A Rocky Mountain High Day

KenL · #1 09-08-2022, 09:16 AM

Myself and some friends drove from our town on the east side of the Continental Divide to the west side via Independence Pass yesterday to do some sightseeing in the Aspen, CO area. More about those sights later, but my goal was to locate the scene of the cover of John Denver's landmark "Rocky Mountain High" album, which was released 50 years ago (can you believe that?) next week.

This is something I've wanted to do for a few years now. The location of the photo on the cover was the Slaughterhouse Falls northwest of Aspen in the Roaring Fork River. The exact spot was not easy to find, but we did, with thanks to Cypress Knee, who has made the same pilgrimage (link below). And, once we located the spot, it was a precarious scramble down the river bank for myself and my friend who took the photo.

Mission accomplished. The photos are of John Denver, presumably in the spring of 1972, judging by the high water and new leaves on the aspen trees, and me in the same spot yesterday.

I got a huge kick out of this, as JD was a big inspiration to me, and was one of the main reasons I took up guitar way back then. It was a good day!

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J Patrick · #2 09-08-2022, 09:21 AM

Nice!!!…..

Cypress Knee · #3 09-08-2022, 09:27 AM

Rocky Mountain Pilgrimage

KenL · #4 09-08-2022, 09:30 AM

Here is a link to Cypress Knee's post of a year ago:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=622896

Mr. Paul · #5 09-08-2022, 10:31 AM

Fun!!!!!!!!

KenL · #6 09-08-2022, 11:09 AM

Here are some photos from the John Denver Sanctuary. Very nicely done.

The sun was really harsh at this time of day at el. 7500, so they are a bit washed out.

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llew · #7 09-09-2022, 07:06 AM

Very cool Ken...looks like a great day!

SoCalSurf · #8 09-09-2022, 10:34 AM

What a great thread and such a nice experience to have stood where JD stood all those years ago!

Dave in Olympia · #9 09-09-2022, 12:34 PM

Now I have to do the same, at some point.

That album was also what made me want to start playing guitar. I have lots of JD songs in my repertoire.

Andromeda · #10 09-10-2022, 07:21 AM

Great picture!!! I long to visit there someday! Rocky Mountain High not only inspired me to play the guitar it's my favorite song ever!

rampix · #11 09-10-2022, 07:35 AM

Sounds like you had a great day Ken. I like the pic a lot.

Country Roads is the song that got me started on my acoustic guitar quest 51 years ago. Guess I'm going to have to drive up there and experience it too.

dnf777 · #12 09-10-2022, 10:10 AM

Very cool—Congratulations!

He was quite an inspiration for many of us, and what a nice way to pay tribute

ghostnote · #13 09-10-2022, 10:25 AM

In honor of my personal hero, Ozzy Osborne, I tried to bite the head off of a bat. Instead, it bit me, I got rabies and had to go through all painful shots. While I was laid up, my band fired me, I lost my job, my wife left and took the dog, and I got evicted...
Ok, ok - I made all of that up; I just needed a good story to compete with these guys.

Nice job, fellas!

KenL · #14 09-10-2022, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rampix

Sounds like you had a great day Ken. I like the pic a lot.

Country Roads is the song that got me started on my acoustic guitar quest 51 years ago. Guess I'm going to have to drive up there and experience it too.

Rick, you should go, you would appreciate it. Give me a call if you do and I'll give you a couple of tips for finding the right rock!