I could hear it at night with my windows open. Sweet.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Rifle Falls
I spent three days at Rifle Falls State Park in Colorado. Just above the campground is a triple waterfall.
I could hear it at night with my windows open. Sweet.
I could hear it at night with my windows open. Sweet.
Flaming Gorge
After leaving the Tetons I stopped at Flaming Gorge for a few days. I did one short hike there. So - which way would YOU go?
There was no sign. I picked right - the left.
Accessible from the road is an overlook at Red Canyon. It is 1300 feet down to the water.
That overlook must be stunning at dawn.
There was no sign. I picked right - the left.
Accessible from the road is an overlook at Red Canyon. It is 1300 feet down to the water.
A few random shots
I usually try to weave my photos into a mini-story, sharing the experience with those who check out my blog. Sometimes that doesn't work. Here are a few isolated images from the Tetons.
A doe and fawn
Colter Bay
Thistle
Teton morning
A doe and fawn
Colter Bay
Thistle
Teton morning
In and Near Gros Ventre CG
I found that I did not have to hike to see critters. Pronghorn antelope were a common sight driving to and from the campground.
Moose frequented the area.
Sometimes they wandered right through the campground.
One encounter was unnerving. I had parked the car and walked along the road to check something out. A few hundred yards from the car, I turned around and started back. Two bison emerged from a hilltop and crossed the road in front of me, between me and the car. I stopped and waited until they were well down into the Gros Ventre River area, then continued. About a hundred yards from my car, a really BIG bison crested the hill. I stopped. He stopped.
And thus we stayed for about 10 minutes. I had no shelter behind me. I was too far from the car to reach it if he became upset with me. He clearly wanted to follow the others but was waiting for me to be gone. If I continued to the car I would pass him about 50 yards from him - too close for safety. So we stood there.
Eventually he disappeared back over the hill. I beat feet to the car and left.
Moose frequented the area.
Sometimes they wandered right through the campground.
One encounter was unnerving. I had parked the car and walked along the road to check something out. A few hundred yards from the car, I turned around and started back. Two bison emerged from a hilltop and crossed the road in front of me, between me and the car. I stopped and waited until they were well down into the Gros Ventre River area, then continued. About a hundred yards from my car, a really BIG bison crested the hill. I stopped. He stopped.
And thus we stayed for about 10 minutes. I had no shelter behind me. I was too far from the car to reach it if he became upset with me. He clearly wanted to follow the others but was waiting for me to be gone. If I continued to the car I would pass him about 50 yards from him - too close for safety. So we stood there.
Eventually he disappeared back over the hill. I beat feet to the car and left.
Two hikes
My visit to the Tetons included a lot of hiking. I would do a hike, then take a day or two to rest, then do another. Most of the hikes in the Tetons were well beyond my safe limits - I skipped them. Several were within range. Perhaps the best of these was the hike to Inspiration Point. The hike is 6 miles one way - unless you do what I did and cut it down to 1 mile by taking a boat across the lake.
The trail takes you up the rocky side of a peak.
The views along the way keep drawing you on.
Inspiration Point overlooks Jenny Lake.
If you continue past the Point, the Cascade Canyon trail becomes much more level. It follows up a stream that eventually is winding through a high alpine meadow.
Tucked in that mass of vegetation is a bull moose.
He had been there 3 days before and was still there a week after. It had everything he needed, except a cow moose, and that season was not yet here. I kept hearing reports that he was still there all through my stay.
The second hike was actually two hikes - both to Phelps Lake. On the first, I hiked up to an overlook a mile in from the trailhead.
On the second, I hiked to the near edge of the lake.
The trail takes you up the rocky side of a peak.
The views along the way keep drawing you on.
Inspiration Point overlooks Jenny Lake.
If you continue past the Point, the Cascade Canyon trail becomes much more level. It follows up a stream that eventually is winding through a high alpine meadow.
Tucked in that mass of vegetation is a bull moose.
He had been there 3 days before and was still there a week after. It had everything he needed, except a cow moose, and that season was not yet here. I kept hearing reports that he was still there all through my stay.
The second hike was actually two hikes - both to Phelps Lake. On the first, I hiked up to an overlook a mile in from the trailhead.
On the second, I hiked to the near edge of the lake.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Songs from the '50's are rolling around in my head - "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and "Those Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days Of Summer".
Last year, I was here in the Tetons in September. We had a little haze going from fires in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, most noticeable in the afternoon, but it was mostly clear. At dawn, the Teton range from Oxbow Bend looked like this...
Today, midday, same place, this is how it looks.
OK, time of day is a factor, but I haven't even tried for early morning shots after my first week here. The fires in Idaho are creating so much haze that the peaks are all but invisible. I could exxagerate the contrast to make them more visible, but this is how it actually looks. The peaks are there, but they are mere shadows upon the sky.
Last year, I was here in the Tetons in September. We had a little haze going from fires in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, most noticeable in the afternoon, but it was mostly clear. At dawn, the Teton range from Oxbow Bend looked like this...
Today, midday, same place, this is how it looks.
OK, time of day is a factor, but I haven't even tried for early morning shots after my first week here. The fires in Idaho are creating so much haze that the peaks are all but invisible. I could exxagerate the contrast to make them more visible, but this is how it actually looks. The peaks are there, but they are mere shadows upon the sky.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Getting High in the Tetons
Everyone has their own way. For some, it starts with a hand,
...then a second hand,
...move up, look around, plan your next move,
...reach to a better hold.
Move up.
Now the feet...
Moving nicely,
...keep the rhythm going,
...push it up,
and up,
and up.
Me, I took the tram up to the top.
Now, about getting down...
...then a second hand,
...move up, look around, plan your next move,
...reach to a better hold.
Move up.
Now the feet...
Moving nicely,
...keep the rhythm going,
...push it up,
and up,
and up.
Me, I took the tram up to the top.
Now, about getting down...
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