The flatirons jut starkly out from the earth. It is fun learning about the geology on a hike with UC Boulder scientists. They explain how the plates rise at a 50 degree angle and became smooth through erosion with water over time.

The phone rings as I enter the Boulder Natural History Museum. It’s Michael Mann, renowned climate scientist, and I missed his call because of time difference. I find a quiet corner for the interview and it goes well. Mike is chatty so I only ask a few questions further discussing his keynote talk that morning.

I get to peak behind the scenes at the archeology of bison and horses in Colorado. We journey even further back in time with fossils of dinosaurs and ancient invertebrates like sea sponges and insects.

Afterwards I get to share local craft beer with radio producers, hosts and learn more about podcasting. Editors from HHMI tangled banks studios host a special reception as part of the Science Writers 2023 conference in Boulder, Colorado.

The final day of the conference I get to visit the Boulder mountain research station. We learn about the research spanning climate change to pikas, a cute rabbit relative that cannot survive in the alpine environments past 78 degrees. There are bee houses for native solitary bees, grasshoppers, many chittering red squirrels and yellow aspens & green pines. The view isn’t bad either.

I reunite with my friend and take off for Rocky Mountain National Park. The timed entry ticket expires 20 minutes before we arrive, but the park service lets us in with a knowing smile.

The views from the parking lot are already beautiful with several sharp, snow capped mountain peaks. Going up the paved road, we pass several lakes that reflect them. The yellow aspen leaves fall as chipmunks and jays fly by. I start to feel the altitude as we ascend, but the sun comes out and I am motivated to get to the trail end.

Lake Haiyaha, sacred space to the Ute people, has an emerald hue. The color change is a result of a landslide in 2021 that added glacial silt to the water, causing it to reflect emerald. It is not turquoise like in photos, but it is still beautiful beneath the mountains.

I develop a headache and quickly lose my appetite (though the breakfast burrito I get from Torchy’s Tacos doesn’t help). We head back down the mountain, passing bear lake as the sun sets. I don’t feel better until we are back in Boulder, although drinking pho soup broth helps.

We drive out to my friend’s house, where the stars are clear and elk line the roads near a fossil monument.