A nice day for a hike in the Vasquez Peak Wilderness. This section of the continental Divide Trail near Berthoud Pass is fantastic in July with snowfields still present and wildflowers blooming. Definitely worth the trip.
Peaceful Contemplation at Cottonwood Pass
Teig resting in an alpine meadow on a saunter along the ridges above Cottonwood Pass in central Colorado. We like to take periodic breaks from hiking and just absorb the beauty of the high Rocky Mountains. It helps us keep centered and sane in our hectic crazy lives.
Resting in Shade of the Red Sandstone
Teig was enjoying the cool shade provided by the Aztec Sandstone while we were hiking in the Valley of Fire State Park.
Traildog Thru Pass in the Valley of Fire
Teig was coming through a V-notch over a small pass in some gnarled rocks in the Valley of Fire. We were sauntering south of White Dome in an area which had only a couple of hikers. This area was one of our favorites because no one was around.
Pond with Fall Color on Three Mile Creek
Teig and I stopped off at a little beaver pond on Three Mile Creek on our way back to the trailhead in the Mount Evans Wilderness. Teig was being his typical attentive self and was searching for trout that may be rising for food. I think he would have been a serious fly-fisherman if he was homosapien.
Teig in the Snow after October Storm
An October snow storm came through Golden last night and we decided to take a jaunt on South Table Mountain for lunch and it was a great time and a good hike.
Storm is Coming in the Medicine Bows
Teig and I were coming down from a saunter in the backcountry of the Medicine Bow National Forest in Southern Wyoming and stopped off at South Gap Lake for a snack. The ominous storm clouds which were brewing since lunch finally engulfed us. We tried to expedite our hike back to the trailhead but were unsuccessful and the rain and hail pelted us the last mile and a half. Even though we were soaked, it was a fantastic adventure well worth the effort.
Autumn in Mount Evans Wilderness
Teig just off the Three Mile Creek trail in the Mount Evans Wilderness during Colorado's Fall color run.
Traildog at Lost Park
Autumn colors abound in late September in the high country of Colorado. Teig loves hikes under the canopy of gold colored aspens. He even looks stately in grass field between those aspens.
Morning Sunrise on Snowy Range Lake
Teig and I watched the sunrise from South Twin Lake in the Snowy Range of Southern Wyoming. Life is so good when I can watch the beauty in nature with this guy. I relish these moments!
Scouting Wild Trout at Ptarmigan Lake
First thing Teig does when we get to the end of the hike to Ptarmigan Lake in the Sawatch Range of Colorado is get knee deep in the chilly lake and search for trout. I fly-fish periodically and he knows that if he searches for rising fish might mean a trout dinner at the end of the day. Unfortunately on this day, fishing was not on the agenda… but he does not care and will scout for those trout anyway.
Tiny Island in Ptarmigan Pond
A beautiful hike up to Ptarmigan Lake afforded us this awesome view. This pond was near the lake and Teig was checking out the little grass island. Exploring the Sawatch Range in the Colorado Rockies is so much fun especially when there is still snow on the ground and very few hikers.
Sunny Morning on Mountain Backcountry Road
Traildog Teig was resting on a backcountry road in the morning sun before we hopped into the truck and headed further into the Buffalo Peak Wilderness of Central Colorado. He can be so patient while waiting for me to pack up.
Resting in the Shaded Grass
Teig resting on a nice hike up Little Beaver Creek in the Front Range of Colorado. We will find shade under a tree to rest and have a snack. We were almost done with our hike this day and he was definitely enjoying the shade and soft grass.
Teig Among Bison Peak's Red Boulders
Teig is still looking and acting great as an eleven year old pup. We hiked 6 miles and 2,500 foot vertical ascent up to Bison Peak in the Lost Creek Wilderness and played in the beautiful red boulder field at the summit. We then hiked the 6 miles back down to Lost Park and he never showed signs of slowing down. He is a Trail Dog through and through!
Summit of La Plata Peak
Tieg is resting at the top of La Plata Peak. La Plata Peak (14,336 ft.) is the fifth-highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the state of Colorado. La Plata means "silver" in Spanish. This fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest. It took us a good 5 hours to reach the summit from the less traveled southern route. It was well worth it with these gorgeous views from the top of the world!
Paws in Bear Creek
Teig cooling off in one of the beautiful creeks in the Mount Evans Wilderness in the Colorado Rockies. What is better than an icy Colorado creek to refresh a hiker and his pup… not much! It is a great time to capture a moment with my camera and enjoy nature with my traildog.
Standing in Browns Lake
Teig resting his paws in Browns Lake high in the Cache La Poudre Wilderness north of Rocky Mountain National Park. Trekking back to this lake from the valley below was worth the hike. The gorgeous cirque with alpine ridges sits above the lake and is not overly visited by hikers. I would consider this location a nice place in the Colorado Rockies to get away from the crowds. It is approximately a 4.5 mile hike in to reach the lake.
Playing in Harney Peak Fire Tower Reservoir
The Harney Peak Fire Tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 to 1938. Stones gathered from French Creek were used to construct the tower. All of the building materials were hauled by man and mule along the three mile trail to the summit of Harney Peak.
The lookout tower, dam, pump house and stairway were constructed upon the highpoint. The reservoir created by the dam supplied water to the living quarters which were located in the lower level of the Harney Peak Fire Tower. Harney Peak Fire Tower was staffed until 1965 by the U.S. Forest Service, and then for the following two years by Custer State Park. A watchful eye was placed across the surrounding Black Hills looking for smoke rising from a forest fire.
Teig and Mount Bierstadt
Teig and I were sauntering up to Square Top Lakes above Guanella Pass when I got this portrait of him with Mount Bierstadt in the background. Bierstadt is one of the 14ers in the Front Range Mountains of Colorado. There were only a few hikers going up Bierstadt on this day because it was the first day the road to the pass was open after spring.