Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday October 19th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on a Colorado man who dropped everything to hit the road with his camera.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to October 19th, 1998 when residents of Vail awoke to smoke rising from the ridge high above town. Environmental activists had set fire to three buildings and four chair lifts causing $12 million in damages. This was in reaction to The Eagle County Resort’s plan to expand into White River National Forest. Later, six out of the seven people involved were jailed.

Now, our feature story. 

35 year old Charlie Maier found himself with no job and no home as the coronavirus swept across Colorado last spring. Except for the pandemic, he planned it this way.

He had known for a while that the comfortable corporate job he had as a data analyst at the Whole Foods office in Denver, had run its course, and a far different passion beckoned. 

So in May, he quit his job, let the lease on his apartment expire, sold many of his belongings and put the rest into storage. Unmarried and unencumbered by material constraints, he packed up his compact SUV, grabbed his camera and hit the open road, aiming his lens at the natural beauty of the landscape but also at something else that captured his interest early on.

The boundless beauty of space.

Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson, who wrote the Sun’s piece on Charlie Maier, is joining today. 

Kevin, can you start by explaining what led to Charlie’s decision to give up a good job, sell his belongings, and hit the open road to look at the stars?

So, did he have a plan on how to go about this, or did he just kind of jump in the car and start driving?

And lastly, how has the trip gone so far from an astro-photography standpoint and what has the highlight been so far?

Thanks so much Kevin, and for those of you listening, you can check out Kevin's full story along with some of Charlie’s photos on our website. 

At this point Charlie knows that now is the time to do things that he loves. Photographing the unfathomable reaches of space, even if he must rely on time exposures and the dark sky, satisfies him in a way few other pursuits can.

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

Two snowboarders reported an avalanche they caused in March above the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels and cooperated with the investigation. Now, their statements are being used against them and they’re facing criminal charges.

An on-duty Commerce City police officer and a civilian were killed Friday evening in a three-vehicle crash. Alcohol and excessive speed are considered factors in the wreck.

Cold, damp weather on Sunday is helping crews battle the Cal-Wood fire north of Boulder, but authorities say mandatory evacuations prompted by the dramatic blaze aren’t expected to be lifted soon.

A decades-long effort to restore the Colorado River cutthroat trout to the upper reaches of Hermosa Creek has been completed, resulting in the largest continuous stretch of waterway for the native fish species in the state.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Monday October 19th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on a Colorado man who dropped everything to hit the road with his camera.
But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to October 19th, 1998 when residents of Vail awoke to smoke rising from the ridge high above town. Environmental activists had set fire to three buildings and four chair lifts causing $12 million in damages. This was in reaction to The Eagle County Resort&rsquo;s plan to expand into White River National Forest. Later, six out of the seven people involved were jailed.
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
35 year old Charlie Maier found himself with no job and no home as the coronavirus swept across Colorado last spring. Except for the pandemic, he planned it this way.
He had known for a while that the comfortable corporate job he had as a data analyst at the Whole Foods office in Denver, had run its course, and a far different passion beckoned.&nbsp;
So in May, he quit his job, let the lease on his apartment expire, sold many of his belongings and put the rest into storage. Unmarried and unencumbered by material constraints, he packed up his compact SUV, grabbed his camera and hit the open road, aiming his lens at the natural beauty of the landscape but also at something else that captured his interest early on.
The boundless beauty of space.
Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson, who wrote the Sun&rsquo;s piece on Charlie Maier, is joining today.&nbsp;
Kevin, can you start by explaining what led to Charlie&rsquo;s decision to give up a good job, sell his belongings, and hit the open road to look at the stars?
So, did he have a plan on how to go about this, or did he just kind of jump in the car and start driving?
And lastly, how has the trip gone so far from an astro-photography standpoint and what has the highlight been so far?
Thanks so much Kevin, and for those of you listening, you can check out Kevin's full story along with some of Charlie&rsquo;s photos on our website.&nbsp;
At this point Charlie knows that now is the time to do things that he loves. Photographing the unfathomable reaches of space, even if he must rely on time exposures and the dark sky, satisfies him in a way few other pursuits can.
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
Two snowboarders reported an avalanche they caused in March above the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels and cooperated with the investigation. Now, their statements are being used against them and they&rsquo;re facing criminal charges.
An on-duty Commerce City police officer and a civilian were killed Friday evening in a three-vehicle crash. Alcohol and excessive speed are considered factors in the wreck.
Cold, damp weather on Sunday is helping crews battle the Cal-Wood fire north of Boulder, but authorities say mandatory evacuations <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/10/17/cal-wood-fire-boulder-updates/">prompted by the dramatic blaze</a> aren&rsquo;t expected to be lifted soon.
A decades-long effort to restore the Colorado River cutthroat trout to the upper reaches of Hermosa Creek has been completed, resulting in the largest continuous stretch of waterway for the native fish species in the state.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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