TrailDog Artisans Photography - Cary Leppert

Hiking to the 12,000+ foot Summit of Glacier Peak I ran into a beautiful meadow of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers including Alpine Daisies near the top. I had to relax in the meadow and take some photographs. Glacier Peak is a moderate and gentle summit located near Georgia Pass in the southwestern region of Colorado’s Front Range. Stradling the Continental Divide, Glacier Peak surveys a lot of territory. It is archetypal of the summits in this region possessing a relaxed demeanor much like that of nearby Whale Peak. Glacier Peak is visible from US 285 near the small town of Jefferson; it rises as a “Squaretop” ridge on the northwestern mountainous boundary of South Park.

One of those beautiful evenings at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. The fiesta is an explosion of color and the balloon glow at sunset can be spectacular. This hot air balloon was glowing with bright colors with the silhouette of cacti and wrangling cowboy gave the perfect ambiance to the end of the day. What a perfect way to spend an October evening in the desert of New Mexico.

Bighorn Sheep on a steep incline on the east side of Zion National Park in Utah. These sheep are a big draw for park goers and with the beautiful landscape as a background can make a great photograph. Being a Coloradan and seeing these sheep often, this landscape inspires grand visions of what these animals can climb and survive on. I love the Bighorns and am always excited to see them thrive in the wild.

Rocky and Rambo had a great time playing during the Traildog Artisans photography session at their house in the foothills of Golden, Colorado. They got to play with Teig and roll around in the grass. These Bernese Mountain Dog puppies are a bowl full of energy but with Traildog Teig around we got them to relax for some shots. These brothers are inseparable and love everybody. How cute are these guys???

A hike up Hunter Creek from Aspen Colorado affords the adventure with numerous small waterfalls to check out near the trail. This small waterfall wasn't far up the trail to the canyon and was quiet and serene in the early morning before the hikers get on the trail. I find these locations and times fulfilling for the soul.

These wild mustangs were free and running in the Little Book Cliffs.The Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area consists of 36,113 acres of public lands characterized by gentle sloping plateau dissected by four major canyon systems (Main, Coal, Cottonwood and Spring Canyons) with many side canyons. The 1971 Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act provides for the management, protection and control of all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands administered by the BLM. Though wild horse herds live in many parts of the western United States, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area is one of only three areas in the United States set aside specifically for them. Just 8 miles northeast of Grand Junction, the Wild Horse Area encompasses rugged canyons and plateaus. From 80 to 120 wild horses roam the sagebrush parks and pinyon-juniper covered hills which dominate the area.

Bernese Mountain Dog puppies in the forest playing. Rocky and Rambo are brothers who love to have fun in the mountain woods of Colorado. Chasing each other and squirrels are their favorite pastimes.