Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Sierra & Rocky Mountain Landscapes - Summer 2014

Jill and I love our 4X4 camping adventures and we had two great trips this summer beginning in the eastern Sierra and culminating in the Rockies in spectacular southwestern Colorado.  I prefer the eastern side of the Sierra and the western side of the Rockies for the same reasons: Incredible Vistas and Fewer People.  We have enjoyed the Coyote Flat access SW of Bishop, California in the past, but this last July we took a little used road to the north, past dried up Coyote Lake, instead of over the flat.  We camped a mile or so below Lookout Mountain, which provided a gorgeous 180 degree view of the eastern escarpment.  In Colorado, we spent nights camping near Wetterhorn Wilderness, Grand Mesa and its many lakes, and the Last Dollar Road north of Telluride, out of Ridgeway.  Each and every venue was rewarding and exciting.  We had lots of weather both in the dry, dry Sierra and western Colorado, as is usual in the summer.  I hope you enjoy the photographs.

Panorama from Lookout Mountain - 4 handheld, stitched shots

Rainy Evening View

What a Day!!

Mike & Jill Selfie

Active Sky Beautiful Mountains

Weathered & Worn But Still Strong

Uncle John's Cabin with weird tilt-shift OOF

Hiking toward Taylor Lake and Highline Ridge

Marmot Country

Flowers & A Marmot...Columbus Basin in Background

Elephant Head...I Prefer Elephant Trunks

La Plata Mountains & Flower Friends

Taylor Lake...Columbine & Columbus Basins...6 Miles Above Uncle John's Cabin

Swallowtail Butterfly & An Invasive Species


Bedrock Creek Falls Needs More Water


Turret Ridge in the Wetterhorn Wilderness Area


Looking Toward Wetterhorn Basin


Black Canyon of the Gunnison River


One of Hundreds of Quiet, Peaceful Lakes on Grand Mesa


Incredible View Looking West Toward Utah from Grand Mesa


View of Lizard Head and Mount Wilson from Last Dollar Road - A Photographer's Artistic Liberty