as i made my way towards the maroon lake trailhead, i was greeted by cotton candy skies and sweet messages. i replied back quickly before (happily) disconnecting from digital society for the rest of the trip. as i pulled in the parking lot, i went into auto pilot: check snacks, repack my bear canister, assemble my hiking poles, grab an extra lighter, keep the first aid kit accessible, lock the car, use the bathroom. the thought of heading home was long gone. how could i think of being anywhere else, when the views in front of me were already this breathtaking?

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