Horsetooth Reservoir sits on the west side of the city of Fort Collins in the foothills. It runs 6 1/2 miles north to south and is about a half mile wide. The reservoir was created by the construction of four separate large earthen dams, all completed in 1949 and all modernized with a seismic retrofit in 2000-2004. The reservoir has a capacity of 156,735 acre-feet, a total shoreline of 25 miles. Not quite the Great Lakes.
I gave you all that information to let you know I love the clouds! They are the subject of both image! They are the reason I drove up there yesterday afternoon. I am standing along the east side of the reservoir on a road called Continental Road which travels the full 6 1/2 mile length of the reservoir. I am between two of the four dams looking out across the city after the rain moved out onto the eastern plains.
Then I spent the early part of the morning at Pineridge Natural Area. Fog shrouded the city and eastern plains. The have been 6 pelicans hanging around the reservoir for the past couple weeks. This morning they were scattered about rather than huddled together as I normally see them. So I suspect they may be social distancing or one of ’em farted. Gotta love those clouds!
6 Comments
Tom Dills
Pelicans in Colorado? Seems strange to me but maybe it isn’t as unusual as I think. Given the bad manner perhaps they are on vacation!
There are few things more wondrous than amazing clouds. Both of these photographs show examples of that. Very nice!
The other thing I enjoy is that, even though you often venture to Pineridge most mornings, you always seem to find a different viewpoint, and of course you take advantage of the constantly changing conditions.
Monte Stevens
Yes, we have the American White Pelican. They are very much like the Brown Pelican but can be much larger with a wingspan of 9 feet. They are migratory birds, breeding north in Canada and migrate as far south as Texas. They group together and herd fish into an area for feeding.
The one thing I missed about my Colorado while I lived in Ohio for 2 1/2 years was the beauty and art in the clouds. All I seemed to notice out there was the one constant grey color. I do enjoy Pineridge, as well as Reservoir Ridge, is the openness and possibilities for clouds along with the sunrises and sunset.
Joe
Nice Monte! Glad you got some rain as well as some beautiful clouds.
Monte Stevens
We are so glad to see the rain and willing to see more. 😊
Bonnie Moore
“Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way…”
Gotta have a great song to accompany a beautiful picture.
Monte Stevens
Had to look that up and see that it is a Joni Mitchell song. I still look at the clouds to see what I find in them just as I did when younger. Your comment reminded me to continue that way of life. Glad to hear from you!!