Tag Archives: mount evans

Photo of the Week – July 25, 2013

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I just got home from a week-long family vacation to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.  It was a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of the prairies here in Nebraska, but it’s good to be home again.  Since my week was all about mountains, I guess I’ll just share my vacation photos with you…  I’ll get back to discussing prairies next week!

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I appreciate the woodland areas of the mountains, but always feel a little closed in when I'm in them. I like to see the sky...

I appreciate the woodland areas of the mountains, but always feel a little closed in when I’m in them. I really like to see the sky…

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We rented a cabin south of Idaho Springs, Colorado for our vacation week. The highlight of the cabin was the beautiful stream that flowed nearby.

We rented a cabin south of Idaho Springs, Colorado for our vacation week. The highlight of the cabin was the beautiful stream that flowed nearby.

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After a day of short hiking to acclimate to the altitude, we took a longer hike on the Arapaho Pass trail near Nederland, Colorado. The wildflowers in the meadows were fantastic, and made a prairie ecologist feel at home.

After giving ourselves a day to adjust to the altitude, we took a long hike on the Arapaho Pass Trail near Nederland, Colorado. The wildflowers in the meadows were fantastic, and made a prairie ecologist feel at home.

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I know the plant species in my prairies really well, and can often identify at least 50-75% of the plants I see in other prairies in the central U.S. However, in the sub-alpine and alpine meadows of the Rockies, I'm lucky to guess the genus correctly... For example, I know this red flower is a Castilleja species (Indian paintbrush) but don't know which species it is.

I know the plant species in my prairies really well, and can often identify at least 50-75% of the plants I see in other prairies in the central U.S. However, in the sub-alpine and alpine meadows of the Rockies, I’m lucky to guess the genus correctly… For example, I know this red flower is a Castilleja species (Indian paintbrush) but don’t know which species it is.

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Above treeline on the Arapaho Pass trail there were some very cold, but very pretty streams winding through the sparse rocky landscape.

Above treeline on the Arapaho Pass trail there were some very cold, but very pretty streams winding through the sparse rocky landscape.

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My son John hikes the trail toward Arapaho Pass.

My son John hikes the trail toward Arapaho Pass.

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My daughter Anna had to hold on to her hat when we finally reached the top of the Pass. The wind coming across the Continental Divide was enough to knock us over.

My daughter Anna had to hold on to her hat when we finally reached the top of the Pass. The wind coming across the Continental Divide was enough to knock us over.  (Official elevation = 11,907 ft)

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One morning, I took a short steep hike to the top of a nearby ridge to catch the morning light.

One morning, I took a short steep hike to the top of a nearby ridge to catch the morning light.  I needed to get out of the trees and up into the sunshine…

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At the top of the ridge, there were several least chipmunks running around among the rocks. I sat and watched them for a little while and managed to get a few photos as they sat in the sunshine to eat.

At the top of the ridge, there were several least chipmunks running around among the rocks. I sat and watched them for a little while and managed to get a few photos as they sat in the sunshine to eat.

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We drove up to the top of the 14,000 foot Mount Evans one afternoon. This photo shows the aptly named Lake Abyss below.

We drove up to the top of the 14,000 foot Mount Evans one afternoon. This photo shows the aptly named Lake Abyss below.

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On the lower slopes of Mount Evans, we saw a group of bighorn sheep grazing in a meadow.

On the lower slopes of Mount Evans, we saw a group of shaggy bighorn sheep grazing in a meadow.

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On the way back from the top of Mount Evans, we stopped at Summit Lake and hiked a little way up the steep trail toward Mount Spalding.

On the way back from the top of Mount Evans, we stopped at Summit Lake and hiked a little way up the steep trail toward Mount Spalding.

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From the trail to Mount Spalding, we had numerous spectacular views of the Chicago Lakes below.

From the trail to Mount Spalding, we had numerous spectacular views of the Chicago Lakes below.

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On our last hike of the trip, we took a one hour climb to the top of Chief Mountain to enjoy the panoramic views from the top.

On our last hike of the trip, we took a one hour climb up Chief Mountain to enjoy the panoramic views from the top.

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As someone who spends a lot of time admiring the toughness of prairie plants and animals, I could easily appreciate the ability of species to eke out a living among the rocks at high altitude.

As someone who spends a lot of time admiring the toughness of prairie plants and animals, I could easily appreciate the ability of species to eke out a living among the rocks at high altitude.  (Chief Mountain)

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Though our cabin was nestled among the trees on the side of a mountain, we did have a nice open view to the north - something I was very glad for. It was a great week, but it's really nice to be down in the prairies again.

Though our cabin was nestled among the trees on the side of a mountain, we did have a nice open view of the sky to the north – something I was very glad for. It was a great week, but it’s really nice to be down in the prairies again.

A Prairie Ecologist Vacation

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Our family went on vacation last week (sorry for the delayed responses to your comments while I was gone…)  We rented a cabin in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver, Colorado.  It was a really nice week, especially considering that the temperatures ranged from 40-80 degrees F – with low humidities – in the mountains while temperatures at home were in the high 90’s!

While I enjoy short trips to the mountains very much, I think I’d have a hard time living there year-round.  For one thing, I’m too used to seeing big skies.  In the prairies, you can watch thunderstorms from many miles away, and gauge whether or not they’re heading for you or not.  In the mountains, storms sneak up and pounce over the nearest ridge before you have time to react.  And, of course, there are the winters.  I enjoy snow as much as the next person, but winter driving in flat land is enough adventure for me…

Regardless of my fondness for plains and prairies, I did find plenty to photograph in the mountains as well.  Its easy to see why mountains and water dominate so many nature calenders and posters.  Appreciation of prairie landscapes tends to be an acquired taste – one that grows as a person becomes more familiar with the intricacies of prarie life.  In contrast, anyone can appreciate the dramatic landscapes of the mountains without even working at it!  (…and where’s the fun in that?)

This wasn’t a photo trip, it was a family vacation, so I really didn’t spend much time taking photos.  Most were snapped during brief breaks on family hikes, or while my family patiently (?) waited in the car while I jumped out to take yet another photo of the same mountain…  However, I got a few, and thought you might enjoy seeing mountains throught the eyes of a prairie ecologist and photographer.

Mount Evans is a great place to see dramatic mountain landscapes. This was one of many photos I took on quick "I'll be right back" jump-out-of-the-car trips. Not a lot of time for careful compositions, but not a lot of need either - I felt like I could have pointed the camera randomly and gotten great photos! You can click on this (and other) photos to see larger views of them.

I've only spent a short time in alpine meadows, but I really like them. On this trip, the cold blustery weather on top of Mount Evans caused me to be out-voted, and we headed down to warmer temperatures before I got to explore very much. Maybe next time!

There was a group of mountain goats at the top of Mount Evans that seemed perfectly willing to have their photos taken. Very accomodating!

Our cabin was near Golden Gate Canyon State Park, and we found it to be a great site for family hiking.

I recognized many of the plants (at least to Genus) in the meadows at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Some very pretty places there, and it was a great year for wildflowers.

I always feel a little closed in when hiking in woodlands, but many parts of the trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park were very pretty.

This mule deer fawn popped out of the grass as we rounded a trail corner near the Red Rocks Amphitheater south of Denver.

Our cabin was located in a steep valley (can a valley be steep?). If you look carefully, the green roof of our cabin can just barely be seen in the bottom right portion of this photo. I climbed the slope across the road from the cabin a couple times in the evenings and took a few photos. Most of the time it was either too cloudy or too sunny, but I managed to find a few opportunities in-between.

I haven't had time to look up this flower yet, but it was abundant - even in some hard-to-grow-in places!

One of our most promising hikes ended early when we found this big stream running across the trail. Our family was less adventuresome than a few other hikers who managed to make it across (not without getting wet). THIS is why the Platte and Missouri Rivers are running so high this year! LOTS of snow melt in the mountains!

One of my problems with hiking in mountains is that I'm programmed to look down as I hike, so I sometimes miss the great landscape vistas. Instead, I see things like this!

I kept seeing this blanket flower along trails and finally got a photo of it by having my daughter Anna hold a diffuser (homemade with thin cloth on a flexible plastic ring) between it and the bright sun. When she saw the photo later she said, "You didn't even get the whole flower in the picture!"