theboondork's RV blog

excuse me while I kiss the sky

8/20/2018

The top of Trail Ridge Rd., Rocky Mountain national Park Colorado

The view from the top

Once you're above timberline there's not a whole lot to do except visit the gift shop, have a $10 hamburger at the restaurant, prices in Colorado are based on the altitude, take some pictures, walk around if you're able, or head down the other side knowing you won't need the gas pedal for the next 10 miles.

I took a couple of short walks including up to the top of Huffers Hill which is right across the parking lot from the visitor center. Huffers Hill is aptly named because I was huffing and puffing long before I got anywhere near the top. And most of the way up I remember hoping there was room at the top to land a flight for life helicopter to get me off this mountain.

I took another brief walk to get a picture that looked interesting but mostly I was just heading down the mountain to a campground on the other side which was kind of small and just for tents and small RVs. There again if I had towed the Arctic Fox with me I wouldn't of been able to get into the campground.

theboondork

Trail Ridge Road visitor center Rocky Mountain national Park

The Trail Ridge Road visitor center. I'm pretty sure the logs are there to hold the roof on during winter storms

Trail Ridge Road to give shop recommend national Park

the gift shop at the Trail Ridge Road highest point.

there's a nice view from the gift shop.

Huffers Hill Rocky Mountain national Park

this is part of Huffers Hill, which is right across the parking lot from the visitor center. It takes you up to a little over 12,000 feet. I think it was put there to separate the mountain men from the flatlanders. The flatlanders are the ones that are struggling to get to the top, and the mountain men are the ones in the coffee shop laughing at them.

Hiking Trail. Rocky Mountain national Park

I walked down this trail for a little ways but at 12,000 feet breathing does not come easy and you find yourself walking slower and slower just to be able to catch your breath. but apparently my breath travels faster than I do because I never caught it.

9 Comments

Barney Ward

8/21/2018 04:18:26 pm

Now you are describing me at 8000 feet. At Beartooth Pass of 10950 feet I had to take a break just to cross the two lane road. If you haven't driven that road it is very dramatic and exciting.

Tom

8/21/2018 04:38:37 pm

Beartooth pass does look exciting in the truck, but a little too exciting pulling a trailer.

I've been to Yellowstone twice and both times I've come in from the south and left going east through Cody Wyoming and never had the pleasure of being on 212.

But nowadays the doom and gloom crowd has me worried that the Yellowstone Volcano's gonna blow up any minute and I'm afraid to go anywhere near the place.

Tom

Tim

8/21/2018 08:03:26 pm

Typing on my phone so this will be short. Made it to Minnesota and sitting in a regional Park in the AF. The AF is fantastic so far - tonight will be my first night in it Will tell you more when I get home.

8/21/2018 08:48:04 pm

Great to hear from you Tim, I was wondering how you were doing. I assume that the park you're staying at is close to the dealer so that you can have any problems you find repaired, and if that's the case I would suggest that you check all of its systems and make sure everything will do what it's supposed to do.

Run the refrigerator on gas and electric, I do the same thing with the hot water heater. Turn on the air conditioner and the furnace. Open and close every drawer and every cabinet. Make sure everything works correctly and if it doesn't take it back to the dealer for repairs or do the small things yourself, that'll be good practice for the future when you will be doing a lot of stuff for yourself.

I bet you've got a mental list already of things you want to do to "make the Arctic Fox yours", and if you're like me that list will grow every day that you live in it.

I remember the day that I picked up my Arctic Fox in Phoenix and drove it to Quartzsite, and stayed out in the desert for a few days just getting used to it. I spent the first day just standing outside looking at it because it was so pretty.

Since freedom is all in the mind and you now have all the important equipment you need to live a life of freedom, and if it's in your mind that you can quit work and hit the road anytime you feel like it, then your freedom can start right now. After all freedom is no more than knowing you can come and go as you please, and do what you enjoy doing. So if you simply tell yourself you're living the life you want to live right now, then you are truly free.

A brand-new truck, and a brand-new Arctic Fox, you have it all. Hope you have a safe, slow, relaxing trip back. So you can get used to the way your life is going to be when you move into the Arctic Fox.

Tom

8/21/2018 09:04:10 pm

Hey Tim. Congratulations and always remember tire pressure and wheel bearings are a first priority all the time.

8/21/2018 09:14:59 pm

Hi Tom - Yes, I took your advice and I'm about 20 minutes from the dealership. I'm staying here until Thursday and am running through the systems tonight and tomorrow. We found a few minor things in the walk through -I told them I didn't know anything about RVs (which is pretty much true) so they walked through everything. Probably drove them crazy, but they were patient and great to work with. Would type more, but takes forever on the phone.

8/21/2018 09:47:38 pm

It's the same for me when I text somebody. I usually dictate it but the phone makes so many mistakes the correction takes forever.

I would heed Barney suggestions about tires and bearings. On my first trailer, which wasn't an Arctic Fox, the tires and bearings were my worst nightmare.

It sounds like you're doing everything right so all that's left is to relax and enjoy the ride.

Tom

8/22/2018 08:52:55 am

Thanks Tom and Barney - great advice on tires and bearings. I bought a good gauge and air pump before I left. Meant to bring an infared themometer, but forgot it. First night in AF went great. Even the bed was surprisingly comfortable.

8/22/2018 09:10:41 am

That's great, by the time you get back to where you currently live you should know where everything is, feel comfortable and "at home", and have a list of things you want to change.

And you will probably find that the Arctic Fox and the call of the open road is slowly taking over your mind to the point where your current life is standing in the way of your new life and the freedom that comes with it.

Tom

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