This metallic octopus appears to have wandered ashore in Great Falls, Montana.
Wagon Wheel Gate
This nifty gate is located next to a coffee shop in downtown Silverton, Colorado. It was not the best day - gloomy and cold, but did not stop a fair number of motorcyclists from getting out in their insulated finery.
Droopy Cactus
This poor cactus is sadly in need of inflation. Spotted during a walk with friends a few days ago in Scottsdale, Arizona. We did a longish road trip from Colorado to Santa Fe, then on to Scottsdale and back around through Durango.
A Whale in the Desert?
This is Ethyl the Whale, located on the grounds of the Santa Fe Community College, and constructed from plastics that cannot be recycled. As a scuba diver, I can attest to the massive amount of plastic floating around in the oceans. Not good!
Ah, Springtime in the Rockies
We just got another couple of inches of snow last night, which made today’s trail run rather annoying. Still, you can’t beat the views.
Just When Does Spring Arrive?
Here is a nice view looking west from Evergreen. They just got what looks like about eight inches of snow. Sigh. Maybe we’ll have Spring in May.
COVID Will Be Gone When...
Pigs can fly?
Careful Who You Ride With
This sign was posted at the bottom of the Sierra lift at Copper Mountain. The ski patrol takes explosives up this lift to do avalanche mitigation work. So, was this for insurance purposes, or do they just have a screwy sense of humor?
Ice on the Trees at Zero Degrees
Here was the view this morning on Segment 2 of the Colorado Trail. The wind chill was nicely below zero with high humidity, which made for some gorgeous ice on the trees in the early morning sun.
Skiing in a Surgical Mask
Copper Mountain requires everyone to wear a mask this winter, so we went with surgical masks. Here I am at 12,000 feet on Copper!
Don't Trip Over the Deer
I went out for a trail run yesterday and almost tripped over this little guy.
Some Bad Air
The following photo was taken from about 10,000’ on Mount Evans, looking north. Notice the scum of bad air from the Cameron Peak Fire in the distance.
We are Allowed One Vacation
We finally got in a short driving trip at the end of September and cruised through the Colorado National Monument, before returning to our COVID seclusion. Here is a photo of one of the side canyons in the Colorado National Monument.
Good Food and Good Signage
This is an excellent bistro in Palisade, Colorado - and I love their parking signs.
And That's it for Foliage
This has been an awful year for foliage viewing in Colorado, since the lack of rain has made the aspen leaves drop off early, and with little color. Still, I spotted this small stand of aspens in the Denver foothills that looks reasonable.
Mountain Biking in a Time of Forest Fires
We currently have four forest fires in Colorado, all dumping particulates on the Front Range area - which means mountain biking with a surgical mask. I find this to be a slow form of strangulation, but at least it’s exercise.
Had to Deal with this on Denali, too
I was just biking the Equestrian Trail near Sedalia, and noticed this sign. Not entirely sure how the equestrians can be expected to comply, but the trail was fairly clean. I had to deal with a similar requirement when climbing Denali, but not for horses…
Where is the Monsoon?
Colorado is normally on the receiving end of a seasonal monsoon that runs from mid-July through late August. This year? Not so much. Here is the view from a high point on the Front Range, with hardly a cloud in sight.
A Fine Day on Georgia Pass
Here we have a great July day at 11,800’ on top of Georgia Pass. This is one of the great mountain bike rides in Colorado, from Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass and back again, weaving through a few dozen Colorado Trail hikers along the way.
Half Marathon #50
That’s 50 consecutive months of half marathon trail runs! Some were a bit rough, especially in January and February when there may be a foot of snow on the ground and the weather is brisk. Here I am at the turnaround point on the Cub Creek trail, at about 10,000 feet elevation on the side of Mt. Evans; the lightning storm started about a half hour later.
