Merry Christmas!

Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Getting Ready...........

Anticipation!

Hospital Hiatus

In the Hospital for my cancer surgery..............

 

There will be a few pre-set holiday posts between now and Christmas.  I'll be back on line a week from today.

Holiday Lights #6: Denver Botanical Gardens

Holiday Lights #5: Denver Botanical Gardens

Snowflake Fountain

Holiday Lights #4: Denver Botanical Gardens

Henry Moore is still at the Garden through January 2011.

Holiday Lights #3: Denver Botanical Gardens

Holiday Lights #2: Denver Botanical Gardens

Holiday Lights at the Denver Botanical Gardens.......

Here an Overview, we'll look at details over the next few days......

I have to say that although LED lights have intense vivid color, the light level is not that great.

Peru Creek from Mt McClellan

If you 'survive' the shelf road you are rewarded with a view into the Peru Creek valley.

From August of this year, the white is hail not snow.

The Shelf Road to Mt McClellan

Mt McClellan lies above the Santiago Mine. It was accessed by the narrow gauge Argentine Central Railroad.  Upon its completion to the top in 1906, it was the highest altitude adhesion track railroad in the U.S.. The "road" to the Waldorf Mining District is the remains of the old train grade.  Look closely in the background to see the lower part of the road.

Luckily we didn't meet anyone, since the road is barely 1 car wide in places.  The tracks were salvaged in 1920.

What we did after Santiago?

A clue to our next adventure. Not one that I think we are likely to do again....

By the way the white is the remnants of a summer hail storm.

End of the Holiday Weekend..........

Really just an opportunity to show a gratuitous photo of our Jeep at the Santiago Mine!

Back to the High Country: Santiago Mine at Waldorf

Still catching up on our summer adventures in the High Country.  All impassibly snowed in now until June 2011.

Back to the Waldorf Mining District to the Santiago Mine, still an active claim. 

The Old Stamp Mill

Mine Entrance

Bridging the Mine to Mill Gap.....

Inside the Stamp Mill

Rifle Sight Notch, Rollins Pass Road

Rollins Pass was at one time the highest railroad traversed pass in the U.S.  For more on Rollins Pass click here.

As you look at the photo above, trains exited a now collapsed tunnel, circled the mountain, and crossed the trestle heading east

2010 Pine Beetle Update

On a late summer trip to West Rollins Pass we saw the beginnings of the clear cutting that will be necessary to prevent forest fires in the infested areas.  The peak of the Pine Beetle attack is over, but that leaves tons of dead wood.

Until we venture to the High Country to take snow pix, we'll catch up on our summer off road adventures.

Calendar 2010: November

A look at the ruins of the "Crest House" Restaurant.  Destroyed in 1979 by an exploding Propane tank. Orignally constructed between 1940-41.

Calendar 2010: How did I forget October?

Somehow, the October calendar Offering was never posted, so here we go:

A last view of fall colors at Mt Evans......

Thinking About Winter

No snow for us down here yet.  But I'm already thinking about winter, and looking forward to it!

From January 2010.

Spiders for Halloween

This Halloween some of the neighbors put up some very inventive decorations. This spider was so impressive, I turned around while on my way to work and went home to grab the camera.

Pumpkin Patch

Boulder has many small organic farms. Every year this one has a pumpkin patch and a small corn maze.



Last year an early snow storm shuteverything down early. This year's weather has been quite warm and left everything intact.

Last one

Within another week, or two at the most, all the trees and foliage will have changed. A bright flash of color before the cold chill of winter.

Textures

What I was attempting to capture here was the range of textures created by the pallet of color in the trees. Part of it was still green, while another part had fully turned.

Study in blue and gold

This was taken in Boulder around one of the research parks.

Fall color series

In the high country, all the warm colors of fall have disappeared. Down in the transition to the plains, the color is at its peak. Down here there is a greater range of color because people have planted eastern trees which turn a vibrant crimson.

Last of the Maroon Bell series

This is the last of my photos from the area around Aspen. This is a much moodier shot of the Maroon Bells. It was heading toward twilight and the light was failing.

Road over Independence Pass

Coming over Independence Pass into Aspen country, the terrain turned into a carved river valley. The Aspen trees there were just starting to turn.

More Fall color along the road to the Maroon Bells

Approach to the Bells

As you drive toward the Maroon Bells, this is the first glimpse of the peaks.

Fall Colors near Aspen

Caught this along the road into the Maroon Bells.

Fall hits the high country

Here's the first, of a series of shots, focusing on fall in the Colorado high country. This is one of the Maroon Bells located just outside of Aspen Colorado.

No I haven't been hanging out with the Aliens....

Although they are reported to be hiding near Area 51.

But an explanation nfor my absence can be found here.  We are not going on hiatus, but I will probably only make weekly postings for a while.

Quiet Thoughts on 9/11

Two very different Zuchinni

Progress from the garden.  Both now consumed, but I'm expecting more before the Fall is over.

Red Rocks in Black and White

From the Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Sad End for a Holiday Weekend

As some of you may know a wild fires began here Monday morning. Possible started by a car colliding with a propane tank, and still burning out of control.

Comsuming >10,000 acres and close to 100 homes so far.  Some of the homes belonged to fire fighters.

The fire is entirely in the mountains about 15 miles from out home in an area we love to drive through.

For updates go to the Denver Post website......

Peaches #6: Browsing the Books

Peaches #5: Out Of Order

The Lomo has a flash, but this is the first time I've tried it.

And it REALLY is out of order Ladies!

Peaches #4: All Foods Welcome

More than just peaches

Peaches #3: We are Eco-Friendly

Recycling is strongly encouraged.  After all this is Boulder County............