Leaving the "rat race" behind and stepping into the quiet grandeur of the Rocky Mountains is a dream I've poured into my latest project. When my viewers click over to watch this 3-hour Slow TV sanctuary, they get to experience pure, uninterrupted, relaxing beauty. They can breathe in the mountain air, soak up the golden hour light, and find a moment of total peace.
But they don't see the reality of capturing that effortless serenity. They don't see the frantic edits, the 12-hour render battles with my computer, the sticky camera mounts, or the terror of a million-point turn on a cliff edge! Welcome to the "Director's Cut" of my ultimate Colorado journey.
🏔️ The 3-Hour Colorado Sanctuary
Before we dive into the behind-the-scenes stories, here is the flagship video itself. Put this on your biggest screen, sit back, and let the healing power of Colorado wash over you. (Keep reading to find out where to spot the hidden Easter Eggs in this video!)
⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Vibe: A breathtaking, golden autumn road trip full of peaceful Slow TV moments and terrifying cliff-edge turnarounds.
Texture Shock: Transitioning wildly from the ancient desert petroglyphs of Echo Park, into the dark abyss of the Black Canyon, and straight into the golden explosion of the San Juan mountains.
Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (An epic, multi-trip journey!)
👇 The Journey
The Desert Gateway (The Ancient Dawn)
Our massive journey begins with a 1:20 sunrise, walking the Yampa River with Todd, hiking to ancient petroglyphs, and soaking in the epic Yampa Bench overlooks. We start by resetting the viewer's mind with a pure, 90-second ASMR cloud timelapse—just raw nature audio, no music.
Then, the upbeat acoustic guitar kicks in. OrVilla drives out, stopping at the Hammer Petroglyphs, and arriving at the massive Fremont figures of McConkie Ranch.
💰 Echo Park & The Unclaimed Treasure
Echo Park completely wowed me. You absolutely need a high-clearance vehicle, and you do not head in there if it is wet! It was so amazing that I actually went back two weeks later to film more.
Fun fact: I actually hid a wad of cash up on a cliff here for anyone wanting to chase a treasure! If you watch the 3-hour video above, keep your eyes peeled right around the 09:07 mark during the sunset shadows. If you want to go find the physical cash, the hints are hidden in my Butch Cassidy video. There is a note attached to it asking the finder to please email me. It's a definite fun thing to chase!
The Ascent & The Abyss
This chapter serves as a 2-minute acoustic driving montage, transitioning from the hot desert to the cool mountains. We hit the pure alpine sanctuary of Mesa Lakes for eight tripod shots of still water, snow, and pines. Then, a smooth, car-less OrVilla dashcam shot cruising down I-70 next to the river acts as our bridge.
🐻 The Legend of the French Fry Bear
While you are relaxing to the serene, snowy shots of Mesa Lakes (around 12:34 in the video), you have to know the local legend. Just before winter hit, a very hungry bear decided it hadn't quite finished its "pre-hibernation meal prep."
It broke into the kitchen and freezers of the local restaurant, completely ignored all the fancy, expensive food, and devoured every single package of French fries in the building! Before it left, it even signed the "bill" by leaving a perfect muddy paw print right on the door. I love the idea that nature has its own sense of humor (and a love for salty snacks).
Finally, we arrive at the abyss: the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. A beautiful sunset timelapse over the rim is followed by massive, sweeping 8K shots of the dark, terrifying, jagged drops, scored perfectly with Scott Buckley's orchestral strings.
🧗♀️ A Climber's Race Against the Sun
While the lighting was fighting me on the East Rim, I spotted two tiny figures scaling the immense, dizzying cliff face below. I spent the next few hours completely captivated, filming Sam and Lane as they rope-climbed their way up from the dark depths, racing the setting sun to make it out of the canyon!
Watch the Climbers (360° VR)
🌟 The Belay of Marriage & The Light
Watching those climbers made me think about my own marriage. There is a constant give and take. Sometimes my filming is full-on, and Todd is my co-pilot helping me get the shots. When the clouds roll in, he takes the lead doing photogrammetry. And then we get to the lakes, and it is his turn to chase his fishing dreams while I take the backseat and support him.
Black Canyon is an extremely deep, dark canyon. Standing on those rugged edges, it is so easy to let anxiety build until you slide into a dark abyss in your mind. At times like this, I beg you to look up. The sky is still blue, and The Light above LOVES you more than you can comprehend. Keep climbing toward the light.
The Golden Master-Chapter (The San Juans)
This is where the golden explosion happens. We wind through the Telluride loops, pushing into the Uncompahgre National Forest to showcase the vibrant golden aspens at Silver Jack Reservoir and Beaver Lake. We also hit the epic 30/70 split on the Million Dollar Highway. You'll see OrVilla’s "phantom drone" perspective carving through the jagged peaks, trading off with lush, long tripod holds of autumn colors.
🥶 The Frosty Reality of Slow TV
If you are watching the Alta Lakes sunrise chapter of the video and feeling deeply relaxed, I need to let you in on a secret: capturing that profound stillness was freezing! We woke up to frost completely covering OrVilla's windows.
In my rush to capture the sunrise without waking Todd, I threw on my sandals and ran off toward the water, completely not realizing I was about to be traipsing through the snow with frozen toes!
🦅 A Fearless Encounter
The most amazing moment happened north of Telluride. We stopped to admire a view, and a cute bird started hanging around. Todd put a piece of bread on his head, and the bird flew down—but instead of landing on Todd, it landed directly on top of my 360 camera! It survived without scratching the lens, which means when you watch the VR video, you get to feel like a wild bird has just landed right on your head!
The Grand Red Return
This chapter is all about "Texture Shock." After nearly an hour of vibrant autumn gold in the San Juans, the viewer's eyes are completely reset. OrVilla cruises Rim Rock Drive through the Colorado National Monument, making the warm, towering red sandstone feel breathtaking all over again.
🚗 The Non-Hiker's Dream
The best part about this park? It is a place filled with absolute awe that doesn't require strenuous effort to enjoy. You drive along the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, pulling over at designated spots for short, easy walks to incredible vistas. It is so spectacular that cyclists in the 1980s dubbed it the "Tour of the Moon".
Tour the Monument (360° VR)
Jump into the passenger seat and look around the towering red sandstone cliffs of Rim Rock Drive.
The Crown Jewel Finale
We begin the high-altitude climb starting at the pristine waters of Twin Lakes. Then, we hit the absolute "Best Stuff" of the drive: the massive, interconnected golden aspen root systems of Kebler Pass, dominating the screen with pure, peaceful acoustic music and rustling leaves.
🌳 The Aspen Network Parable
Did you know that an entire aspen grove is actually one single, massive living organism connected underneath the soil? It is such a lovely analogy that our connections make us stronger. If we can figure out how to weave a net of love around us, we could turn our communities into something just as beautiful and resilient.
The pass drops us down into the Crystal River Valley to see the historic Redstone Coke Ovens, and finally to a deeply meditative stop at the cascading waterfalls of Hanging Lake.
A Race Against the Sun (RMNP)
My time in Rocky Mountain National Park was a whirlwind of sublime beauty. Starting before sunrise allows you to drive along the top of the mountains as the world wakes up. There was a literal sea of clouds filling the valleys below me! We end the 3-hour video journey here, with sweeping 8K shots of the high peaks, fading to black on one final, magnificent mountain sunset featuring a majestic moose.
🌱 The Nature Parable
This trip was incredibly special. Being in a place my late father loved so much, I couldn't help but think of him constantly. While exploring, I found a tree that was completely dead and hollowed out... but bursting out of this dead trunk was vibrant new life growing right from the center. That was my reminder of the miracle of life after death. It made me cry a lot during editing, but they were tears of pure gratitude.
Explore the Rockies (360° VR)
Join me on this very personal journey. Can you spot the "Nature Parable" tree and the majestic moose?
The Maroon Bells Miracle
There are some places you see in pictures that grab hold of your heart. For me, that was Maroon Lake. Access is strictly controlled, and the evening reservation system was booked. On a whim, I drove to the entrance, gave the ranger my absolute best puppy dog eyes, and politely begged. He let me in!
🦊 A Foxy Friend
The evening light was beautiful, but the absolute best part? As I was filming, a wild fox trotted right past me, completely unbothered! Capturing that moment felt like an incredible gift.
Step Onto the Shore (360° VR)
35 Autumns & Tiny Planets
This trip wasn't just about capturing Slow TV; it was a celebration of the 35 years that Todd and I have been together! The victory of making it through the rough times and having such a strong, happy marriage is something I am so deeply grateful for.
They call it Colorful Colorado.
A fleeting, beautiful blaze, a final, brilliant breath of summer,
painted across canyon and peak before the long, quiet rest.
Thirty-five autumns we've seen this world turn,
chasing the light, chasing the sun.
This year a smaller vessel, a tighter space,
A test of will, a lesson in grace.
You slept diagonal, I curled up small,
But our laughter was big enough to fill it all.
So the most vibrant colors, the ones that truly hold,
are not just in the turning of the leaves.
They are in the journey we share, a story to be told.
In a hand held tight against the mountain air,
a quiet cuddle on a cliffside high,
a tender moment reflected in your eye.
This is the view that outshines the sky.
🌍 The VR Director's Cut: Tiny Planets
While the Slow TV video is all about nice, long, relaxing shots, it just doesn't allow for the fun Tiny Planet Kinetic Typography or the wild VR 360 experiences that I love to make! If you want to experience the "Colorado Gold Rush" in full immersive VR (and see that Camp Robber Jay land on your head!), jump into the portals below.
The Trail Scrapbook
A collection of my favorite moments from the Colorado trails, spanning from the deep abyss of the Black Canyon to the golden autumn peaks!
.png)
✨ Ask the Park Ranger
Curious about Echo Park, the San Juan fall colors, or Todd's fishing adventures? Ask our AI Guide!
Find Your Peace
At the end of all the crazy drives, tricky lighting, and tiny car camping, the goal of these videos is to create a therapeutic tool. I want people to watch these and feel the exact peace I felt standing at the edge of the glassy reflections of Trout Lake, letting Todd fish while I just relaxed and watched the golden hour light perfectly illuminate the fall colors.
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway
.jpg');%20background-position:%20center%20center;%20background-size:%20cover;%20border-radius:%2012px;%20color:%20#888888;%20display:%20flex;%20height:%20350px;%20justify-content:%20center;%20margin:%2020px%200px;%20width:%20100%;)
0 Comments
I would love to hear your thoughts about this area or this post. Feel free to leave a comment here.