Hiking CO

2011-07-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here's what's left of Lawn Lake. Photo July 2006.

2010-12-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

The view down the Roaring River Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park not too far from Lawn Lake and the former site of the Lawn Lake Dam. Around 6 am on the morning of July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam failed sending some 220 million gallons of water crashing down the Roaring River killing three people in the park and causing 31 million dollars of damage in and upstream of Estes Park, CO. Photo July 2006.

2010-08-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

Quandary Peak near Breckenridge, CO. September 2002.

2010-07-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

The colorful Peacock Pool seen from the Chasm Lake trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2010-06-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

Longs Peak (left) and Pagoda (right) as seen from Hallets. September 2005.

2010-05-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Hall of the Great Mountain King. Can you see it in the lower left corner of the shot? Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2010-04-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Indian paintbrush along the Herman Gulch Trail. July 2006.

2010-03-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Snow melt cascades in little rivulets off the peaks surrounding the end of the Hermans Gulch Trail. July 2006.

2010-02-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

Bear food.

2010-01-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

Tilted horizons where the trees say no mas somewhere up the South Zapata Creek trail. July 2005.

2009-12-31T11:15:00.000-08:00

The booty tree wishes you a Happy New Year.

2009-12-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Mount Bierstadt as seen from the summit of Mount Spalding. July 2006.

2009-12-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

Prickly Pear in bloom along the South Zapata Creek Trail. July 2005.

2009-11-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

The Continental Divide as viewed from the Gem Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. The peaks from left to right are Taylor, Otis, Hallet, and Flattop. September 2005.

2009-10-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

The "walking tree" at Gem Lake. Not really it's name, but it looks like it could walk. Rocky Mountain National Park. July 2007.

2009-09-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

A lone aspen stands guard at the Twin Sisters trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2009-08-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Fourmile Creek as the rain begins to fall somewhere not too far from Mount Sherman outside of Fairplay, CO. September 2002.

2009-08-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to try something different. I have never used iMovie on my Mac before and decided to give it a go. You see I lost my father earlier this year and more recently fellow blogger Whitenoise's father passed away as well. I figured I'd make a photo montage of places I hiked as a tribute to both our Dads. Well my first attempt on my old Mac with an older version of iMovie was less than satisfactory. I'm not sure what went wrong, but the video was a mess. Could be the older processor just didn't have the guts to do the job. So much for the tribute. Well then I got real busy trying to sell a house, which I did and then had to move real quick. Now I am in a real crap hole of an apartment slipping into an ever deeper funk with nothing to do other than to try and find a new purpose in life, a task at which I have not made much progress on.

Now for some reason which is beyond me, I decided to revive the tribute project. I went back and looked at the first attempt and found it to be unsalvageable. So I started from scratch using the Macbook I inherited from my Dad. A Macbook that I set up for him last November. A Macbook my Dad liked a lot. Well it seems the Macbook did have the processing power required for the task and the newer version of iMovie didn't hurt either. So here it is... the tribute. Let this be a tribute to whoever you wish. Maybe you too lost your dad or your mom. Maybe a brother or a sister. Maybe an aunt or an uncle. Maybe a best friend. Let it be their tribute too. Sit back for the next four minutes and enjoy some average photos of some above average places in Colorado, New Mexico, and Michigan. Enjoy the background music too. It is the song "One Last Time" by the band Borne. It is really a great song from an excellent band. The album it is from, "Loss of signal" is also excellent. So turn up the volume if you can and think what you might do if you could see the person you lost one last time... Enjoy.

2009-06-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

The road to nowhere. That's where I'm headed.

2009-06-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

If memory serves me correct, this photo is looking north along 150 in the San Luis Valley. The mountains to the right are the Sangre de Cristo range. the Crestones are clearly visible in the shot. If all works out I will soon call CO my new home maybe not too far north from where this photo was taken. Given my luck lately though, I'm not going to hold my breath. July 2005.

2009-05-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Trees as as sculpture on Lumpy Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2002.

2009-03-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

Golden tamarack line the edge of a woodland lake in a Metropark some 40 miles northwest of Detroit. It is a scene that will not be repeated. The tamarack that surround the lake no longer grow their needles in the spring. The lake level rose quite a bit over normal a year or so ago and didn't subside. I guess the tamarack were drowned out. They no longer put on this fall display. They are bare and stripped of life.

No this is not a photo of hiking in CO. It is the last place I had the privilege of hiking to with my Dad while he was still capable of making the 3.5 mile round trip. Now like the golden tamarack in the photo, he is gone. His frail body could go no further. He passed away a few days before his birthday earlier this month. This is my tribute to him. There isn't much more to say. The words escape me, but the sorrow lingers...

2009-02-17T18:55:00.000-08:00

Trees as sculpture round 2 on Chief Mountain in the Front Range in Colorado. July 2006.

2009-02-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

Trees as sculpture. Near the summit of Chief Mountain in the Front Range. July 2006.

2009-01-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

Survival provisions.

2008-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Glacier Basin Campsite 89 in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2008-12-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

A marmot surveys his kingdom high up on the Mount Princeton road. September 2007.

2008-11-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

The view southwest from the hike-bike trails just east of Buena Vista, CO. The big 14,000 ft. peaks to the west starting with the nearest are Princeton, Antero, Shavano, and Tabeguache. The new construction for the South Main development is visible in the foreground. The covered pavilion to the left contains some historical photos and written history of the valley. All in all a very nice place for a leisurely afternoon stroll. September 2007.

2008-11-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

Some of the scenery to the east of Buena Vista, CO. September 2007

2008-11-05T18:43:00.001-08:00

The view west down Main Street in Buena Vista, Colorado. September 2007.

2008-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here is the Twin Sisters trailhead just off of Hwy.7 near the Lily Lake Visitors Center. This is where all the fun begins. September 2007.

2008-10-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

The view south down the Tahosa Valley from the summit of Twin Sisters. Still visible through the mist, Hwy. 7 winds it's way through the valley floor. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2008-10-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

This would be the view of the South Sister from the North Sister on Twin Sisters in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2008-10-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

More from the summit of Twin Sisters. This would be the view west from the North Sister. Notice the stone radio shack where the trail tops out. When you see that you are almost there. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2008-10-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

Back in treeline after descending from the summit of Twin Sisters in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2008-09-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Rain approaches the summit of Twin Sisters
in Rocky Mountain National Park. This would not be a dry hike on this day. September 2007.

2008-09-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Another celly shot in Fourmile. Gives an idea of what the scenery is like, and it is fantastic, but the photo is kind of crummy. I can't wait to go back and check out Fourmile some more, maybe on a nice big thumper dual sport motorcycle if I am so lucky. Maybe a KLR 650 like the one I just sold? That would be nice. September 2007.

2008-09-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

A low rez shot of some aspen along the main access road in the Fourmile Travel Management Area. September 2007.

2008-09-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Another low rez celly shot from the Fourmile Travel Management Area. September 2007.

2008-09-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

So here I am in the Fourmile Travel Management Area, a fancy government name for an area where for wheeling is allowed, overlooking the Arkansas River Valley with just the perfect light for a photo and low and behold the memory card is full. So the low rez celly camera had to step in resulting in a less than desirable photo or so I thought. I ended up liking the photo anyway because the low rez of the celly camera made the image look kind of like a painting. Still if the A80 was ready for action, this would have been my favorite photo ever of the Arkansas River Valley. I guess it will do. September 2007.

2008-08-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

More brilliant aspen along the Virginia Canyon Road. Even on a cloudy day the seemingly phosphorescent aspen glow with a light all their own. September 2007.

2008-08-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Just snapping some photos while driving north on the the Virginia Canyon Road approaching Central City, CO. The aspen decided now was the time to turn yellow. September 2007.

2008-08-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

The view back down the Virginia Canyon Road just outside of Idaho Springs, CO. September 2007.

2008-08-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Single lane tunnels cut through the rock at several spots along CR-371 north of Buena Vista, CO. September 2007.

2008-07-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

Not exactly hiking here, but I don't ride a horse to the trailheads. Driving south on CR-371 alongside the Arkansas River just outside of Buena Vista, CO. September 2007.

2008-07-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Close-up of wild flowers along the South Zapata Creek Trail. I have no idea what flower this is, but they make for a nice photo. Sangre de Cristo Range in Southern Colorado. July 2005.

2008-06-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Lake Nanita in Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the final goal of a very long day hike other than getting back to the trailhead and a frosty paralyzer at the Grand Lake Lodge. July 2000.

2008-06-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Lake Nokoni in Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the first goal of a very long day hike in Rocky. July 2000.

2008-06-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Very scenic waterfall seen along the North Inlet Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. I believe this is Cascade Falls, but I'm not certain. July 2000.

2008-06-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

Just some of the dramatic scenery that can be seen along the North Inlet Trail on the 11 mile hike from Grand Lake to Lake Nanita. At over 20 miles for the round trip, it makes for one long day hike. At least the elevation change is nice and gradual. Rocky Mountain National Park. July 2000.

2008-05-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Nice view of the Front Range from Lumpy Ridge near Gem Lake on a chilly April day. Rocky Mountain National Park. April 1996.

2008-04-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Looking down on Chihuahua Lake from the summit of Grays peak. Grizzly Peak, the highest thirteener in CO, is to the right of the shot. July 1999.

2008-03-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

The view back down the valley from the summit of Grays Peak. The Grays Peak Trail is easily visible in the photo. The peak to the left of the valley is Kelso Mountain. Mount Edwards and McClellan Mountain are to the right side of the valley. Torreys Peak connects to Grays Peak via a wide saddle and is out of view to the extreme left. Part of Kelso ridge is also visible. Kelso ridge connects Torreys Peak to Kelso Mountain and is an alternate route up Torreys. Very fit hikers can summit Kelso, Torreys, Grays, and Edwards all in the same day.

2008-03-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

At the Grays Peak trailhead looking south up the valley towards McClellan Mountain. Grays and Torreys Peak are out of view to the right. July 1999.

2008-03-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

More wild flowers along side the Grays Peak Trail. July 1999.

2008-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Columbine in bloom in the valley along side the Grays Peak Trail. July 1999.

2008-03-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

A camera shy ptarmigan does a mighty fine job of blending in with the background along the trail up Flattop in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005. (Good job Gledwood!)

2008-03-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

Mountain goats enjoy a little snack along side the trail up Grays Peak. Grays peak is out of view to the left. Torreys Peak is out of view to the right. July 1999.

2008-02-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

Colorful lichens grow on the rocks on the summit of Twin Sisters in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2008-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

The view west from the summit of Sherman. The town of Leadville and Turquoise Lake can be seen in the valley. July 2006.

2008-01-30T10:51:00.000-08:00

This twisted and bent lodgepole pine seemingly grows out of solid rock on Lumpy Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. The tuft of green to the right proves that it is indeed alive. April 1996.

2008-01-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

A thunderstorm builds to the north of Lumpy Ridge. Photo taken from the Storm Pass Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. July 2006.

2008-01-16T19:46:00.000-08:00

Looking down the southwest ridge of Mount Sherman towards the saddle between Sherman and Mount Sheridan in the background. Mount Sherman. July 2006.

2008-01-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

A pika photographed on the summit of Halletts Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005. See pikas in action here.

2008-01-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Another mountain rodent. This guy was one of the residents on the summit of Chief Mountain. Chief Mountain is an 11,709 ft. peak in the foothills of the Colorado Front Range. It is an easy class 2 hike from the Squaw Pass Road to the summit. The views from the summit are fantastic for such a 'low' peak. July 2006.

2007-12-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought this shack was abandoned. The new owner, a marmot shows up to see what all the commotion is about. Mount Sherman. July 2006.

2007-12-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

Old mining buildings slowly deteriorate above the trail head on Mount Sherman. July 2006.

2007-12-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

Big horn sheep near the summit of Twin Sisters. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2002.

2007-11-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

Looking down on Storm Peak and the Boulder Field from the summit of Longs Peak. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 1998.

2007-11-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

The view up the 'Homestretch' from the 'Narrows' on the Longs Peak Keyhole route. The Homestretch is a shallow couloir that leads directly from the Narrows to the summit. If you get to this point, the summit is in the bag unless the weather suddenly turns on you and don't forget the 6.9 mile hike back to the trailhead. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 1998.

2007-11-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hikers negotiate the 'Narrows', a ledge system that connects the Trough to the Homestretch, on their way to and from the summit of Longs Peak via the classic Keyhole route. The Narrows, though quite dramatic for the exposure, can be easily traversed as long as it is free of snow and ice which can be present well into July. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 1998.

2007-10-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

The hike through Glacier Gorge to Mills Lake offers some of the finest scenery in Rocky Mountain National Park. October 1995.

2007-10-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

Mills Lake in Glacier Gorge. To left is the 'Keyboard of the Winds' which connects Longs Peak (out of view left) to Pagoda (center). Chiefs Head is to the right of the shot. Rocky Mountain National Park. October 1995.

2007-10-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

Panorama view from the summit of Hallett Peak. The dominant peak to the southeast is Longs Peak, the sole fourteen thousand foot peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake are visible to the southwest (right). The hike to the summit of Hallett Peak from the Bear Lake Trailhead is a Rocky Mountain National Park classic and should not be missed. The views from the 12713 foot summit of Hallett Peak are spectacular. September 2005.

2007-10-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

Arkansas River Valley panorama taken from the picinic area off 285 on the east side of the valley. The fourteen thousand foot Collegiate Peaks of the Sawatch Range dominate the western skyline. The large peak (left center) in the panorama is Mount Princeton. Just to the south is Mount Antero. Further to south is Mount Tabeguache and Shavano. To the north of Princeton is Mount Yale, Mount Columbia, and Mount Harvard. September 2007.

2007-09-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

The view west from near the summit of Shavano. September 2007.

2007-09-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

The view east from near the summit of Shavano. This was as far as I would go. There would be no summit for me this day. September 2007.

2007-09-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Looking down on the saddle between Shavano and the 13,611 ft. sub-peak to the south from near the summit of Shavano. This was as far as I would make it after having climbed too high too fast without enough time to acclimate to the altitude. I reluctantly descended to leave the summit for another day. September 2007.

2007-09-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Poncha Springs sunset. September 2007.

2007-09-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Mount Shavano and Tabeguache at sunset seen from Poncha Springs, CO. September 2007.

2007-09-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Shades of gray pierced by shafts of sunlight. Mount Meeker is visible through the rain clouds while Longs Peak is somewhat obscured. Photo taken from the Twin Sisters trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2007.

2007-09-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Colorful aspen brighten a rainy day along the Twin Sisters trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Cone can be seen in the background with a ring of yellow aspen around the summit. September 2007.

2007-09-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

Aspen at the Mount Shavano trailhead. September 2007.

2007-06-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

View of Sayres at the head of the valley on the standard route up La Plata. La Plata is to the left. September 2002.

2007-06-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Grays and Torreys Peak seen from the summit of Mount Spalding. July 2006.

2007-06-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Mount Evans seen from the summit of Mount Spalding. July 2006.

2007-06-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

Twin Sisters seen from the top of Estes Cone. Rocky Mountain National Park. October 1995.

2007-06-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

Estes Cone seen from the top of Twin Sisters. Rocky Mountain National Park. October 1995.

2007-06-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

Tiny little water fall surrounded by wild flowers on the Herman Gulch Trail. July 2006.

2007-06-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Looking down on Chasm Lake from the summit of Longs Peak. Twin Sisters is in the background. September 1998.

2007-05-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Looking down on the willows at the Guanella Pass trailhead. July 2006.

2007-05-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Bierstadt and the Sawtooth Ridge seen from the trail to Mt. Spalding. July 2006

2005-10-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

View across Estes Park from the top of Lumpy Ridge. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-10-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Looking down on Gem Lake from the top of Lumpy Ridge. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-10-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Chasm Lake beneath the vertical face of the Diamond on Longs Peak. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-10-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Looking towards Chasm Lake, Longs Peak, and Mount Meeker from the Longs Peak Trail. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-09-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

View northwest from the summit of Hallet Peak. Tyndall Glacier is in the foreground. Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-09-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Longs Peak viewed from the summit of Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-09-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak viewed from the summit of Twin Sisters in Rocky Mountain National Park. September 2005.

2005-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

View of the Crestone Peaks and the Great Sand Dunes National Park from the South Zapata Creek Trail in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado. (July 2005)