• landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Merry Christmas from Colorado

    Four Pelicans searching for breakfast at Pineridge Natural Area

    We have at least 3 inches of snow here in town while, the mountains got much more. Heavy, wet, slushy, with icy and slick roads this morning.

    Snow covered trees along Overland Trail

    It seems this savings times thingy really works. The saying goes: spring forward and fall back. Well we seem to have jumped all the way to Christmas of 2021. Sheesh!😁

    Sun trying to break through the clouds at Reservoir Ridge

    Even though I don’t like the cold anymore, it’s 28 degrees, the beauty of fresh snowfall is breathtaking. Have a great day and stay warm!

  • clouds,  Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets,  trees

    …have a good night.

    Helicopter landing and setting sun

    They are using the open field north of the CSU Research Center as a helicopter staging area, which is next to the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. The above image was taken last night as one of the helicopters was ending their day. I think there were six or seven helicopters on the ground, fuel trucks and mechanics waiting for them. As you can see the smoke sits atop of us, no blue sky. Very little wind. Even after receiving 14 inches of snow the fire smolders. As the fuel drys the fire burns a bit more each day and is unfortunately making its way towards Red Feathers Lake and Crystal Lakes where there are several homes and cabins. They are unincorporated communities and census-designated places and of course a post office. They have been under a voluntary evacuation for a couple weeks now. The smoke is visible this morning and makes the throat tender.

    Sunset at Reservoir Ridge during Cameron Peak Fire

    I had my first encounter with a rattlesnake at the nature area between taking these two images. It was nice having several people warn me about the snake and where it was located. Once I approached the snake it made sure to shake it’s rattlers and let me know it’s physical distancing boundaries. I admit it was difficult to see it but easy to hear it. It was coiled about six inches off the trail and ready to strike if anyone dared to cross it’s boundaries. I wasn’t in a daring mood so I respected those boundaries. I even began a dialogue with it hoping to help it relax a bit, it seemed rather tense. Told it I was only passing by and to have a good night.