Mountain clouds At the western end of the plains we typically have full days of blue sky. Occasionally, over the mountains, clouds can persist all day long. They are flowing east, rolling over and around the peaks, but dissappear where the mountains end. Larger size |
It
was a Friday afternoon at the end of a busy week. The weather in the
mountains was calling for spotty snow with high winds. It has been a
while since I was up at Rocky so I decided to grab the camera for a
quick jaunt up. Coming into the town of Estes Park. Mostly blue sky with some clouds whipping over the mountains. Some light snow with a fair bit of blowing snow. Larger size |
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Elk on the south side of the road. This is perhaps 1/2 of the heard. |
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Looking south across Beaver Meadow Larger size |
Near the Hidden Valley rest stop, looking north towards 12,000 and 13,000 foot tall snow capped peaks Larger size |
Traffic jam Awaiting the heard of Elk to decide if they all wish to be on the North side of the road or the South side. |
Down
from Estes Park I exited the Big Thompson Canyon and decided to take
the scenic route to Fort Collins. I caught this roadside marker and
stopped. I imagine this tunnel was hand dug. It's about 1/4 mile long,
short by regional tunnel lengths Handy Ditch Tunnel |
Turning west from the Handy Ditch Tunnel we're looking up the Big Thompson River Canyon and notice a straight line crossing the landscape. We're looking at one of the Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) project components - the Horsetooth Supply Canal that carries water from the Flatiron Reservoir to the Horsetooth Reservoir. Water control in this high desert landscape is a significant issue. |
Crescent moon with Venus and an airplane heading west |
There
is an advantage to living far enough away from the mountains so that
you can see the whole vista they provide. If you live too close you see
only the first hill and not the larger mountains beyond it - and the
weather that rolls over them. Snow capped peaks from I-25 between Fort Collins and Loveland |
From I-25 at the Johnstown CO exit / CO-60 Larger size |
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Farther south on I-25 (was driving to see family near Denver), lookning west near Mead CO. Oil / gas well drilling is somewhat common. |