Denver, CO (March 13 - 21, 2026)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS As the plane approached the Denver airport, the terrain looked a lot flatter than I expected for its close association with the Rocky Mountains. Away from the mountains, Colorado is as flat as the rest of the Midwest, filled with fields and cattle. Unlike Chicago, though, you can see the mountains in the distance and particularly as you approach Boulder. Mountains the entire time you're in the car! When I stepped out of the airport, I was hit by the fresh but dry mountain air. I was underprepared for the dryness - my skin started cracking 30 min after landing and I didn’t pack enough lotion or any Vaseline. Thankfully, Melissa’s friend Kate kindly prepared me a little baggie of Aquaphor which saved me for the rest of the trip. Still, the first few nights I was woken up by the dry air and had to splash water on my face to fall back asleep. Eventually, my body and routine adapted. I also had to adjust to the INTENSE sun. On most days, there were barely any clouds. N...