An early morning exploration of Capitol Reef National Park in Central Utah. Scenic drive road sits up against the WaterPocket Fold and is beautiful as the sun’s light begins to light the park. A lone car heading towards the village of Fruita sped by as I photographed the sandstone faces. It’s a wonderful time to be in the park with no crowds to displace the serenity of this majestic location
Light Streak in Capitol Reef
On a trip through Northwest Colorado we decided to explore Browns Park Wildlife Refuge on the Green River. We were visiting the Historic Ladore Schoolhouse and read some literature about the 2-Bar Ranch which was a mile hike from the schoolhouse. Teig and I decided to do quick jaunt over to the ranch and were thrilled to see how cool the ghost ranch was when we arrived. I had to get a shot of Teig near the corrals. I could imagine the “Old West” as we explored the ranch. A must see if you are in Browns Park.
Traildog at Historic 2-Bar Ranch
A sunny day to explore Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Teig squinting on a hill in the park as we explore the arid environment and search for the little treasures that come with exploring such a beautiful place.
Traildog in the Badlands
A lone mustang at the Sand Wash Wild Mustang Preserve in Northwestern Colorado. This horse was very calm and relaxed before dawn when I came across him in the preserve. He let me photograph him and even stood erect and tall when I did.
Lone Wild Mustang at Preserve
This extreme skateboarder was speeding down Lookout Mountain outside of Golden Colorado. He had a car 50 yards ahead clearing the road as he sped down this mountain. Lookout mountain is a 1,500 vertical foot descent from the nature preserve on the mountain to the edge of the city of Golden and highway 93 below. Luckily this skateboarder did not have a crash on the mountain road. Looks like fun unless you crash and that would be a real bummer!
Traildog Teig on the Summit of Chief Mountain outside of Idaho Springs, Colorado. It was stormy morning with snow flurries on the way up to the peak at 11,709 feet above sea level. Snow drifts crossed most of the trail but the June morning was comfortable enough to wear a short sleeved shirt most of the way. The high peaks of Mount Evans area of the Rocky Mountains can be seen in the background.
Traildog on Chief Mountain
Devil’s Tower is a symbolic American western icon. It’s cut rock faces have lived in rock climbers dreams as well as native american folklore. This National Monument should be considered on any traveler’s list if they intend to explore the American Mountain West. It sits in Northwest Wyoming and a hiker could spend an entire day hiking around the base and nearby area. Catching the grazing bison in the early morning excited me and I really dig this photograph.
Lone Bison Grazing before Devils Tower
Traveling the backroads in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado can deliver up some surprises. We were coming back to Denver from summiting four 14ers in the Mosquito Range and I cam across this old truck near a cabin in the mountains. It just hit me as a quintessential Colorado scene. I stopped and composed this photograph. Not sure what the make or year of the truck is but it had been well used. I love how the chrome still sparkled but it was rusted all over. Just gives a person a feeling of vintage respect.
End of the Season
When I am out exploring, I remind myself to look up periodically to change my perspective. Especially with trees around you can find fun scenes and wildlife enjoying the high life. On this day in the Colorado Front Range, I saw a small bluebird perched on a pine branch and it caught my fancy. Simple scenes draw my attention and I love how calm he was enjoying the calm Colorado late afternoon
Bluebird on Pine Branch
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?
Puppy Relaxation after Play
Autumn brings a beautiful change to the aspen groves in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Exploring these woods near Kenosha Pass are always a treat. Textures abound with wonderful color. The transformation from the warm summer to the bitter cold of winter is a cherished journey for all Colorado landscape photographers.
Aspen Shedding Leaves
Restaurant banners of the city’s 5280 magazine winner were hung on the side of the building in Lower Downtown Denver Colorado. This composition caught my eye and love the texture and lines. You can find interest in many simple places, if you keep your eyes open.
LODO Restaurant Winne
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.
Brothers in the Woods
Adventuring the Rockies of central Colorado, Teig and I came across a beautiful alpine meadow and we had to stop and ponder the far off Mount Guyot and the valley below. This is our favorite place to be in the summer. Up above the trees you can see the peaks stretching off in the distance and the air is crisp and clean. The beauty fills the soul and the freedom to explore is fantastic.
Alpine Avens, Aspen Daisies and Traildog
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.
Alpine Daisies on Glacier Peak
A moose was feeding at Maroon Lake below iconic Maroon Bells outside of Aspen Colorado on a crisp morning. He became a bit agitated and let me know that he did not want me any closer than 50 yards and I respectfully complied. No chance I was going to get into a tussle with this big boy!
Moose at Maroon Lake
Teig found a meadow of yellow Aspen Sunflower Flowers just off the trail to French Pass in the Colorado Rockies. Aspen Sunflower is a member of the Sunflower Family. The plant typically grows in meadows and clearings in pine forests at elevations between 5000 - 10000 feet. Teig blends in with this meadow and was almost ready to take snooze in the sunflowers.
Labradoodle in Sea of Yellow Alpine Flowers
The couple of Texas Longhorn steers were grazing on grassland near Devils Tower National Monument in Northern Wyoming. It caught me by surprise to see them out on the prairie grassland mixing in with the American Bison.The Texas Longhorn was fashioned entirely by nature in North America. Stemming from ancestors that were the first cattle to set foot on American soil almost 500 years ago, they became the sound end product of "survival of the fittest". With the destruction of the buffalo following the Civil War, the Longhorns were rushed in to occupy the Great Plains, a vast empire of grass vacated by the buffalo. Cattlemen brought their breeding herds north to run on the rich grazing lands of western Nebraska, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Montana. Thus, the Great Plains became stocked largely with these "bovine citizens" from the Southwest.
Longhorns Grazing on Wyoming Grass
Hiking on the east side of Badlands National Park I crossed paths with this turkey. She was in no hurry and was not worried about me. So we hung out on the trail together for a bit. I really like turkeys and I am always stoked when I see them. They usually are very skittish but I guess in National Parks they are protected and more outgoing than just in the National Forest.
Turkey on Badland's Trail
While exploring the area around Sage Creek in Badlands National Park we came across this large bull American Bison. He was a good 30+ yards from us but was showing typical signs of dominance and “I am the big boy on the block”. He was rolling in the grass and dusting up the area around him. He was grunting and dropping his head. I heeded his display and moved in the opposite direction. These guys are so interesting, massive and mesmerizing to see in the wild. I really enjoy just watching them do their thing. South Dakota has numerous wild herds and is a fantastic place to check them out. I am so very happy that we didn’t hunt them to extinction and have instead reintroduced them to the wild in our wildlife refuges and parks.
Asserting Dominance