East of Glenwood Springs, Colorado up in the Glenwood Canyon lies a rest stop off of I 70. It presents the Best of Colorado: Raging Colorado River, Grizzly Creek feeding into the River through the valley, boulders, rock path, crashed trees and those cerulean blue skies. And clean restrooms.
It is also the place of my old stories told over and over again. The time I was hiking with my Brittany Spaniel three miles into the canyon and he ran back to me and stopped. Hair on the back of his neck stood up and was blocking my path from some unseen danger ahead. When the high creek reached over the banks at the beginning of the snowmelt. The time we did not have the right shoes. When we came with my Aunts and Uncle. Rafting the Colorado River and launching from Grizzly Creek.
The story this year – the best water flow I remember, the greenest trees, the bluest ski, and the boldest rocks. We took the time to sit and watch the water run under our feet after a short hike. .
The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens. Romans 8:19-21 The Message
Now two months after our visit, it is gone. The result of a dry rainless summer. A car on I 70 with a blow-out leaving a spark. The inability to contain a fire raging up Grizzly Creek and the canyon. Still burning one week later and the Interstate has been closed for 10 days.
I have no words for my sorrow. I am too old to see it return in my lifetime. Another favorite trail gone to the summer fires of Colorado.