A Spring Day Trip to a Mountain Valley

We spent a day out in the mountains back in mid-April. The place we stayed had this beautifully landscaped stream running right through the property, with stone paths and fire pits along the water. The weather was perfect for it — clear skies and bright sun.

My companion and I just spent some time relaxing by the water. You could see the snow-capped peaks in the distance from almost anywhere you stood. The contrast of the green landscaping against the big, rugged mountains was pretty striking.

We wandered around a bit and came across a shop filled with shelves of ceramic vases and trinkets. Later in the day, the view of the valley really opened up. The mountain range was huge against the blue sky, with some clouds settling in over the peaks.

Just a short distance away from the more developed areas, the landscape changed completely. We found a small, clear stream making its way through an arid, rocky wash. It was quiet and felt much more wild than the manicured creekside back at the lodge.