Physics Van was invited to the High Energy Physics conference in Snowmass, Colorado to participate in "Science Weekend" and do demos on the mall.  Tamara, our fearless leader, began the long drive out.

We had to bring all of our stuff, so it was a bit crowded with three people in the middle seat of the "Physics Suburban."  Dan's trying to read and Steve is blocking our conversation out.

Our first stop was St. Louis, MO -- first time I'd ever seen the arch.

Steve making friends with the statues.

The ultimate in St. Louis tourist pictures:  Tamara, Steve, Tim, and Dan.

Joel claimed that Toasted Ravioli was a St. Louis specialty, so when we went to a local Italian restaurant for lunch, I couldn't resist forcing everybody to enjoy the local cuisine.

Jason takes St. Louis.

After Denver, we stopped by Rocky Mountain National Park.

Tim doesn't need the map to find the nature trail.

Jason takes Rocky Mountain National Park.

Enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Notice how my shirt is surprisingly dry...

I need to look into getting some mountains in Illinois.

Not learning my lesson the first time, I lean over a waterfall, the utter massiveness and danger of which was not properly captured in this mere photograph.

Perched precariously on the edge of a daunting precipice, holding on for dear life by the tips of fingers.

The chipmunks in Illinois are always in focus.

Gearing up to leave the park and being the final leg of our journey, a dangerous one through winding mountain roads, at night, and in a storm.

Upon our 2am arrival to Snowmass, we followed the signs to the mall and amazingly found our hotel on the first attempt.  Steve can tell you how restful the first night was.  We got the good room on the 6th floor with the better bathroom and twice as much floor space.

Plus the better view out of the nicer balcony.

Practicing for the first show, I use Dan's head as a Plasma Ball.

Tamara introducing our first show by asking kids what science is and what a scientist looks like. Since most had physicists parents, they knew that a scientist looks no different from any other person.  (Or at least that's what we and their parents tries to convince them of so they don't make fun of us.)

Can you tell we're all a liquid?

Dan gets "all the same kind of charge put on him."

Second show of the day.  Can you tell we're all a solid now?

"And now I will draw the spirits of past physicists out of this mysterious liquid nitrogen."

Here Tim, have a 350 degree below zero banana.

A visit to Aspen after the first day of shows revealed a Bassoon band.  This one's for you Cynthia (Turski).

Eating our pizza dinner outside with the Michigan State "Science Theatre."

Physics Van can never resist a good playground.

I don't understnad how the parents in the Aspen community ever got together and said, "You know what this town needs as a safe way to keep our kids out of trouble?  A skate boarding park!"

"But it's only air!"

I think I have my tongue out as if to say, "I get to ride the fire extinguisher cart and not you!"

24 more smiles to add to the 35,000.

Chatting with Physics Nobel Prize winner Leon Lederman, wearer of our Physics Van button, and author of "The God Particle," which inspired me to go into high energy physics.  "Really?" asks Leon.  "Well.... at least it didn't scare me away."

Our last Snowmass show in the rain to a record breaking audience.

Another evening in Aspen, this time the rain forced us into the movie theater.  While questionable in plot at times, I didn't think Tomb Raider was so bad.

Dinner at the diner.  Recommended by the culinary experts of the Aspen bus station.

A hike up to the top of Snowmass for a last view of the wonderful times we had here.

On our last day there, we did a show for a science summer camp and a Hispanic meeting at this cool-looking Carbondale grade school.

Authentic Carbondale Chinese food.

Jason in the soap explosion.

Jason after soap explosion.  This is the view these kids get outside of their grade school.

Dan at the Denver Airport receiving a ticket for Saul something to Washington DC instead of his own ticket to Salt Lake City.  This is after the guy checked his ID and asked him the two foolproof security questions.

Tamara, minutes before the full body cavity search.

Depending on how his flight went, possibly the last picture of Dan.

Watch the news while you pump 32 gallons of gas into your Suburban.  "Kids, back in my day, gas only cost $1.399/gallon."

Our visit to Paradise...  Kansas, that is.

Where's Steve?

A romp in the Garden of Eden.

God's wrath came down upon us.

Again, Physics Van can never resist a playground.  I always land safely on my feet.

Dinner in small-town America.  Best milkshakes ever, according to Steve.

Driving back, I realized it was both the end of a journey and the end of an era of my life.  With the content of my thesis finished and only days left at UIUC, I knew this journey would be remembered with fond nostalgia.