What Colorado is Really Like

Written by: Brandon Renbaum

November 30th, 2021

 Colorado is an amazing place, but it’s not all peaches are roses. This state can feel very overwhelming and isolating if you don’t have a social circle here. It’s one of the hardest places to move to if you are traveling solo. Most of my blog and social posts show the positive side, but I want to touch upon the darker sides of Colorado. This article will cover the good and the bad.

 Colorado is a state that has landscapes as eclectic as our entire country. You can find a little bit of Arizona, upstate New York, Utah, Kansas, Texas, and Tennessee in Colorado. When you drive from east to west in this state you realize how dynamic the landscapes are. The terrain changes are dramatic and can only be appreciated if you travel by car or motorcycle. Flying to one destination in Colorado is like taking a shortcut through heaven. The journey is really more rewarding than the destination when it comes to traveling in Colorado.

 When I visit big cities like Chicago and New York most people ask me if there are mountains in Colorado. This is how out of touch most people are with places outside of their particular hometowns. Yes, Colorado has plenty of mountains but the landscape of the state offers much more than just mountains. In fact, over 50% of the state is a bread basket consisting of vast, grassy plains. You will find canyons, gorges, mesas, butes, mountains, reservoirs, deserts, and plains in this state. I’m probably missing half a dozen other landscapes, but I’m still learning.

 Many people have these fantasies and stereotypes of what Colorado is like. Some think it’s this liberal fantasy world where everyone is smoking pot and is kind to one another. I know people who think you can just come out here, work on a pot farm and life is like a hippie commune back in the 1960’s. I’m sorry to say that this is not the case anymore. There are some very conservative towns in Colorado where smoking pot is frowned upon and trump flags fly high on various redneck pickup- trucks. Infact, my neighbor is one of those guys. The KKK had the second most active chapter in the country in Colorado at one point in time.

The Towns of Colorado

 Colorado is a state composed of small towns. Each town has its own unique flavor and culture. The culture, altitudes, perspective, and lifestyles are all dictated by the landscape of the state. The big ski resorts (Vail, Breckenridge, Copperhead, Aspen) are all beautiful, yet they generally all look and feel the same. In my opinion Aspen is very overrated and doesn’t provide the same beauty as Breckenridge or Telluride when you compare the downtowns. Breckenridge sits at about 9,600 feet above sea level: the highest ski resort to my knowledge in the state (yet, I’m sure someone will correct me on that one).

 Most people live on what is called “The Front Range.” Which is basically a stretch of land at the foothills of the Rockies that cuts through the eastern part of the state vertically. Because much of Colorado is landlocked: this stretch of land is really the only place developers can build on. Places like Colorado Springs are blowing up because the entire eastern plains is still flat ranching country that developers can keep building on.

 You feel the space and wide open country when on the front range. Colorado Springs will become the state’s largest city in the next decade, surpassing the Denver Metro Area because of the eastern plains, mountain access, and lower cost of living (well..that will probably change too). Colorado Springs looks more like Texas or Kansas, vast plains and dry desert terrain make up the majority of the town. Yes, we have Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain within a 25 minute drive…but it doesn’t feel like the stereotypical Colorado town here.

 So which towns sit on the front range? Well, basically all the big ones you hear about: Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, and Ft. Collins. These are some of the fastest growing and most highly rated towns people across the country are moving to. The phenomenon of people moving away from the big coastal cities and migrating to the western and southern states makes sense when you think about it. People want less traffic, more space, prettier surroundings, and lower cost of living. On the east coast we see people flocking to the Carolinas and on the west coast people are moving to Colorado and Texas. It’s a cultural thing, but there is this negative stigma in Colorado and Texas of people who move here from California. Some people just hate drivers from California and others just hate Californians for being from California. These are regional stigmas and debates, but not ones you hear about on the east coast. I never heard so many people discussing driving habits until moving out west. Everyone has their theory as to why drivers are crazy out here, but I won’t go into that now.

People & Culture

Some people fit the stereotype of Colorado. If you visit Boulder the stereotypes hold true. Liberal hippies, pot in the air, noses in the air, environmental discussions, and young college girls with tattoos and piercings litter the streets. Boulder represents the old Colorado. The new Colorado is a diverse group of people from all walks of life being transplanted in cities like Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Ft. Collins.

 Young families buying their first or second homes are moving to these areas in droves. Towns like Fort Collins and Colorado Springs have been ranked as one of the top 10 places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report for several years. These towns are very isolated from the rest of the country. You won’t find many minorities in these towns (except Denver): they are super white and sheltered. Fort Collins is nothing but a small town in the middle of nowhere: a plain’s town, one that I think is very overrated. Yes, the downtown is very nice and they have a great craft beer scene. That’s another thing, people out west love their craft beer. It’s like a religion out here.

 Overall the people in Colorado are very nice. The whole mid western politeness factor is real and you can feel it out here if you come from the east or west coast cities. It’s different from “southern hospitality,” just something you take for granted after living here for a while. People generally mind their own business out here and keep an independent spirit. Rugged individualism is a good term to describe the demeanor of people here. I guess you could say the pioneer spirit is alive and well in a lot of Colorado residents.

 People in Colorado are pretty fearless when it comes to any kind of outdoor activity. Unless you have hiked a couple of “14ers” (meaning mountains above 14,000 feet above sea level) you aren’t really considered a resident in the eyes of the natives

 Do you drive 70-75 mph on the highway? Guess what…you are a slow poke, a grandma driver. Expect to be passed on any road or highway if you aren’t going at least 85mph or higher. Is mountain biking or flying on a zipline over a huge canyon or gorge too scary for you? Guess what…you are a pussy. Again…the terrain dicates the lifestyle and mode of thought in Colorado and the western states in general.

Colorado is a blue state, yet a lot of towns are very conservative. Some would say that is no surprise because the big cities determine the political leaning of a state. I was surprised by the number of conservative towns in the state. Travel to towns like Florissant, Pueblo, Salida, Canon City, Colorado Springs, and Trinidad.. it won’t feel like the open/liberal minded Colorado you have in your head. Most people have concealed carry permits in these towns, love Trump, and despise most people on the front range and western slope. Afterall, this area of the country has deep roots in mining, construction, and agriculture.

Second Amendment Mentality

My view on guns has changed since living in Colorado. I believe everyone (except violent criminals and people in mental wards) should have the right to carry openly or concealed. In Colorado you can carry open or concealed in most towns, minus the Denver metropolitan area.

 My only problem is that open carriers do not have to take a class or any kind of training to carry. The concealed carriers (CCW holders) undergo special training in both the classroom and on the range. This should be mandatory for open carriers as well. CCW holders know gun laws better than any other group and know the consequences and series of steps to take if they have to use their firearm. There are dozens of cases where concealed carriers have stopped armed robberies and small active shooters in Walmarts across the country, but you won’t hear about it on the news. This is a complicated issue, but usually comes down to one thing: training. Those who train consistently by professionals to the point where everything is instinctual are the safest citizens you want to be around. It starts with situational awareness and knowing the laws, followed by hand eye coordination and endless repetition of certain steps. It’s really no different than mastering any other skill.

Mountain Life

 The Rocky Mountains live up to their reputation. They will inspire awe and challenge you both mentally and physically when climbing them. They disrupt weather patterns from the north west and drain water through the continental divide, which empties to our great oceans.

 As I write this I’m watching a PBS documentary on The Rockies where a newborn bison is trying to swim in a small mountain lake with no help from his mother. He has to learn the will to survive and get out of that lake on his own. The Rockies are always testing creation, seeing what you are made of. What kind of will do you have? This beautiful land comes at a great price, it weeds out through natural selection those who don’t have the proper will to live. I often wonder if I will survive in this environment for the long run. You have to make a lot of sacrifices in order to live in this part of the country alone. It takes everything you have to develop that “rugged individualism” that only comes from experience and adversity. Fragile people will have a hard time out here. I think the only reason I haven’t packed my bags and headed back home is because of my past, which made me an outkast during my teenage years. It’s still a mystery whether I can make it out here for the long run. You need to be stubborn if you travel out here solo.

 If you ever watched “MeatEater” with Steve Rinella, the show starts out by saying, “hunting is more than just killing an animal, it’s about who you are and what you are made of.” It’s no accident this statement is made while Steve scales a large mountain somewhere in the Rockies and then is charged by a moose. It makes for great television, but this stuff is real..lives are at stake out here.

 Beauty always comes with a price, those who are out in nature understand this concept. Why should anyone in New York city or L.A. care about any of this? Well, because we are all animals competing for the same resources. When you compare survival in the Rockies for certain species vs. getting that job promotion on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley the same principles apply. The environments are different, but the similarities are strikingly similar when your perspective changes towards a survival mentality. Corporations weed out the weak performers just like the Rocky Mountains weed out those with thin skin. When you siphon things to a granular level, we all want the same things in life (man and beast): food, shelter, love, and opportunity. Being out in raw nature has an unusual way of connecting different worlds, experiences, and cultures into one coherent thought. It filters the complexities of life into something much more simple and coherent. People have been going to the mountains for centuries to help answer those big life questions we have. It’s a concept called “functional fixity,” which basically states that changing your environment has a positive impact on productivity and problem solving. Environment is everything and it dictates our thoughts, actions, fears, lifestyle, religion, and perspectives. Master your environment and you can master your life.

Weather

 This can be viewed as a pro or a con, it’s all about perspective. I happen to love Colorado weather because it changes by the day. It can literally snow several inches one day and be sunny and warm the next day, like in the 70’s. People complain about this, but it’s a fair trade if you consider the humidity of the south and the extreme cold by the Great Lakes. I will take it anyday. No humidity here, amazing! Overall, I think the front range has some of the best weather in the country..over 300 days of sunshine per year.

Now, when you are driving in the mountains this changes things. Golf ball sized hail, high winds, and very little room for error can make driving these rounds treacherous. Not to mention boulders, avalanches, and mudslides that frequently fall on the I-70 corridor during various seasons. If you like getting to the ski resorts during winter all I can say is get up around 4am and hope for the best because everyone else wants to do the exact same thing.

Crime

Overall Colorado has very little crime compared to other states. However, like anywhere, location is everything. Property crime is probably the most common thing Colorodans will experience; plenty of homeless people roaming the front range cities stealing bikes, skis, trekking poles, snowboards, etc. It’s actually pretty common for people’s cars to get broken into in towns like Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs. It’s always advised that you take your valuables with you while hiking as criminals know you will be deep in the mountains while they smash your windows open with rocks.

 When crime does occur in Colorado, it is strange and perverted in nature. For example, two years ago in Colorado Springs a mentally disturbed man was stabbing hikers on a very populated trail near the downtown area. He had a white sheet over his head and asked his victims whether they believed in Jesus or not. It really didn’t matter if you answered yes or no..he would stab you anyway. I think he got around half a dozen people before police detained him.

Sexual misconduct is also common here. One of the highest ranking members of our U.S. Air Force Academy was charged with sexual abuse and sent to jail about six months ago.

Conclusion

I still think Colorado is one of the greatest states to live in. However, it is not perfect and might surprise you in certain areas. I guess the biggest problem we have is infrastructure. Most of the towns along the front range are not designed to handle the amount of people flooding the state. Construction is everywhere and makes traveling tedious at times. We have potholes everywhere and they can destroy your tires if you don’t have decent tread and high suspension.

Colorado is also not known for diversity. It’s super white here and you can tell people out here are living in some kind of fantasy bubble, isolated from many of the ills people face across the country. We need more locally owned restaurants and different viewpoints throughout the state.

I have thought about leaving Colorado for a more diverse and humming state. However, whenever I visit a different state I just keep comparing it to Colorado and nothing measures up. I think we all become immune to our environments at some point and forget how great our local cities and towns are. This is why traveling is such an enlightening activity, when we come back home we feel this new sense of gratitude and joy.

For more great articles on Colorado visit my articles page, thanks for reading and keep wondering!