My Colorado: Photo Contest


© Jeff Bratcher

Congratulations Jeff Bratcher of Brighton, this issue’s Photo Contest winner. Jeff took this photo with his Kodak DC280 Camera while hiking with his wife, Michele, their son, Dylan, and their border collie, Ginger, to Chautauqua Park/Boulder Mountain Park in Boulder, Colo. for a day of picnicking.

The awesome power of water
By Peggy Donovan

Our family chose to go on a short overnighter in Rocky Mountain National Park during a hot July weekend in 1982. We got one of only two sites left in Aspenglen campground. We headed out for a hike and Ranger talks which our girls, ages 9 and 5, wanted to see, followed by a relaxing evening by the campfire, complete with s’mores.

By 6:30 a.m., as Dad roused our olfactory senses with breakfast prep, a stream 20 feet away suddenly sounded like a rumbling freight train. Turning to look, we noticed a swaying footbridge, and a utility pole that buckled when hit by a large boulder.

Everyone scrambled for high ground, where we watched the awesome power of water, which tossed boulders like rubber balls, and downed pine trees like toothpicks. With no way out, we got to know families from California, Indiana, Ohio, Florida and a couple from France.

Before dusk, helicopters brought supplies of propane, ice, diapers, toilet tissue and KFC. The following day bulldozers forded a bumpy new road through private land so those of us with vehicles could drive out. There was no rushing to leave; we needed to say our goodbyes to new found friends. It turned out to be more than a quick overnighter; it was an exhilarating adventure!

SUBMIT A STORY:My Colorado features original work by our readers that captures the uniqueness of our state. Entries must be approx. 200 words. Send to editor@colorado.aaa.com. If we use your story, we’ll send you $60. Please include a daytime phone number and mailing address.

SUBMIT A PHOTO: My Colorado photography is intended to reflect AAA Colorado members’ travel experiences. Photos must be horizontal and taken in Colorado by an amateur photographer. No professionals please (including photographers who sell their work to the public online, in galleries, or by other means). One entry per person, per edition, will be selected by the EnCompass editorial staff. If we pick your entry, we’ll send you $60. Because we receive so many entries, we only accept them by email. Please send your high-resolution photo (300 dpi min.) as a .jpg attachment to editor@colorado.aaa.com. Don’t forget to include details of where and when you took it!

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