The winter conditions in the Front Range mountains of Colorado create some cool features. We were exploring the canyons west of Boulder and we came across partially frozen South Boulder Creek. Sitting down and having lunch I began to study the creek and became fascinated with the icicles and crisp flowing water. I spent a little time there and I captured this photo.
Lone Raven Perched above Chaco Canyon
We were exploring the rim of Chaco Canyon when we came across this raven perched on the canyon wall hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Teig and I sat near him and he was not bothered by us. I loved his dark form contrasted to beautiful canyon walls. It was calming to watch him relax an the rims edge and the vast canyons stretch into the distance.
Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon
Waking up to a beautiful sunrise and this view in Chaco Canyon National Monument gets me motivated to saunter around the Colorado Plateau in northwest New Mexico.
Badlands Faux Dino Rock
Exploring the Bisti Badlands in Northwest New Mexico is like exploring a “martian world”. The scenery is other worldly with wonderful rock formations covering the landscape. This specific specimen reminded me of a large dinosaurs vertebrae. Just imagine coming upon a dino vertebrae in the middle of the desert…. Wouldn’t that be a blast!
Cerro Chato Volcanic Peak
The ancient volcanic peaks in the Cabezon region of New Mexico are astounding to witness first hand. Exploring this area is worthwhile with few visitors and fantastic views of the New Mexico deserts and mountains. Teig and I love to get “lost” in the desert southwest.
Gold in Lybrook Badlands
Exploring one of the San Juan Basin Badlands near sunset I ventured into a wash a came upon this beautiful scene full of gold color. Lybrook Badlands is a remote location where a person can get away from civilization and explore strange rock formations and study the ancient geologic record. Fossil hunting is fun but I would never keep them but leave them for others to enjoy.
Lybrook NM Badlands
We explored this badlands which is not well known. Lybrook is in northwest New Mexico on the Navajo Indian Reservation. I was surprised how rugged and beautiful the rock formation were with numerous hoodoos and arches. We spent a whole day exploring some of the canyons and cliffs. It was well worth the time spent.
Cruising on the White Sands of New Mexico
A beautiful evening on the White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico. What a perfect location for a traildog during late fall. The western sunset is awesome in the southwest.
Sunrise on the Pawnee Grasslands
I love sunrises when we are out exploring Colorado. We witnessed this fantastic summer sunrise on the Colorado plains while camping at the Pawnee Grasslands. You just have to get out saunter through our wonderful natural areas.
Cheerful Flowers
The election is here... maybe a beautiful cheerful flower photo is in order.
St. Louis Creek in the Fraser Experimental Forest
We were afforded the opportunity to relax and contemplate our existence next to this waterfall on a hike up St Louis Creek in the Vasquez Wilderness. The exploration of the Colorado Rockies help ground wayward souls. Teig and I are so very lucky to experience this wonderful life.
Autumn Colors at Weston Pass
One of my favorite 4x4 roads is Weston Pass outside of Leadville Colorado. Coming from the Arkansas River Valley up to the top of the Mosquito Range is quite the visual experience especially when the colors are changing in fall. This view was mine late in the afternoon as I looked back towards the Collegiate Mountain Range with Big Union Creek winding down the valley.
St Louis Creek Cascade and Traildog
Teig and I came across this small cascade falls on St. Louis Creek in the Vasquez Wilderness inside the Fraser Experimental Forest. Teig found a spot on the rocks and i shot a long exposure to get the wonderful movement of the water. Just fun in our Colorado Rocky Mountains!
Gold in the Forest Understory
It is very rewarding finding small treasures while hiking next to Saint Louis Creek in the Vasquez Mountain Wilderness. I love getting photos of grand vistas and majestic landscapes but sometimes it’s the gold along the trail that can be uber special. The colors in the Colorado Rockies during autumn are special and it is no different in the mountains near Winter Park.
Cascade Falls on St. Louis Creek
What a joy hiking in the Fraser Experimental Forest west of Winter Park, Colorado. On this day we were exploring St. Louis Creek which is one of the streams flowing down a beautiful valley towards Fraser. Teig and I came across small cascading falls on the creek which caught my eye. Who doesn’t love the sound of falls on a Rocky Mountain Creek?
Aspen Stands Before Spring Awakening
Early spring in the Colorado Rockies show the “bare bones” of the aspens before they begin to leaf. Lost Park near the Lost Creek Wilderness is a great place to check out the multitude of aspen stands before the bloom.
Moonset on Square Top Mountain
We witnessed the moonset on our hike up to the summit of Square Top Mountain near Guanella Pass in the Rockies of Colorado. It is very rewarding to see the moon set on the Rocky Ridges above 13,000 feet. Definitely motivates the adventurous explorer to bag the peak.
Colorado Backcountry Road in Autumn
A taste of what it is like to tour the backcountry of Colorado when the aspens are changing their colors to orange and gold. This is a dirt road in central Colorado near Buena Vista.
Colorado Color in the Gulch
Autumn Colors in Colorado are Awesome! You don’t even need a large peak in the background to be overwhelmed.
Traildog Scouting for Trout at Crater Lakes
What do you do when you bushwhack over a Colorado mountain and end up at Crater Lakes? Well I take a load off and rest but Teig goes on a Trout scouting mission to find the rising fish in the beautiful mountain lake. Can’t blame him… it is fun to see the big ones feed on bugs at the surface.