As we drive by the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado - I can't help but wonder if one day I'll see Jarred Gricoskie on the TV show Jeopardy.
For nearly two hours from the time we entered Rocky Mountain National Park until the time we returned to the Estes Park Visitors Center - it's nothing but fun facts - one right after another. This guy spits out so much information it's like someone slipped a recorded version of the encyclopedia into the CD player of his Hyundai Santa Fe.
Mr. Gricoskie, a Pennsylvania native moved to Estes Park, Colorado in 2001. He jokes that his favorite question from tourists is "What's the favorite local food?" Gricoskie snickers that there isn't any "local food" because hardly anyone that lives here is "local". Most current residents find their way to Estes Park on a vacation or road trip of their own and figure out a way to stay and make a living.
That's not always easy. Jared started Yellow Wood Guiding ten years ago and has had nearly 5,000 clients so far. He found a unique niche - teaching people how to use their cameras.
"People often buy an expensive camera but have no idea how to use it. There's so much more than just pointing and shooting. On my tours - we usually spend the first hour showing clients exactly how to use their camera properly and then the last two hours we spend getting great shots."
It's hard to find too many places better suited for great picture taking than Rocky Mountain National Park.