Colorado

Ben and i had to go to a collaboration meeting in Colorado. It wasn't at all what i expected. well, the meeting part was just what i expected, but the accommodations were, umm, rustic.
the entire group was staying at the YMCA of the Rockies, in two large lodges. Ben and I were lucky to get a double bedroom, but many people (pretty much everybody except for the organizers!) had to share a room with bunk beds, and EVERYBODY shared the showers. it's one thing to do something like that with your friends or family, but when it's people you work with, it's one step too far from just getting drunk together in the sake of bonding.
Anyhow, besides having to be with all those people 24h/day, the surrounding area was pretty nice. the place is just on the outside of the Rocky Mountains National Park, and this time of year there's a lot of wildlife around. mainly elk and deer. they just hang out around town, by the roads, posing for amazed tourists.
Since Ron was still in the US, we arranged for him to come with us (he stayed in the bunk-bedroom), and i drove him into the park every morning. i'm happy at least he had fun!

here are some pictures from the afternoon we spent driving through the park. it was a very nice drive and a very little hike to a peak, which was admittedly hard due to the high altitude.
as you can imagine, i took lots of pictures of elk. i included the less blurry ones. they like to be out there after sunset, and move a lot, so it's hard to take a sharp image without a tripod.




...and here's a link to Ron's pictures.