WATER PLANET

Good old U.S. 50 is a great alternative to cross the Colorado Rockies rather than the mind-numbing Interstate 70 where “no stopping any time” signs accompany you to the designated stopping points for a view. I was standing on the continental divide in the Colorado Rockies. Monarch Pass (11,3112’ elevation). On a convenient forest road, I had gone a short distance off the highway to absorb the beauty of the spot.

A large wet meadow area straddles the divide, which is clearly visible as a gentle slope dropping east and west from the ridgeline. The dual slopes from the peak quickly steepen as the...