A dusty postcard from Colorado: Going Places with Lowell Thomas, #28

Is it worth watching?

Honestly, only if you like old-school travel docs or if you’re trying to kill ten minutes in the most relaxing way possible. If you’re looking for a plot, look elsewhere. If you want to see what Pikes Peak looked like before it was a tourist trap nightmare, stick around.

Lowell Thomas is the star here, even if he’s mostly just a voice. He talks with that old-timey radio authority that makes everything sound like a grand discovery, even when he’s just pointing at a pile of rocks.

The vibe is just... so quiet.

There's this segment where they head down into the Royal Gorge. The footage is jittery and looks like it was filmed through a screen door, but there’s something mesmerizing about it. You can almost feel the dust kicking up in the camera lens.

The transition to the cliff dwellings felt a bit jarring. One second we’re at a high-altitude lake, then suddenly we’re poking around abandoned homes. It’s like the editor had a checklist and just went down the list as fast as possible.

• The silence is heavy.
• The camera movements are surprisingly smooth for the time.
• I spent too long wondering how they hauled the gear up those cliffs.

It’s funny how this feels more like a relic than The Girl in the Crowd. That one tries to tell a story, but this? This is just existence on display. It feels almost accidental.

Sometimes the film scratches. A few frames are blown out by the sun. It’s perfect. Don’t expect the polish you’d get from A Girl of the Limberlost. This is raw, dusty, and strangely calming.

I found myself zoning out during the Continental Divide part. It’s just mountains. So many mountains. It’s kind of nice to not be told how to feel about a landscape for once. 🏔️

If you're a fan of vintage travel footage, this is a solid watch. If you're bored easily, you’ll be checking your phone by the second minute. I'm okay with that.