Coyote

(On the Left: This is a squence of photos from Rocky Mountain National Park. They are ordered in time.) Colorado has gone to the dogs and I don’t mean rover! The Coyote (Canis latrans subsp.), a member of the dog genus is ubiquitous around the state and throughout North America for that matter. Unlike other species, which have felt the pinch of encroaching humans, the Coyote has adapted and expanded its range. It now roams from Oregon to New Jersey. They thrive in the burbs as well as the wilds.

Coyotes are carnivores. Their primary diet consists of small mammals like rabbits, mice, and Prairie Dogs. They will eat carrion but prefer a fresh kill. There is a great deal of controversy over how much livestock and domestic pets are affected by the coyote. Whether myth or fact, just the idea makes the Coyote the target of ranchers and farmers. Interestingly, Coyotes are afraid of Mountain Lions and some communities have learned to keep Coyotes away by projecting the sounds of Lion.

The Coyote to the left smells something in the snow

Now it is digging in the snow.

Nothing comes of it.

I have lost track of the Coyote sightings I have had. What is unique about his sequence is that there were three Coyotes traveling together. I have only seen them solo despite the fact that they do usually hunt in pairs. I observed this group in Rocky Mountain National Park the day after Christmas. I only had a 200mm lens, so the photos are distant but the sequence does give you an idea of their color and behavior. Coyotes usually have a hunting circuit three to four miles long. The tracks you can see in the photos imply these three had cruised this ground before.

The group begins to move on.

I have been spotted and they begin to head over the hill.

I am being observed.

Coyotes can interbreed with domestic dogs. Sometimes I wonder if my new puppy is not part Coyote. She is a trickster for sure, just like prevalent Native American myths. Next time you see a Coyote or hear its lonesome song, take a moment to appreciate the rare success story of a species that is actually thriving.

The last shot before they bolted over the hill.

Lakshmi Rai

Lakshmi Rai (aka Laxmi Rai) was born on May 5, 1981 in Hubli, Karnataka, India. She is model turned actress mostly appears in South Indian films like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films. She started her career with Tamil film Karka Kasadara in 2005. Currently she is filming romantic comedy Bollywood movie HHey Gujju where Himesh Reshammiya is performing double roles. Shruti Agrawal is another lead actress in this movie.

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Elk (Cervus canadensis)

This herd was located across the street from the visitor's center snuggled down in between a bunch of houses.
Welcome to the herd! Think we “advanced” primates are above such behavior? Try taking an intercontinental flight one of these days and you will change your tune. I can hear the cattle braying as the line winds around and around the tape at the security checkpoint. All I see are backsides and I shuffle ignominiously onto the plane. Ever been to a professional football game? Doesn’t that remind you of the annual rut in which thousands of Elk gather in Rocky Mountain National Park’s two large meadows and congregate around the largest and loudest Bull with the showiest physic. Herd indeed!

This herd was on the side of the road between Moraine Park and Horseshoe Meadows. It was about 16 degrees out and the Elk were all laying in the grass.

I confess that I am immune to the charms of the Elk. It is sheer ennui brought on by too much familiarity. Visit the Estes Park and you will see them…everywhere. They are on the golf course, huddled around the large bronze Elk statue at the edge of town, or wandering around the meadows of the park itself. In contrast, last summer I ran into a herd of Mountain Goats and practically had an epileptic fit. Isn’t it amazing that you can live in a place where such amazing animals are as common as the tourists who clog the roads to ogle them?

Many of the Elk had tags and radio collars.

(On the left: This young bull was watching us closely as we got too close to the gals.) I have another confession…whenever I see an Elk I also think of dinner. I like the taste of it and wish I could get some hunter to bag one for me. I don’t think I could ever get up the nerve to do it myself. I like my protein dressed and sauced on my plate. Hypocritical in the extreme I know but not an uncommon attitude. Since the days when we could hire out our husbandry, the human species has become sensitized to all the carnage.

Elk are Colorado’s largest species of deer. They can be seven to nine feet long and over four and half feet high. The antlers of the Bull Elk are impressive indeed. These antlers grow in the spring and can weigh up to 40 pounds. They can grow up to an inch a day, protected by velvet, a soft skin that is scraped off on trees by summer. By early winter, the antlers are shed. Interestingly, the number of points on the antlers has nothing to do with the age of animal.

Elk are vegetarian browsers. Their diet consists primarily of grass but in winter will augment this with the bark of trees. Much of the scaring on Aspen trees is from Elk.

The snow was softly falling. You can see the flakes in the photos.

Finally, experts are trying to get us to use the term Wapiti for Elk because in Europe the term Elk refers to what we would call a Moose. Somehow, I don’t think Wapiti is going to catch on. The herd may just have a mind of its own.

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Miss World 2008: Ksenia Sukhinova

Ksenia Vladimirovna Sukhinova was born on August 26, 1987 in Nizhnevartovsk, Russia. She is 5ft 10in tall, blond hair with blue eyes Russian beauty queen who won the title of Miss Russia 2007 and Miss World 2008.

Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia was crowned by Miss World 2007, Zhang Zilin of the People's Republic of China.

Ksenia also won the title of Miss World Top Model.

Parvathy Omanakuttan of India became the first runner up while Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago became second runner up.

Also check out our previous posts on Miss World 2005 and Miss World 2006.

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Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma was born on 1st May 1988 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. She is 5ft 9in tall elite model and actress in the Bollywood film industry. Anushka made her Bollywood debut with Yashraj film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, directed by Aditya Chopra where Shahrukh Khan played male lead role.

Before appearing in Bollywood she has done campaigns for Silk & Shine, Whisper and Fiat Palio.

Apart from that she is doing her major in Economics.

Homestead/Mesa Loop…Don’t forget the history

Distance: 4 miles RT
Elevation: 5,645 ft – 6, 300 ft
Elevation Gain: 655 ft


Looking northeast from atop the Homestead Plateau
With yet another storm raging in the high country we once again set our sights on a lower hike along the Front Range. This loop travels up the Homestead Trail for 1.1 miles, heads west along the Towhee Trail for 0.4 miles, then jogs 0.3 miles on Shadow Canyon before finishing up with 2.0 miles along the Mesa Trail. The map at the bottom of this post gives a rough idea of the route for those interested. There is a web of trails at the southern end of the Mesa Trail, and hikers can choose many different options.


The Homestead and Towhee Trails start off to the left, Flatirons in the distance
The Homestead Trail is nice because it is a steeper and more strenuous ascent. It will get your heart rate going as you climb the many steps leading up to a broad plateau. From the top, there are views of the distant plains as well as the ever-approaching flatirons.

(On the left: Heading up the Homestead Trail). On this route, the trail descends back down the north side of the plateau to intersect with the Towhee Trail, which comes up the gully from the right. This side of the plateau was still snow encrusted and very slick. The Towhee Trail has the disadvantage of being a leash only, which is another good reason to start out on the Homestead Trail if you have dogs that need to run free.

From the Towhee Trail, the loop heads east on Shadow Canyon for just 0.4 miles. There are nice views of some rock formations near this intersection and nice views of the plains a few yards up the trail.

(On the right: Heading down the Homestead Trail. Rock formations in view). The Mesa Trail stretches 6 miles south to north, and at the intersection of Shadow Canyon and the Mesa Trail the hiker has the choice of heading north for another 4 miles or heading south directly. We decided to head north and upwards but were turned around by very slick conditions within a quarter of a mile. Just past the ruins of an old cabin, we turned around and headed back to the trailhead.


Towhee Trail


View from Shadow Canyon Trail


Heading up the Mesa Trail. While there were folks out trail running, we were being pulled by a dog on a leash and the slick conditions and steepness of the road had us turn around about 0.2 miles from this point.

The southern portion of the Mesa Trail is a broad. It windy gracefully downwards with sweeping views of the plains. The willows along the trail are filled with birds in the spring and summer.



Heading down the Mesa Trail


About half-way down


Trailhead is in view. In the distance is the Dowdy Plateau. That area is filled with hikes as well.


The Dowdy-Debacker-Dunn Homestead, or what is left of it


Detail of the rock construction
At the apex of the Homestead and Mesa Trails are the remains of the Dowdy-DeBacker-Dunn Homestead. Built in 1858, all that remains is the stone section, unique for its mult-sized slab construction. In its day, an irrigation canal ran through it, providing fresh running water…of a sort. It seems hard to imagine this popular trailhead as the deep frontier but long before Boulder was founded, hearty stock had been settling in what was then Arapaho Indian country. For some it was gold but for others if was land for both farming and ranching. The original settler, Dowdy, ran a gristmill.


Crossing the creek. The trailhead is only a few feet away.
Colorado is filled with history and many of its trails are strewn with mining relics, the ruins of old cabins, and the ghosts of pioneers. Half the time we overlook these doorways into the past. Glued to our ipods and focused on cardiovascular performance, they simply fade from view. So, next time you hit the southern Mesa Trailhead, take a moment to examine what is left of the homestead and look around. Imagine living there over 100 years ago.


Map of the route