was actually dry. WHEW!

Anyway, to get to the point of this story.........Emma got to touch her snow on "the highest mountain" Dave even rolled his window down on the way down so she could eat some of it. I guess that was as clean of snow as you are going to get.