While watching the sun dip below the horizon at 12,000 feet, I met Conrad – a student at CU Boulder who frequents the Rockies. As we watched the sky change colors, we shared stories and longings. We exchanged contact info and he left to return to Boulder. I ended up sleeping right there on the mountain. All night long the elk screeched. All night long the wind howled and threatened to blow my car off the ridge. And it was my favorite night yet.