• Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas

    Alexander Mountain Fire

    July 30, 2024
    Alexander Mountain Fire – 7/29/2024 @ 7:22 pm

    Good morning! We have our first forest fire of the season burning called the Alexander Mountain Fire. It is burning just west of Loveland and was estimated at 1,820 acres with 0% containment as of 10:00 a.m. this morning. I took this image around 7:00 pm yesterday evening from Arapaho Bend Natural Area. 

    This morning I was awake and up by 4:00 am. After my quiet time I drove up to Pineridge to watch the sunrise. What a gift with a cloudless sky. I could see the smoke from the fire drifting gently out to the east but not smell it. On my way back into town, I came across a house on West Mulberry with a large fire burning in the backyard of the home. I pulled over as the four fire trucks and ambulance pulled up and just cried, and cried hard. Think I’m feeling too much of the pain of this world with natural disasters and man’s incessant need for killing, so the dam burst. Hope you have a good day! 

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  • Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  landscape,  mountains

    Still Burning

    October 18, 2020
    Taken yesterday evening at 8:00 pm

    The winds have been relentless the past 5 days causing the Cameron Peak fire to rage. Then yesterday afternoon another fire erupted west of Boulder. Because of the wind and dry conditions that fire has grown rapidly. It is called the Calwood fire and as of last night just over 7,000 acres in size. Thankfully, this morning it is 36 degrees and we have a slight drizzle falling. Hoping the fire is getting some of this. One of the facts many miss on these forest fires is that man does not put them out. We do our best to keep fuel away from the flames and rely on nature to do most of the work.

    The image above of the Cameron Peak fire was taken less than a mile from my condo along Centre Avenue. The lights in the foreground are from patio homes belonging to a residential nursing facility. The ridge you see is Horsetooth Park, a favorite recreational area for hiking and mountain biking, while the the fire is burning on the second ridge beyond it. Lots of homes back in that area. I’m going to guess the fire perimeter is 5-7 miles away from me. My two favorite natural areas are now closed due to smoke, so I walk the neighborhood. The Cameron Peak Fire is now at 203,000 acres. Enjoy your Sunday!

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  • lake,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    A Laid Back Kinda Day

    August 19, 2020

    This morning’s sun reflecting off Dixon Reservoir

    Awoke early, had my quiet time, made a french press then drove up to Pineridge Natural Area. Quiet up there and had the place pretty much to myself. The smoke from Cameron Peak Fire is very noticable in this image, especially in the color. The fire is now over 14,000 acres with over 500 firefighters attempting to control mother nature.

    I had some journaling time at the natural area then did a short walk to get the heart rate up. I meet Joe for coffee this morning then cleaning around the condo. It’s gonna be a laid back kinda day. We need days like this.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  sunsets

    Forest Fires

    September 3, 2017

    Front Range Sunset
    Front Range Sunset

    It was hazy all day yesterday due to smoke from all the forest fires burning. I drove out east of town hoping to see a red sunset and to get out of the city. This image does not show the intense orange of the sun through the smoke. Hope you have a super Awesome Sunday! 

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  • natural areas,  Plants

    After the Fire

    March 5, 2017

    After the Fire
    After the Fire

    Last July there was a small fire at the Cathy Fromme Nature area and investigators determined it as caused by fireworks. I did not know anything about it until early fall when talking a walk out there. We made a revisit yesterday afternoon and found this image. It’s not a very appealing image but does show the devastation a fire can have. I will try and go back in a month or so to see what nature is dong in it’s recovery.

    A positive note has been the prairie dogs. The city poisoned them about 3 years ago due to a plague. Well, yesterday I could hear them barking again which meansthey are moving back into the area. One of the reasons for the nature area was to provide a habitat for them, not eliminate them.

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  • landscape,  sunsets

    The Fires Burn

    August 28, 2015

    Smoky Sunset at the Prairie House
    Smoky Sunset at the Prairie House

    As the fires rage in the Northwest the smoke drifts to the eastward, we are seeing the effects of these fires along the Colorado Front Range. Our sunrises and sunsets are turning the sun into a red ball. It is pretty to the eye but sad to know what is causing it. My sister and brother-in-law have been traveling in their RV. They say the smoke in Glacier National Park is very heavy. I took this sunset image last week while I was at the Prairie House.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  snow

    Rist Canyon

    April 26, 2015

    Storm Clouds
    Storm Clouds

    On June 9, 2013 the High Park Fire began and was not declared under control until June 30, 2013. It was the third largest fire in Colorado history and devestated much of the community. Only one life was lost but a several homes were lost.

    Part of the fire moved through the Rist Canyon area. This narrow canyon road goes to Stove Praire and rises in elevation of about 3500 feet. I enjoy the twisty ride up the canyon, stopping whenever I feel like it to enjoy the vistas and the canyon. I used to ride the motorcycle up there. Needing more time away from the noise of the city I took a drive up the canyon.

    Snow still on the ground
    Snow still on the ground

    Your heart shall find peace, when it lets go of the attachment it has to things, that do not serve purpose to the soul.

    Just before starting the the steepest climb to the top I encountered snow, lots more than I expected. Even with the temperatures in the mid to high 40’s it takes a while for the snow to melt at this altitude. The plus side is the moisture it brings and is showing in the green grass.

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