Not much aspen where I was at in Pike National Forest but the scrub oak was golden at sunrise yesterday.
Colorado Mountain Vista in Rocky Mountain National Park
Taken from the Upper Beaver Meadows trailhead this past Saturday. Looking to the southeast the most prominent feature is the 14,259′ tall Longs Peak. A bit of snow from the previous two days was left on the mountain. This weekend should be a great time to check out the park with the leaves changing colors.
Persian Gulf sunrise aboard the USS Carl Vinson
One for Throwback Thursday. Taken in August 1996 while in the Persian Gulf conducting Operation Desert Strike. The ‘island’ of the massive aircraft carrier and F/A-18 Hornet and EA-6B Prowler aircraft are silhouetted by the rising sun.
Combat operations were taking place against Iraq to stop Saddam Hussein’s genocidal attacks against Kurds in nation’s north. Tensions were further heightened by the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia two months before that killed 19 U.S. service members.
For those that don’t know, I served six years in the +U.S. Navy primarily working on the electronics on S-3B Viking anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Lots of stories from those days and I am proud to have served my nation.
High Altitude Moon
One benefit of going to 12,183 feet in altitude is the skies get clear, the blues bluer and the #moon clearer. Taken this past Saturday atop Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, the mountain landscape is accented by deep blue skies and a waning gibbous moon. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous road in the United States and over 8 miles of it is above 11,000 feet.
Great Blue Heron Basks in the Setting Sun
This is one from back in April that I don’t think I ever shared. Taken at a pond in Broomfield on a mild evening. As I reveled in the sunset, it almost seemed like the heron on its nest was doing the same.
Refreshing Waterfall in Yellowsone National Park
Denver hit over 90 degrees today, perhaps signs that summer isn’t quite done yet. Back in July it was much cooler in the nation’s first national park. This waterfall is up near Sylvan Pass toward the east entrance to the park. Taken July 14, 2014.
Lush forest in Colorado
The Centennial State’s high country saw a tremendous amount of snowfall this past winter and spring and summer have been similarly wet. This has allowed the mountain foliage to really green up, more so than I have seen in years.
While camping in Pike National Forest a couple weeks ago I came across this moss covered log and for whatever reason, it really fascinated me. The textures of the old rotting wood coupled with all of the green was very pleasing.
High altitude rainbow
Early morning yesterday brought a quick-hitting sun shower to Arapaho National Forest. The 13,229 foot high Mount Audubon (right) was slightly obscured by the rain while an extraordinarily vivid rainbow appeared in front of it. If you look closely at the top right, you can see a second, faint rainbow.
Sunrise honors
Thornton Veterans Memorial, Colorado . This local veterans memorial is one that is particularly special to me as I was chairman of the group that worked for years to fund and build it.
In the foreground you see the winged angel, ‘Grace’, releasing a dove carrying dog tags aloft. In the background you see the flag poles and in between them is a 9′ 11″ high five-sided obelisk. On it are inscribed core values of United States military service: Honor, Integrity, Sacrifice, Duty, Courage.
A dynamic Colorado sunset
Thunderstorms moved through the Denver area yesterday afternoon and evening leading to some dramatic skies above. This is my first attempt at an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.
The technique uses three or more images, all of different exposures, put together to achieve a higher range of luminosity than what could be accomplished with a single one.