Beautiful light nearing sunset on Cottonwood Lake in the Sawatch Range of the Colorado Rockies. The lake was serene and this trout fisherman was floating by in his kayak seemingly enjoying the evening whether he caught a trout or not.
Berthoud Pass Aerial Pano
A 240 degree panorama of Berthoud Pass from June 2019. The photo is looking directly into the snow-covered peaks in the Vasquez Wilderness of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
James Peak and the Alpine Lake
Teig checking out the snow and James Peak Lake from a ridge in Colorado's James Peak Wilderness. We hiked Kingston Peak on this day and enjoyed the early summer conditions with the snow covering much of the alpine terrain.
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!
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.
Lone Hereford in the Sangre De Cristos
A solitary Hereford cow was standing calm and relaxed in a sea of golden grass deep in the Sangre De Cristo Range of Northern New Mexico.
Barren Tree at Apex Pass
There are many unique details that you can find while exploring in the Front Range Mountains of Colorado. I was intrigued by this long dead tree near the tree-line that had a very cool texture with the white capped Rocky Mountain peaks in the background. We are so very blessed to be able to get up to these remote places to experience this.
Raven in Winter above Redrocks”
Teig and I were exploring Mount Falcon outside of Morrison Colorado during a snowstorm when I captured this shot looking back to Redrocks Amphitheater. The raven in the tree was so interesting and I think he makes the composition.
Redrocks Road in a Snowstorm
Redrocks Park and Amphitheater during a good snowstorm that hit the Front Range. The red rocks look cool contrasting with the snow.
Deep Snow on Mount Falcon
A big snowstorm hit Denver and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains leading to this beautiful winter landscape on Mount Falcon. Teig and I spent the afternoon exploring this mountain in the awesome silence that comes to the forest in a huge snowstorm.
Winter on South Boulder Creek
I really enjoyed exploring the winter conditions at Walker Ranch in the Front Range Mountains west of Boulder Colorado. South Boulder Creek was predominantly frozen over with sections where the flowing water showed through the ice. I think it makes for a pretty interesting composition.
Cabezon Sunset
Cabezon Peak is one of the best-known and most visible landmarks in northwest New Mexico. Cabezon is located about 75 miles northwest of Albuquerque. This giant volcanic plug is visible for tens of miles in all directions, and as far away as Placitas. Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish, and it is aptly named. It is the largest of several dozen widely scattered rocky monoliths, called the Rio Puerco necks. Rising above the Rio Puerco valley floor, they are some of the best-preserved examples of volcanic necks in the world. The craggy black peaks stand in sharp contrast to the sparsely vegetated, buff-colored lowlands from which they emerge. Mt. Taylor looms majestically to the southwest, Mesa Prieta borders the valley to the east, and the Jemez Mountains are visible to the north. This starkly beautiful landscape is unique in New Mexico. At an elevation of 7,786 ft, Cabezon Peak towers more than 1,100 ft above its base, and 2,000 ft above the Rio Puerco nearby.
Stars, Milky Way and and Night Eyes
The Milky Way is amazing, especially viewing it above 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. On this summer evening I was shooting the night sky in complete darkness. I was out in the forest alone and heard a bunch of rustling near me, totally freaking me out. I booked it back to camp which was a couple of hundred yard away. I came back a got my camera a short time later with a extremely bright headlamp. When I got home and processed the shots I found out it was just a few deer feeding in the grass on the mountainside. When you are out in complete darkness by yourself, you can get rattled and spooked by noises in the dark. By the way, Teig was asleep in the truck back at camp.
Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees
Teig and I made an excursion trip to Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. We were thrilled we made that choice. The mountains there are exquisite with bright red and orange faces on the sheer cliffs. I was surprised to see these mountains a stones throw from Vegas. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get a photo of Mt. Wilson through the Joshua Trees… I do love colorful mountain faces and Joshua Trees!
Ice and South Boulder Creek
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.
Rio Puerco Volcanic Necks
Cabezon Peak is one of the best-known and most visible landmarks in northwest New Mexico. This giant volcanic plug is visible for tens of miles in all directions. Cabezon means “big head” in Spanish, and it is aptly named. It is the largest of several dozen widely scattered rocky monoliths, called the Rio Puerco necks. Rising above the Rio Puerco valley floor, they are some of the best-preserved examples of volcanic necks in the world. The craggy black peaks stand in sharp contrast to the sparsely vegetated, buff-colored lowlands from which they emerge.The Jemez Mountains are visible to the north. This starkly beautiful landscape is unique in New Mexico. At an elevation of 7,786 ft, Cabezon Peak towers more than 1,100 ft above its base, and 2,000 ft above the Rio Puerco nearby.
Taos Ski Valley Autumn Panorama
Taos Ski Valley in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains during the peak aspen color run in early October. Rain and snow was moving into the Taos Ski Valley when I captured this panorama. Luckily I escaped with just a slight soaking of my clothes.
Valle Vidal in Autumn
The Valle Vidal in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico is quite the view during the autumn color change. The valley stretches out below you and the mountains are dappled in yellow and gold with the air is crisp and clean. From the higher altitude, you can view the high peaks to the south near Taos and Santa Fe. What a wonderful sight.
Autumn Colors Above Camp Hale
A 180 degree view from a few hundred feet above Camp Hale in the Eagle River Valley north of Leadville Colorado. This valley was surrounded in early Autumn color and we spent a good half day playing and exploring around Camp Hale.