Go West XXIV - Aspens Astir

Quaking Aspens, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)


Mountain breezes stir the leaves of aspen trees.

Go West XXIII - Alberta Falls

Alberta Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


May the cold mountain waters of Alberta Falls
 cascade into your room and
cool off your hot summer weekend.

Go West XXII - Alamosa Lamp Shade

Lamp Shade, Motel Room, Alamosa, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


In a motel room in Alamosa, I made a test shot of this lamp shade after cleaning my camera and lens, to make sure they worked properly.

Go West XXI - Texas Fireworks

Field of Wildflowers, Hill Country, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)


Today, I offer you the holiday version of Doug's Photo Blog
 with a slightly different look. Hope you enjoy.


In the Hill Country outside of Austin, endless fields of fiery hued wildflowers burst with bloom, presenting a dazzling display.
Happy Fourth of July!

Go West XX - Doughnut Hole

Clouds Above the Alpine Tundra, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


If you read science or science fiction, you are probably familiar with black holes (which swallow-up everything near it) and wormholes (which transport you to other places and times). While ambling aimlessly on the alpine tundra one day, some 12,000 feet above sea level, I happened to spot this cloud formation that reminded me of a doughnut hole. 


Just at that moment, I was mentally transported to a brightly colored doughnut shop where I swallowed-up half a dozen freshly baked doughnuts! It was delicious! It was delightful! I was delirious!


 When I snapped-out of my daydream, I thought to myself sadly, "Oh, if only my dream was true! But, alas, there are no doughnut shops on the tundra."

Go West XIX - Protean Element

Boulder and Reflection, Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Like Proteus the shape-shifting sea god of Greek mythology, water is an ever changing element. This life-sustaining source can be tumultuous like a tsunami, soft and vaporous like a cloud, or tranquil like a perfectly polished mirror.


 Tranquility is the case in this vignette from Rocky Mountain National Park... a distant mountain peak and forested slope are reflected in the clear blue waters which take the shape of Bear Lake.

Go West XVIII - Lily Lake

Lily Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)


May your Sunday be restful and relaxing.

Go West XVII - The Great Such!

Beneath the Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, Missouri  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Such a towering arch...
Such a monumental feat of engineering...
Such a readily recognizable landmark...
Such a complement to the vast open sky and...
the greatest Such to photograph!


(Such a post as this must be dedicated to Aunt Chovie!)

Go West XVI - Bright Delight

Red Fireplug, Town of Nederland, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)


The wonderful, colorful, painted buildings of Nederland, Colorado 
remain a bright delight to the eyes despite cloudy skies.

Go West XV - On Edge

Rim Rock Drive, Colorado National Monument, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Many narrow precariously perched roads in the mountainous West
 leave you feeling "on edge".

Go West XIV - Balanced

Balanced Rock, Colorado National Monument, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


I framed Balanced Rock between the branches of this old juniper for visual effect. It is fun to speculate on how long this famous landmark has been balancing itself, how long it took to erode into that almost human head shape, and how long it has been sporting that cool beret.

Go West XIII - Pearl Street Cadillac

Our Friends' Soul Reflected on a Cadillac Door, Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


While walking around the Pearl Street district of Boulder, I spotted this reflection on the door of a late model Cadillac. Funny that it was a Cadillac, since we stopped a few days earlier at Cadillac Ranch in Texas.

Incidentally, this luxury car was named after Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, a French explorer and adventurer, who helped found the town of Detroit in 1701.

So it was appropriate that we encountered these Cadillacs while on our road trip... after all, Becky and I were doing our own version of exploring and adventuring, albeit 300 years after Monsieur Cadillac.

Go West XII - A Hike to Blue Lake

Lupines, near Lower Blue Lake Trailhead, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)


Today's post chronicles our hike to Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, San Juan Mountains... about 1 hour drive from Ouray, Colorado.
 These breathtaking lupines bloom vigorously on a hillside near the trailhead. 
Our beginning elevation is just over 9300 feet.

(To see a slide show, click on any image.)

Quaking Aspens, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Early sections of the trail pass through young aspen groves
 with their fresh green leaves on display. Our brains know these leaves are producing oxygen, but it's not quite enough for our lungs which are accustomed to the sea level elevation of the Lowcountry.

Mt. Sneffels, from the Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


As we progress in elevation into the subalpine forests, we glimpse rugged mountain peaks which form the backbone of the wilderness area.

Meltwaters, near the Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Melt water from high elevation snow fields and the Blue Lakes rushes down the mountain, joining other runoff to the East Fork Dallas Creek. From there the waters join the Uncompahgre, the Gunnison, the Colorado, the Gulf of California and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. These waters have a long journey ahead!

Becky on the Trail to Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Becky continues up the trail toward the high peaks that tower above Blue Lake.
I linger behind, on the watch for yaks and yetis. Ok, not really. I lag behind looking for pictures to tell our story. But alas, I must not dally, or she will leave me in the dust... or snow.

Snow Fields, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


The higher we hike, the more snow fields we trudge over. The snow is well packed, but a challenge to traverse... 
several times our legs sink knee-deep and our boots fill with icy cold. 

Subalpine Meadow, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


We near the tree line. At this point we pause to wonder how much further we have to go... more switchbacks and more snow fields await us on the trail. Hikers returning from the lake reassure us that we are getting close. We eat Clif Bars for energy and continue on.

Snow Draped Peaks, Lower Blue Lake Trail, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved


The peaks above us are magnificent! There are fewer trees now and more wild terrain. How can mountain goats and bighorn sheep possibly survive among rocks such as these?  

Slopes above Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
 © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Above the lake basin, a steep talus slope of reddish rock makes a striking contrast to the dark formations of the tallest peaks.

Lower Blue Lake, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Finally we reach our destination! As breezes shift, the surface of the water changes texture and color. But when calm, a beautiful glacial blue color reveals itself. Ice floating on the lake makes a mockery of the warm summer sun. We watch a little gray bird called an American Dipper (or Water Ouzel) splashing in the lake in spite of the frigid cold. Our ending elevation is around 10,800 feet. After a picnic and some picture taking, we head back down the trail.

This spectacular hike took us 7 grueling hours to complete. By the time we returned to our car we were thoroughly exhausted, but knew that after a nap and pizza we would feel that it was well worth the effort.

And... it was on the drive back to the hotel that we sighted shaggy black yaks in a field, grazing.

Go West XI - Boulder

Hiking in Gregory Canyon, Boulder, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Boulder, Colorado lies at the convergence of the High Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and offers the best of both worlds with plenty of open space.

Boulder County Parks and Open Space manages a whopping 36,000 acres of public use lands and more than 110 miles of trails for walking, running, hiking or biking, making Boulder one of the most outdoor user friendly cities in the U.S.  This, combined with a vigorous high altitude climate and a plethora of sunny days, encourages a healthy outdoor lifestyle.

Shown here is Gregory Canyon, where one can hike a maze of trails overlooking Boulder. The tall brick buildings in the distance are the main campus of University of Colorado, Boulder. The blue lake is Baseline Reservoir.

 We spent 5 glorious days here visiting with dear friends while sampling much that Boulder had to offer. We loved every moment.

(Over the past week, I have presented images introducing you to many of the places we visited, setting the tone for more detail-oriented photos as I continue our "Go West" travelogue for another week. Hope you stay tuned.)

Go West X - Gateway Arch

Pedestrian Crossing Sign, Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, Missouri  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S. (630 feet) and was built to commemorate our country's westward movement. American's urge to go West is deeply ingrained in our psyche since explorers and pioneers started the trend in the late 1700's.

So it is appropriately symbolic that the walking man on this sign
is under the arch,
on the go,
 and heading westward!

Go West IX - Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


During our Western road trip, Becky and I encountered surprising and unexpected subjects... massive sand dunes in Colorado, monumental rocks rising above the flatlands of Kansas, and the mysterious and now legendary sighting of shaggy black yaks on ranch land near Ouray.

But perhaps the most astonishing find of all was Palo Duro Canyon. Just the opposite of Monument Rocks in Kansas, Palo Duro (Spanish for "hard wood") is an extensive canyon that carves deeply into the infinitely flat terrain of the Texas high plain.

 It is the second largest canyon in North America (120 miles long and 800 feet deep), and a fascinating environment of brightly colored stone tempered with the soft greens of juniper and mesquite. Historically it was the home land of Native American tribes such as the Kiowa, Comanche and Cheyenne.

It was here we spent our first day tent camping... with an oven-like temperature of 104˚F! Hot, dry, windy and dusty... but cool in its own way. The "Grand Canyon of Texas" was an excitingly rugged landscape to hike and explore.

Go West VIII - The Kissing Couple

The Kissing Couple, Colorado National Monument, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Being lowlanders from coastal South Carolina, Becky and I were easily awed by the vertical scale of Western landscapes. To my delight, they are perfect fits for the vertical photographic format, which I often favor when composing images.

This post shows the 300 foot high monolith called "The Kissing Couple", named for a slight separation in the stone, making it appear that two figures are entwined in a constant craggy kiss. The valley below is Monument Canyon, and in the distance, directly above the kissing rocks, you can see "Window Rock". In the far distance is Grand Valley, a lush fruit farming area where the Colorado River meanders through.

Eons of erosion have created a treasure trove of rock formations in this park. The hard, coarse sandstone cap rock weathers more slowly than the softer, finer layers below creating easily recognized shapes, like "Balanced Rock", "Dogs Tooth" and "Mushroom Rock".

I searched long and hard for Shaggy Yak Back Ridge,
but alas could not find it.

Go West VII - Alluvial Fan

Alluvial Fan, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


In 1982 the ice age terminal moraine that contained Lawn Lake gave way, unleashing millions of gallons of water. A flood swept down the mountain tossing and tumbling trees and boulders with it. In the valley, Horseshoe Park meadows was submerged, and the nearby town of Estes Park was inundated with 6 inches of water.

But the good news is an interesting geological formation was created... an alluvial fan... and a cool new environment to explore. Short trails lead to rapids where visitors can climb on the boulders or wade in the cool waters. It is a very popular spot for picnics as well.

I made this "snap and go" image by resting my camera on the railing of a wooden bridge which spans the stream. I waited till people on the bridge stopped moving and vibrating my support, then made a series of pictures with the longest exposure I dared hand hold (1/4 of a sec). Luckily one was sharp enough to use!


My previous attempts at making this image involved balancing my camera on my nose, like a seal, and clapping my hands and feet together. But for some reason the photographs came out blurry. 

Go West VI - Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


Not the Sahara. No. Not the Arabian or the Gobi or the Kalahari. This is Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado. They are the tallest in North America at 750 feet high. Winds blowing across the San Luis Valley brought sands from the San Juan Mountains and pilled them up at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains over a period of about 1 million years.

 Just to give you an idea of scale, those ant-like figures leaving behind trails of tiny tracks are people climbing the dunes, one standing triumphant at the top of High Dune. Average hiking time to the highest dune is about 4 hours round trip. Slipping and sliding in the sand is just part of the fun of going up. Rolling and tumbling down maybe the fastest way back!

Go West V - Alpine Tundra

Forest Canyon Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


In the Rocky Mountains no tress grow above 11,400 feet... eight months out of the year temperatures remain below freezing, fierce dry winds blast ridge tops, and ultraviolet light shines intensely. The climate is so harsh that only small plants and lichens survive. Compact plants only a few inches tall send tap roots 6 feet down into the earth to find nutrients to live. Small animals like yellow-bellied marmots and pikas spend long winters hibernating in their dens among the rocky slopes.  

Yet visitors to the park get first hand looks at the alpine tundra world by driving up Trail Ridge Road, and walking along short trails to overlooks like this one.

In the foreground are pink granite stones spilling over a steep slope into a canyon. In the middle ground are dark subalpine forests of spruce and fir which dominate the valley below. And in the distance rise the snow streaked sides of massive Stones Peak mountain where alpine tundra re-emerges.

Vast distances in the West can be a challenge to portray within the two dimensional confines of a photograph. But a scene like this one makes it easy, with the receding layers of space, and the use of a wide angle vertical format... along with a Chocolate Chip Clif Bar to munch on. Yum.