Mueller State Park

 I really like the Woodland Park area (Cafe Leo has awesome coffee and terrific bagel sandwiches).  And I really like our state parks.  So I indulged both last month with my first visit to Mueller State Park.

AllTrails recommended the Rock Pond, Rock Canyon, and Outlook Ridge Trails Loop, which the ranger in the Visitor Center validated as a solid choice.  And right away, some great views presented themselves.

There were also some great smaller views, like this Edwards's Fritillary... 

...and this Lanceleaf Stonecrop.

A curious Fremont's Squirrel didn't immediately scurry off as I captured its likeness.

Wildflowers were still popping, like Fragrant Evening Primrose...

...and Prickly Wild Rose, this one also popular with pollinators.

I had been looking for lakes, but settled for several picturesque ponds.  The first was Brook Pond, where I got down on my belly to capture some wildflowers in the foreground.

The pond looks just as good in landscape view.

Some beautifully blooming Rocky Mountain Beardtongue on the way to the next pond.

Cool reflection at Rock Pond of, presumably, its namesake rock.

Geer Pond comes up third, with a nicely placed rock and wildflowers to aid in composition.

I don't mind the wind ripples breaking up the smoothness of the lake surface.  Adds some authenticity to the scene.

It's always a treat to see Columbines on hikes.  They're like the cool kids of Colorado wildflowers.

Lost Pond is the final pond, and I don't know why it has that name.  Maybe it dries up in dry seasons?

One final vista from Outlook Ridge as the clouds rolled in, then I finished up the 5.7-mile trail in a tidy 2:53.  A truly terrific hike, capped off with a stop at the aforementioned Cafe Leo for a Dirty Chai and Spicy Avo on my way home!

Iceland 2024: Miscellaneous

Many photo opportunities snuck up on us while we were in Iceland.  Here are the best of our unexpected shots.

I love the look of Icelandic Sheep.  I don't love the green ear tag quite as much.

The night sky outside our bubble hotel near Ölvisholt was beautiful, even if we didn't see the northern lights.

Eyjafjallajökull, site of the infamous 2010 eruptions that disrupted European air travel.

I don't honestly remember exactly where this was.  I just liked the look of the glacial runoff, and Danelle pulled off the road so I could walk down to the water's edge for this shot.

Yoda Cave, called Gígjagjá in Icelandic, was a location we specifically sought out.

And we were fortunate enough to have it all to ourselves for a while.

Another location I can't specifically recall, but I loved how ominous the low clouds made the already stunning scenery look.

Hiking along the shore of Jökulsárlón early in the morning was incredibly peaceful.

Danelle and I weren't up for a hike into Fjaðrárgljúfur, though it did look mysteriously inviting.

And that brings my Iceland photos to an end!  An absolutely gorgeous country that I hope to return to at a different time of year to see and shoot again someday.

Related Links:

• Iceland 2024: Blue Lagoon
• Iceland 2024: Thingvellir National Park
• Iceland 2024: Gullfoss
• Iceland 2024: Skógafoss
• Iceland 2024: Vík, Part I
• Iceland 2024: Vík, Part II
• Iceland 2024: Diamond Beach
  
• Iceland 2024: Waterfalls

Iceland 2024: Blue Lagoon

This year we decided to take a trip we've been talking about for years -- to Iceland.  It was my first time leaving North America since before the pandemic.  Waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal features, black sand beaches, and (hopefully) the northern lights.  A nature photographer's dream!

We flew out of Denver on a Friday afternoon and landed in Iceland on Saturday morning.  After a few misadventures with our rental car (it's been a hot minute since I've driven a standard), we were off to the Blue Lagoon to start our stay with a little relaxation.  Of course, before our spa appointment I headed out to shoot some pictures. :)
 

A small lava field dotted with geothermal seawater pools separated our hotel from the nearby spa.

The water gets its namesake color from a unique combination of silica, algae, and minerals.

Geothermal power plants generate about 25% of Iceland's electricity, so it's no surprise that there's one nearby that adds a nice touch to the scenery with its plumes of steam.

Being so far north and rather late in the year meant that the sun was going to stay nice and low to the horizon most of the day, which provides great light for nature photos.

Signs made it clear that there was no getting in the water here.  But if you stand in the right spot and compose your shot the right way, it can definitely look like you are.

Let's get the northern lights question out of the way.  Yes, getting to see them was a huge factor in our decision to visit in October.  It was the number one thing to see on Danelle's wish list.  And the aurora had been popping right before we left.  We even saw it clearly in Colorado on Thursday night!

Unfortunately, we only had two clear nights during our week in Iceland.  And the lights were only active one of the nights.  The two shots above were actually from the patio of our hotel room, which isn't too shabby.

And this was the view from where I'd shot in the morning.  Again, there's clearly activity.  Might have been more apparent if I'd shot at a higher ISO.  Just not the fireworks we'd hoped for.  Fortunately, not seeing the aurora borealis as vividly as we'd hoped is most definitely a first-world problem.  And one we can try and correct on a future trip.  Norway, anyone?

Related Links:

• Iceland 2024: Thingvellir National Park
• Iceland 2024: Gullfoss
• Iceland 2024: Skógafoss
• Iceland 2024: Vík, Part I
• Iceland 2024: Vík, Part II
• Iceland 2024: Diamond Beach
• Iceland 2024: Waterfalls

Crested Butte Wildflowers 2024

Wildflower season in Crested Butte is always amazing.  This year I made reservations to camp near Gunnison for a couple of nights and capture what I could.

The great views started on my drive into town, with a variety of wildflowers blooming in the foreground and Mount Crested Butte looking fine in the background.

After dinner in town I headed toward Snodgrass Mountain hoping for a nice sunset shot.  I found what I was looking for.

Then I had nice warm light on Mount Crested Butte as I was heading out, so why not?

I hoped for some color in the clouds that never materialized.  Not that the view was bad.

The next morning it was up before sunrise to hike the Woods Walk.  I loved the fog in the valley.

Speaking of fog.  I like the aspens flanking the trail here, too.

Once the sun was up I had great light on wildflowers like these Owlsclaws...

... this Silvery Lupine...

... and this Fireweed.

This American Robin was EXTREMELY proud of whatever he had in his beak.  I thought it was a worm, but looking at the image it seems more like nest material.

I took this shot almost entirely so I could caption it "Attempted Murder."  Thank you very much. :)

More Owlsclaws, this time spotlighted nicely.

I turned around here and headed back, feeling like I'd seen most everything I needed to see.

Gothic Mountain was reflecting nicely in Peanut Lake, and I thought this setting would be a good place to return to for sunset.  So I went into town and bummed around for about 10 hours, enjoying a very lazy summer day.

Again, I didn't get the color I was hoping for at sunset.  But Mount Crested Butte still looked pretty.

One final shot, then into town for some ice cream before driving back to my campsite.  This was my last photo outing for the summer, and a great way to end the season!

Related Links:

• Trail 403
• Snodgrass Mountain, July 2015: Part I
• Snodgrass Mountain, July 2015: Part II
• Scarp Ridge, Part II
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2015
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2014: Part II
• Brush Creek Trail, July 2014: Part I

Sky Pond

Had a good night's rest in Glacier Basin Campground, then got up before sunrise and headed to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead to hike to Sky Pond.  The parking lot was already half full when I arrived, but at least I was able to get a spot.

Getting to Alberta Falls before the sunlight hit them was awesome.  The falls were gorgeous, as always.

There was virtually no wind at The Loch when I arrived, so I got a great mirror-like reflection in my shot.

Looking back down the trail from the base of Timberline Falls definitely provides a feeling of accomplishment.

The falls themselves were somewhat tricky to shoot.  I don't really love this landscape view...

...but I'm not thrilled with the portrait perspective, either.  Climbing up alongside the falls was even worse than shooting them, though.  Slippery and steep.

Lake of Glass is pretty standard alpine fare, which is to say beautiful.

Then Sky Pond itself is ringed by steep cliffs that indicate you have reached the end of the trail.

AllTrails claims this hike is 8.6 miles and 1,774 feet of elevation gain.  I say it's longer and steeper than that.  Timberline Falls is pretty treacherous to descend, but otherwise it's a terrific hike.  Hard to beat three lakes and two waterfalls along one route!