First Mountain Run: Echo Lake, Snowy Roads, and a Blue Sky Kind of Day

This trip felt like a milestone.

I finally took my 4Runner into the mountains for the kind of loop it was built for. Snow on the roads, quiet pull-offs, and no real agenda beyond getting outside with Koda and seeing where the day led.

I started the drive coming up from Idaho Springs, heading toward Echo Lake, which is one of those spots that never disappoints, no matter the season. The roads were snow-covered but manageable, and it was the perfect chance to see how the 4Runner handled winter conditions without pushing things too far. Confident, steady, and exactly what I hoped for on its first real mountain run.

Once we got to Echo Lake, Koda and I hopped out and explored the area on foot. The lake was frozen, the sky was that unreal Colorado blue, and everything felt quiet in the way only winter can manage. We wandered around the lake and then headed up the closed road toward Mt. Blue Sky, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the day.

There’s something special about hiking a road that’s normally packed with cars in the summer. No traffic, no rush, just snow underfoot, long shadows, and views that make you slow down whether you want to or not. We logged about three miles total. Nothing extreme, just enough to feel earned.

After soaking it all in, I took the back way down, turning the whole day into a relaxed loop instead of a straight shot there and back. That drive alone made the trip worth it. Winding roads, forest views, and the kind of scenery that reminds you why getting out of the city matters.

More than anything, the day felt good. Good to test the truck. Good to watch Koda do what he loves. Good to be outside, moving, and present.

No one can ever say Koda hasn’t lived a great life. Days like this are exactly why.

Plenty more mountain miles to come.