June 15, 2010
Rocky Mountain Park, Colorado
Wildlife is plentiful in the park and the animals are
protected from humans. These in the meadows were left alone and seemed comfortable with many people watching them from the road. A telephoto lens enabled this shot.
The animals at higher levels are shyer and drift away from people.
Sprague Lake is in a picture post card setting. The shallow depth attracts fly fishermen and there were many in the area. Joan managed to capture just two while capturing the beauty of the lake.
Waterfalls surged with snow melt at the lower elevations.
The snow at around 11,000 feet was melting and it was hard to imagine conditions a week earlier when the roads were closed.
The wind was cool and fierce but the bright sunshine provided a little warmth. We were glad that we brought warm jackets.
We were surprised to see animals feeding on the sparse ground cover at this altitude.
The air was crisp and smelled fresh. The landscape was harsh and filled with eye-catching sights that needed to be photographed.
Imagine what it looked like back when lava shot into the air at this altitude. The steam and ash probably darkened the sky. We were gratified to have had the opportunity to see this marvel of nature. It reminded us of the walls of Devil Tower.
It was a wonder that we could drive up this high on a good road and we had the impression that we were on top of the world.
Last year we took the railroad up to Pike's Peak and the landscape was rocky and bare and seemed to be like a moonscape. This was equally exciting but different.
A beaver pond was at the base of the mountain and, while none were visible, the setting was quiet and
peaceful. The breeze provided a bug-free day.
The pine bark beetle is devastating to the forests in the West. You can see the brown needles and dying trees on the mountains.
