|
On a recent trip to the U.K., I met up with a Scotsman possessing
all the knowledge one needs to successfully navigate the
inspirational Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast. The weather
resembled the early spring season we were in: blustery, cold, rainy
and even snowy at times. I quizzed the gentleman on whether he had
assisted many other tourists this early in the season, in his
position as keeper of the tourist information center in Kyle of
Lochalsh. He said, “Madam, if you’re visiting Skye this time of
year, you are not a tourist, you are indeed a traveler.”
Perhaps North Park is the Colorado equivalent of the Isle of Skye.
Indeed, we share a great deal. Both locations are remote and
somewhat isolated, getting to each requires a commitment and desire
to experience what’s on the other end, and both offer a substantial
reward for the effort.
If you are a traveler (or a tourist) who has journeyed to our
village, whether passing through or settling in, I will share with
you what you might expect to find here. And perhaps more important,
what you will not find here.
If you’ve left the density of city life and arrived in North Park,
you will not find fast food chains, pollution, or stoplights (if
they ever arrive here, we will call them “golights”). Instead,
expect to dine at a locally-owned café, breath fresh mountain air,
and roll down the window and drive until you get there. Anywhere.
What we lack in population is made up for in the richness of our
villagers. Visitors find our people to be authentic, hard working,
and willing to go the extra mile to accommodate their needs. Living
and working 65 miles from the nearest town requires a determination
to be exactly where we are. North Park. We are entrenched in a place
of beauty, surrounded by the vistas of the Rawahs, the Zirkel
Wilderness, the Never Summer and Snowy ranges, and an abundance of
watchable wildlife. We’re not sorry that the pace is slow, and we
take the time to linger.
This is a contagious place to which you will return if you have
taken the time to explore our vastness, our people, and our rich
history. North Park offers unlimited recreational opportunities;
world-class fishing and hunting, endless hiking trails to explore,
unrivaled camping, and a far greater wildlife population than human
population.
Don’t miss the Moose Visitor Center in the Colorado State Forest
State Park to learn why North Park is the Moose Viewing Capital of
Colorado. Visit the outstanding North Park Pioneer Museum to
discover our diverse history of trapping, mining, logging and
homesteading in this enchanted land. Wet a line in any of dozens of
lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers to experience the thrill of
catching the evening meal. Keep your camera ready. It’s impossible
to take a bad picture with 360º mountains surrounding the boundaries
of the park. Our trails system is diverse enough to please the
young, the old, the timid and the brave.
So linger. Take a deep breath, lower your blood pressure and share
this land with us. We encourage you to keep coming back to this
special place and continue to explore its charm.
Debbie Wilson
Publisher
|
