Working seven days a week—extra hard to meet a crucial deadline—I was excited about my upcoming vacation, even if only for two days and even if only a few hours away from where I live.

The first day of this brief, but much needed break brought cool autumn weather, which wasn't unexpected for this part of the Rocky Mountains before the Equinox and official autumn. It was the second day that announced its arrival through the old and, likely, haunted hotel's windows with a wall of the gray.

It was snowing.

A lot.

The latter was not a deterrent per se: there was enough clothing for the just-around-freezing air temperature to head out into the great, but slightly frostbitten outdoors. It was the blistering wind that made the snow pellets feel like rubber bullets that got one to question going on a multi-kilometer hike.

The hike won, and I'm glad it did: this was likely one of the only chances anyone (unless he or she is a park ranger, that is) gets to have the taste of the Rockies at this elevation in the "winter." After all, the roads into this area will soon be closed until late June or even July. The only reminder of the recent change was the random pops of color, whether the still-verdant leaves peeking out from beneath all those inches of snow or the brightly colored rock enhanced by excessive moisture.

The best part (other than not running into any bears)? Hot coffee back at the hotel!

And a nap.

After all, nine kilometers and 200 meters of elevation gain let themselves be known when one's body is working overtime.