The new year has arrived, which means it’s time to launch a new set of resolutions. I don’t bother with sure-to-be-broken vows such as “eat healthier,” “save more” and “quit screaming at the TV when the Broncos blow the lead.”
Instead, I set travel resolutions. Here are five of mine for the upcoming year.
1. Take the train
The clacking of rails, the swaying of cars and the fact that I don’t have to pass through TSA to get on board makes me love train travel.
Colorado boasts at least eight historic rail routes, some offering coal-fired steam engines while others feature modern, diesel-electric locomotives. Add to that a pair of passenger-carrying Amtrak lines.
Thus far, I’ve ridden five of the tourist trains, plus Amtrak’s California Zephyr between Denver and Glenwood Springs. For 2016, I resolve to knock at least one more rail route off the undone list.
2. Venture to the Eastern Plains
I’ll admit that I suffer from Front Range Syndrome — a condition causing those of us who live here to believe there’s absolutely nothing of interest east of Aurora.
In more than three decades of mile-high living, I’ve explored the plains of Colorado three times. Those surprisingly rewarding journeys allowed me to explore historic forts, stand in dinosaur tracks, reflect on massacres and watch my wife devour Rocky Mountain oysters in the town Mark Twain proclaimed “the wickedest city in the West,” Julesburg.
For 2016, I resolve to make another journey of discovery into Eastern Colorado.
3. Partake of more state parks
, which over the years I’ve found extremely easy to avoid.
That changed when my wife and I bought our little camping trailer. At least 33 of those parks offer comfortable campgrounds, many featuring electrical hookups, hot showers and flush toilets. Unlike most RV parks, the sites sit widely spaced, so we don’t feel like the meat in a motor-home sandwich.
So far, we’ve camped in 10 Colorado state parks. For 2016, I resolve to overnight in a few more, including the three in eastern Colorado.
4. Feed my wild side
When not trailer camping, I love to sleep in the wilderness. I’ll load up clothes, tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear and some freeze-dried fare into my pack and traipse into the wild, far from the sound of cellphones and motor vehicles.
Colorado holds no fewer than 44 congressionally designated wilderness areas, and over the years, I’ve camped in at least a dozen of them. That leaves a bunch more to explore.
In addition to a few old favorites, I resolve in 2016 to backpack into at least one new-to-me Colorado wilderness area.
5. Get high
The goal of many outdoorsy Coloradans is to scale every 14,000-foot peak in the state. I’ve done that.
My wife, however, still has 11 left to do. Six of those rank as “most difficult,” and four more fall into the “difficult” range. Bad knees and good common sense will probably keep her from ever attempting those.
But one of her undone summits falls into the “moderate” category. In 2016, I not only resolve to lead her up that peak, Humboldt, but I’ll also try to help her fulfill her resolutions to eat healthier, save more and not scream at the TV when the Broncos blow a lead.
Dan Leeth is a travel writer/photographer; more at
