Bring a jacket. And a thermal. And wind gear. In fact, bring survival gear because it is cold and you may just blow away. On a recent day trip to the Rocky Mountain National Forest near Estes Park we envisioned a nice picnic, a little family oriented hike and some fresh air. What we got were gale force winds and the kind of angry ripping cold that one would expect in the far north.

However, we still enjoyed the trip and came back with some decent shots. More than anything it’s inspiring another trip, perhaps one that includes several days. Oh, the wonderful outdoors.

Snow blowing across treeline.

No vacancy

A while getting this one up, but just came across a little time lapse I did of a storm blowing in the night of a full moon late May. This is shot with a Nikon D700 with a frame rate of 3 sec0nds. Background music by Radiohead.

A recent camping expedition challenged us with an interesting dilemma, “what do we do with a 2-year-old that wants to hike long and hard?” The answer of course is let her hike. Kiya was not to be stopped, not until roughly 13,000 ft. stood beneath her little feet. There were no waterfalls on this hike, but a dip in a cold stream sufficed.

Most impressive was her tenacity in the venture. Her enthusiasm only waned as hunger took over. Were it not for her tummy, she may have struck summit. Of special note is the fact that small erosion barriers, only a step for adults, were nearly full body climbs for her. And still she would not stop. Simply amazing.

Kiya, after battling her 1st 14′er, warily surveys the mountain she conquered at 2 years old.
Firmly held in hand, nature’s own power plant, Peanut Butter.

It is a wonder to me,
all the pretty things we never see.