We had no idea what we were getting into.I was pretty nervous during the drive to the trailhead. Beginning at 5 a.m.
Conundrum trails. Mainly he tends to present images that are in 3 primary categories, Nature, Architecture, and performers. He is mainly landscape Photographer, Photographer of Nature, Wildlife Photographer and loves Architectural Photography. He is taking photos professionally and serving Denver, CO area as well as whole USA as request.
On a recent Saturday, hail pelted our cars three times. Thunderstorms raged throughout the two-hour drive, leaving us to cringe at every lightning flash.Should we turn back?At the trailhead, a sign informed us that the trail’s bridges were out, meaning we would have to ford the streams.We stood there in the rain, looking at each other. This was the dumbest idea we had ever had.We decided to start walking, with the understanding that we would turn back if the storms persisted. We shouldered our overnight packs and trudged single file through the rain. Just when it seemed morale could dip no lower, a patch of blue sky peeked through the clouds.In the clear weather, the hike became infinitely more fun. We snapped pictures of a waterfall cascading down a mountain. We admired the alpine meadows studded with wildflowers.
We started to think that we could make it all the way to the springs.The trail remained flat throughout the first six or so miles, making for easy hiking, but a few stream crossings stood in the way. The smartest people in our group changed into those plastic sandals called Crocs and waded through the shallow water.When we hit the last two miles of the hike, the trail pitched upward and took on a rocky complexion. It felt like my backpack doubled in weight. We made slow but steady progress up, up, up, stopping every so often for water. By the time the campsites came into view, I was exhausted and dripping with sweat from the four-and-a-half-hour hike. These hot springs had better be good, I thought.Few things have ever looked as appealing as Conundrum hot springs did just then. Clear and steaming, the main pool featured a handful of nude Aspenites.
We set up our tents at a campsite unofficially called “The bluffs.” Though it sounds like the name of a condo development, it was in fact a secluded camp overlooking snow-covered mountains.We donned our bathing suits and skirted down the steep, rocky path to the springs. There was nothing else to do but get in.
The water felt warm ” our nude friends estimated the temperature reached 98 degrees. Champagne-like bubbles gurgled up from the center of the spring, which spanned about 20 feet across and three feet deep.What happened next could have been socially awkward. I made small talk with the naked Aspenites, thinking “eye contact, eye contact.” The woman in the group expounded on the high cost of living in Aspen, periodically thrusting her nipples above water. I looked up at the wrong moment, only to see a man’s nether regions in full detail as he toweled off his foot.
Eventually the nudes wandered off.A new group of women in their 20s and 30s joined us in the hot springs, this time with bathing suits. Upset over the loss of the only “eye candy” at the campsite (a group of 20-something guys had left earlier that day), the women took comfort in large juice boxes of wine.After about five hours of soaking, we retired to our campsite. Because we had chosen a spot close to the hot springs, fires were prohibited. We sat around for a while until the sun went down.
It had been an exhausting, but highly rewarding day.Not long after sunrise, snowflakes started to fall. I sauntered down the path to the empty hot spring and admired the steam rising off the water. Trekking to the hot springs, I mused, had been worth it after all.We packed up our gear and embarked on the nine-mile hike back to our cars.
Walking downhill proved notably easier. The stream crossings were uneventful with the exception of a heroic rescue of an escaped Croc. This time we barely stopped. We made it to the trailhead in three-and-a-half hours.When we reached the cars, a sense of accomplishment flooded over me. We all hugged and congratulated each other for making it. We were starving, wet from the stream crossings and sporting some brutal hair dos, but it had been worth it.
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A downloadable game for Windows
Cranium Conundrum is a physics-based puzzle platformer taking place in the dream worlds that you create!
Disclaimer: The game is currently in early-access and the current version is not completely representative of the final product. This version will be updated on bi-weekly to monthly basis and certain features will be added or removed as the game is being developed. Current Features:
Planned Features:
The game is still in alpha so if you encounter any bugs/glitches or would just like to request we add a feature in a future update you can contact us at http://www.fallingstargames.com/contact-us or email us at [email protected].
To keep track of the game's development (even before an update is released) and see what is being worked on and what bugs we're aware of and are working to fix make sure to visit our trello:
https://trello.com/b/9j9NTuuW/cranium-conundrum
Thank you!
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $5.99 USD. You will get access to the following files:
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