Category Archives: Nature

Respite Along The Rio Grande

November 11, 2014 Keevan Leave a comment

9/21/14

Somewhere between Farmington and Taos on a quite warm day, our air conditioner quit working…

We rolled down the windows, endured the warm breeze, quit talking to each other, due to the loud road noise, and became a bit crabby. By the time we pulled into Taos, it was rush hour, cars were sitting still in every lane and the lights were all red and lasted forever. It was Friday, and also unseasonably hot for Taos.

Instead of a gentle stroll along the plaza as planned, we really just wanted to find a place to stop and camp, so we left town shortly after arriving, heading up the mountain to cooler pastures, on which the map showed numerous campgrounds. It didn’t take us long to learn that the forest service had closed all those campgrounds for the season, just two days ago.

We kept driving until it got very dark, when around a corner we went, and met in the middle of a very dark two lane country road, two very big and very all BLACK cows just standing right smack in the middle of that dark road. It was a very very near miss, which could have resulted in a very bad disaster for both us and the cows.

But calamity was averted, thanks to the fact that the road had no one coming in the other direction. Whew, it really was time to stop. So in the very next, very little, very dark town of Angel Fire…we found of all things a Visitor Center. Well, we certainly were visitors, and we needed some centering. We did what any logical wandering nomad would do, and found a far little corner, hunkered down in the parking lot, and turned in for the night.

All was well the next morning, never a soul did we see before departing to journey further along the very scenic drive in the Carson National Forest. It was foggy. Really foggy. So foggy, we didn’t see the very scenic drive until around noon.

The sun did finally come out, and the sun did shine. It was warm again. But happily, we found ourselves parked along the mighty Rio Grande River, high above the Rio Grande Gorge. I wanted to hike to the bottom. Glad we took the easy trail. It was pretty rugged, I could only imagine what the challenging and difficult trails were like. But it was a lovely hike down and awesome to be on the Rio Grande River.

While lingering at the water’s edge, Fred and I both at the same time spotted a huge mountain sheep across the river high up on the cliff. Then we spotted another and another. There were seven altogether, and we watched them for a long while, while enjoying the rolling river and expansive views. As we started back up the ascent, the sheep started their own descent. It was amazing to watch them sure-footedly going down the rocky cliff and gravely trail. We humans were so carefully picking our boulders, and placing our feet, while they were almost as graceful as ballerinas on tiptoes.

We stopped near the top for water and power bars, and watched them again for another hour or so.

Of course I took lots of photos and got some really great shots. But somewhere along the way, I either lost the memory card, or accidentally deleted it, because it is now nowhere to be found.

After our exciting day with the sheep, we lucked out and found a wonderful campground in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. This one was operated by the BLM who managed to keep it open.

Peace at last.

And a comfy, quiet evening under huge cloud filled skies. And no it didn’t rain. Yet.

❧

Camping, Nature, Travel

Many Thanks

October 27, 2014 Keevan Leave a comment

First off…Thanks so much to all those who are actually following this blog. I really started it to just kind of keep track of our travels and post a few photos, but you guys do add an element of companionship to our trip, AND it keeps me on my toes to try to capture a few good shots.

Secondly, I really do want to check out and read more about what everyone else is up to, and I hope to soon spend some long winter days and evenings, perusing and catching up on all your beautiful blogs. I’ve tried to at least peek at most of them.

The truth is being always on the go, leaves very little internet time. I’m always way behind on posting, and having both a wi-fi connection AND electricity to keep the computer powered up at the same time is very rare.

It’s a lot of work to travel, sightsee, hike, take pictures, load them onto the computer, keep everything charged up, and still have time to eat and enjoy reading a few good books.

We’ve been on the road now for almost seven months. We are still pretty amazed about that.

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We’ve stopped over for three days at a sweet forest service campground called Target Tree in southern Colorado. It’s nice to have a home base for awhile, however short that while is. We are about to check out Mesa Verde National Park, AND get some new tires put on the little white van, so we rest up by taking a hike straight up the mountain today.

Just a few simple shots of nature along the way.

It really is about the Journey. ❧

Camping, Nature, Travel

Black Canyons

October 21, 2014 Keevan 3 Comments

9/5/14-9/8/14

A pause along the Gunnison River, then off to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

But first we stop off in Leadville for a break. Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States sitting at an elevation of 10,152 feet. One of those endearing old Victorian mining towns of which there are many in Colorado. It seems like such a contradiction – Victorian architecture and dirty grimy mining. But those precious metals from the earth enabled 19th century towns to embellish their buildings to no end. And now thankfully they have survived as a bit of American history.

A few more stops over the pass and along the river. A few more snow capped mountains and cold water lakes.

A quick chat along the way with this cute little ground squirrel.

Then finally to the Canyon.

Nature continually amazes us. The unfathomable act of water creating this gorge millions of years in the making, is just mind boggling.

After being over two miles up towards the sky, we now find ourselves peering over half a mile down into seemingly bottomless gorges.

Below us here, the Gunnison River drops an average of 96 feet per mile traveling through this canyon. According to the park, in one two-mile stretch, it drops 480 feet. Scientific minds could probably do some type of math with those numbers times those long years to come to cliff / bottom conclusions, but me, I just accept that Mother Nature is pretty darn cool.

The Earth.

Black Canyons of Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Oh, and we shared our South Rim campsite this time with this young deer, who was obviously quite thirsty, and was able to figure out the calculations of how to get water from this human contraption.

Peace

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Camping, Nature, Travel

Colorado Feathers And Fur

October 19, 2014 Keevan 3 Comments

9/2/14-9/4/14

We spent the day in Estes Park, walking around, enjoying the weather, gawking at store windows, visiting a book store, and generally relaxing away the day before we decided to find a place to sleep for the night.

We wound up heading south on highway 7 and came to Olive Ridge Campground. Since the calendar flipped to September, and the kiddos are back in school now, we seem to have our pick of the choicest sites. We do the drive through, make sure no generators are in sight or earshot, size up the spot for levelness and find some Sun for the solar panel, and settle right in.

We find friends with feathers close by.

Many of these little White-breasted nuthatches were also camped here, as was the Mountain chickadee in the top photo up in the header.

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Cold weather has definitely settled in, and like the birds, we find ourselves continually heading south. We moved camp again the next day to carry on with our slow progress to warmer weather, this time stopping at Cold Springs Campground, where we had another camping loop all to ourselves.

The entire time we were in Montana and Wyoming, with all the wildlife we saw, we never did spot a moose. Seems nobody was seeing any moose.

We asked the park ranger about this, and his theory and others in the know about these things, mostly seem to agree that after Montana and Wyoming suffered some intense drought years, (even though this year, everything is lush and green with water everywhere) much of the local moose population decided to hit the road and migrate to “greener pastures.” People in Oregon have seen a huge increase in the animals, as have folks here in Colorado.

While camping in Cold Springs Campground and talking to our camp hosts, we mentioned this to them and wouldn’t you know that those super nice folks told us where we could go to see the Colorado Moose immigrants.

Sure enough, a side trip to Brainard Lake up around 11,000 feet in elevation, brought us to not one, but three of these big fellows.

Another day of our life on the road. Another piece of the wildlife inter-connections that has touched our hearts, and warmed our souls.

Wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything…

Oh, and have I mentioned…that we meet the nicest and most generous people while on the road?

❧

Nature, Travel

Touring The Tundra

October 18, 2014 Keevan 1 Comment

Rocky Mountain National Park

(Trail Ridge Road)

I Love being High…

In Altitude that is.

It gives one a different perspective looking at life when you are over a couple of miles up into the sky.

Seems something is missing too.

There are very few trees up here. We’re again above the tree line, driving across the highest major highway in North America, topping out at 12,183 feet above sea level.

But we found wildlife!

Seems this is where all those herds of elk have been hanging out.

Including this group of bucks, each with their own little defined circle of grass.

Massive barren rocks.

And yes…

A single

happy tree.

Nature, Simple Living, Travel

The Grand Tetons

October 6, 2014 Keevan Leave a comment

8/23/14 – 8/28/14

The Grand Tetons of Wyoming speak loudly.

They’re moody – sometimes appearing furious and angry, other times blissful and full of joy. Every day, they greet their guests with a sense of bewilderment, and only by visiting often and lingering long, can one get to know them.

The many moods of the Teton Mountains.

We spent long hours in the shadows and valleys of their towering auras, feeling the energy of their power.

We walked along the shores of mountain runoff, nourishing the bounty of life.

We visited Morman Row and long forgotten barns.

As always, we loved and enjoyed the wildlife and flora that reap the nourishment from the majestic mountains and peaceful waters.

We paid tribute to Olaus and Mardy Murie…known for their conservation work, which set the stage for the enactment of the Wilderness Act, passed in 1964. They lived, loved, and raised their family among these mountains, as Olaus worked as a wildlife biologist in the area before becoming director of the Wilderness Society. Both Olaus and Mardy were amazing naturalist, writing and sharing their love of all nature. I truly felt their presence, walking around this old homestead and sitting on the front porch. The cabin on the left is the house, the smaller studio on the right was Olaus’ studio, where he was also an awesome artist.

We were sad to leave the magnificent Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem area, and hope to return soon for even more in-depth exploration and study.

A good time was enjoyed by all. Hopefully we can carry forth lessons learned here, and share with others.

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Nature, Travel, Van Living

On Top Of The World

September 30, 2014 Keevan Leave a comment

While hanging out in Yellowstone, we explored all parts of the park.

And since Fred is the proud owner of a senior interagency pass, we can come and go into national parks as we please for no fee. Definitely one of the better things that come with aging…being able to acquire and utilize that interagency pass. It has saved us so much money on park fees and camping fees.

We decided to venture into Cody, Wyoming, where we spent the night, restocked up on supplies, and ate a wonderful lunch at this little organic cafe, where the server was not what we expected from Cody, Wyoming. Surprises abound everywhere.

As western themed as this town was, it really was a happening little place, and we enjoyed our couple of days there.

But the main reason for going to Cody, was so that we could re-enter the park through the northeast entrance and journey across the scenic drive over the Beartooth Mountains of the Absaroka Range of the Absaroka Wilderness area in northwestern Wyoming.

And those mountains were another surprise we weren’t exactly prepared for either.

“Ooh-la-la”

That’s how our friend Paul from Seeley Lake described the drive. And that is exactly what we both said, going up and down the switchback road. I didn’t count, but the road must have had at least a hundred switchbacks…most without guardrails.

I have a habit of leaning into the middle of the van, and getting as far over to the opposite side of the cliff as I can, when we maneuver these white knuckle cliff hanging roads.

But, boy oh boy, when we reached the top…

And were above tree line, that crazy road leveled off, and we drove for miles through a high plateau, complete with freezing temperatures, ferocious winds, and remaining August snow drifts.

We felt like we were truly soaring above the world up there, looking down and across at the magnificence of Mother Earth.

Until we slowly descended back down into a valley of calm.

Where the flowers and green meadows drank from the spattered lakes.

Not a bad day’s drive…thanks Paul for telling us we needed to take that trip over the mountain pass.

❧

Nature, Travel

Yellowstone – The Wildlife

Image September 27, 2014 Keevan 5 Comments

8/16/14 -8/22/14

It’s a spectator sport in Yellowstone…wildlife spotting. It’s like winning the jackpot in Las Vegas when you actually get to see the big ones.

Some people set up and wait hours in lawn chairs for an appearance. Others are willing to stand out in the rain in complete gear and huge cameras with their own rain suits covering the glass.

Gotta Scratch - Young Bison — Gotta Scratch – Young Bison

We were lucky, observant, and always searching. We didn’t stand in the rain, or set up our chairs. Fred’s an awesome driver…and doesn’t mind pulling over, turning around, or even dropping me off and later retrieving me if there is nowhere safe to pull over. We take the roads least traveled, and stop often.

We are very respectful of the animals, and super aware of our safety.

The Van sits up high, and I often shoot out the window, using the half rolled up window to brace my camera. Or I can stand on the door step to get some extra height.

Sometimes we have solitude, sometimes there is madness. Even with these chaotic traffic jams that do sometimes occur, all in all, it’s an awesome sport, and everyone wins sometimes.

❧

Nature, Travel

Yellowstone – The Geysers

Image September 24, 2014 Keevan 4 Comments

8/16/14 -8/22/14

A supervolcano!

That’s the story of Yellowstone. While driving and hiking around exploring, it’s hard to imagine that we are actually inside of the caldera of a volcano. The expansiveness of it is too much for this simple brain…but the impressions, colors, and incredible fairyland images were so fun to capture.

The smoking Earth and Nature’s paint pallets reach out in all directions!

Cavernous holes and eerie formations create mysterious landscapes.

Earth Hues concoct impressive color combinations and saturations.

And yes, We did watch the eruption of Old Faithful, the most famous of geysers, which on this day was erupting every 45-90 minutes. We almost turned back when we saw the masses of people and rows and rows of metal shiny cars and RV’s in the largest of parking lots.

I was afraid of seeing nothing but backs of heads, but we now learned travelers about these things, just walked right up past the grandstands, and like pro’s, sat on the edge of the viewing platform, with legs dangling over the sides with other photographers and serious science nuts, to get our front row seats.

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A little bummed that the sky was not a blue background sky, but all was still impressive, and the theatrics were beautifully performed and synchronized.

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Camping, Nature, Travel