We started the day with a little remote work in Denver’s Art District—a colorful, energetic space with strong coffee and surprisingly solid Wi-Fi.
Once our laptops were closed, we wandered into the nearby flagship stores of Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Pendleton, an outdoorsy millennial’s dream come true.
Before leaving the city entirely, we made a detour to Mile High Stadium for a few snapshots – Lauren is a top-notch Bronco’s fan!
Into the Mountains: Time to gain some elevation!
Once we hit the mountains, every turn revealed new beauty: vibrant wildflowers, snowfields lingering from the previous season, and wildlife casually crossing the road. We climbed toward Mt. Bierstadt, one of Colorado’s iconic 14ers, where dark clouds rolled in, temperatures dropped from 91 degrees to 42 degrees, and hail threatened—but the views of Mt. Bierstadt, the rugged shark tooths, and a glimpse of Mt. Blue Sky made it totally worth it.
Frisco: Colorado’s Sailing Capital
As we made our way toward the next mountain pass, we cruised through Frisco, Colorado— known as the sailing capital of the Rockies. It sits right on Dillon Reservoir and was charming mountain town.
Hiking Loveland Pass
Next stop: Loveland Pass, where Caitlin tackled her first Colorado hike at altitude—a truly breathless experience 😉! That first uphill stretch was tough. Breathing felt like trying to catch your breath in slow motion. But after a short pause, the lungs finally caught up. We hiked across two snowfields, climbing steadily toward the Continental Divide, and were
greeted by marmots everywhere, plus one adorable pika.
What surprised Caitlin most? The color. The alpine wildflowers were vibrant and unexpected. As we crossed the final ridge, the view opened up and the scenery at 12,000 feet was nothing short of magical.
Breckenridge by Night
After our hike, we descended through the Eisenhower Tunnel and rolled into Breckenridge for the night. Breck is a a quirky mix of ski-lodge luxury and tourist-town charm. Off-season rates meant a surprisingly nice hotel, capped off with a relaxing sauna and hot tub session—a perfect reset after a day of mountains, wildflowers, and acclamation to altitude.
From coworking in the city to climbing toward the clouds, today had it all: a productive day,
outdoor retail therapy, dramatic weather shifts, and colorful alpine wildflowers. And Caitlin got her wish of seeing all the marmots!