Sunset on December 10th

Standing almost directly beneath a long cloud that is running parallel to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Usually this type of cloud forms into lenticular spheres as the air flows down the mountains and back up again. These clouds were not that nicely formed.

These were taken from Standley Lake Regional Park, a great spot for fishing, boating, or bird watching.

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Foggy Sunrise

On this below zero morning, a rare fog blanketed the mountain. We were higher than it and often looked down on the drifting shape that formed, dissipated, and reformed.

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Ice in the Sky

The ice crystals on these shrubs are mirrored by the ice crystals in the cirrus clouds hovering over Mt. Lincoln (14,286 ft) near the Breckenridge Ski Resort. I took this shot on a recent snowshoe to the Bemrose Ski Circus.

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Lenticular Sunset

Looking North at 3:30 PM

This time of year, I have to get to our local dog park by 3:30 PM in order to get back from our 3-mile hike before the sunset. These two pictures were taken at 3:30 PM and 4:30PM. Both show lenticular clouds. Lenticular clouds form perpendicular to the winds, in this case parallel to the Rocky Mountains. The indicate the existence of a standing wave, which for us means walking in shorts in early December.

Looking South at 4:30 PM. Sure there is not aliens in that saucer-shaped cloud?

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Snowy Starburst

A stylized shot of a recent snowshoe at the Bemrose Ski Circus near the Breckenridge Ski Resort. For more great pictures of the sky, visit Skywatch Friday. Are those of you in Europe or the east coast of the US over winter yet?

Solstice Sunrise

Standing in a meadow between Ryan Gulch Road and I-70

I am up in Summit County for the holidays and took these sunrise shots on Solstice morn. It has been snowing so heavily the last two days that our internet and cell connectivity has been affected.

Every afternoon we have gone snowshoeing in this meadow, which contains a warren of trails.

While Denver has not seen much snow, the ski resorts have been inundated. In the 48 hours preceding this picture, Copper Mountain Ski Resort has had 11 inches, Loveland Ski Area 21 inches, and Araphahoe Basin, 17 inches. It is a winter wonderland out there. Don't spend your Christmas weekend at home, get up to the mountains and play!

An area of clear cut due to Pine Bark Beetle remediation, only a few Aspens still stand.

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Skywatch Friday: Clouds over Mayflower Gulch

Whipped cream like snow, clouds, and blue sky make up the quintessential Colorado winter

Snowshoing season is almost upon us. One of my favorite places is Mayflower Gulch near Copper Mountain in Summit County Colorado. This spectacular spot is good for snowshoeing, back-country skiing, and cross country skiing. It's proximity to Copper Mountain is useful too if half your party prefers traditional Colorado downhill.

Photography here is spectacular year round. See Mayflower in summer, and in the fall.

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Skywatch Friday: Snow on the Gore Range

The Gore Range from Highway 9 near Silverthorne in Summit County

Winter did not roar into the Rocky Mountains this year, but eased in with this first snow storm in late September while fall color still graced the trees. Dark storm clouds blanketed the peaks but the snow did not stick.

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22 Degree Sun Halo on Rabbit Ears Pass

I caught this sun halo on Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat springs a few weeks ago. Halos are caused by diffracted light passing through cirrostratus clouds. These clouds are really thin sheets of ice crystals. Existing at 20,000 ft, these thin clouds usually presage precipitation. In this case it represented the end of it. Rabbit Ears Pass had 3 feet of fresh snow that we were exhausted trudging through.


The halo was so large, that I had trouble capturing the whole thing with my standard 35mm lens. I had a neutral density filter with me, so I experimented with that and with changing the colors on my computer to try and enhance the visual effect.



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Skywatch Friday: Sunset on 19 May

It has been nice and warm this week and I have enjoyed sitting out on the patio. On Tuesday I was resting under the trees when I heard a scream from the house..."Get your camera Miss Blog and take a picture of this sunset." Glad I did.


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Skywatch Friday: Snow blowing off a cornice

I took this image will trying to get over the cornice itself. The wind was blowing ice crystals into the air.

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Foreboding Sunrise

I let the dogs out this morning at 6am and saw these clouds. They are actually subdued at this point. Another crappy weekend may be at hand. For other pictures of the sky, visit Skywatch Friday.

Mont Blanc

Two weeks ago I attended at meeting with some Europeans. Alas, this was via phone and not in person. In honor of this event and to cover the fact that the skies here have been typical Colorado Blue, and hence boring, I am posting this picture I took of Mont Blanc near the famous Chamonix Ski Resort (France in Sept 2007). We Coloradans love mountains where ever they are. I was particularly impressed with Mont Blanc. It really is big, there is just no other way to describe it. The glaciers that come down the side are huge in and of themselves and they represent just a fraction of the real estate. We had planned on hiking around on Mont Blanc but ended up on Les Confins and Vanois, which is the subject of a post I'll get to one day.

For other pictures of the sky, check out Skywatch Friday.

Snowy Sunrise

Sunrise on Feb 11, 2009. The sky was so dramatic, I ran into the building to grab my camera. Believe it or not these colors are muted because by the time I slide over the ice, and ran outside again, the sun was just peaking above the horizon.

For more photos of the sky, check out Skywatch Friday

The beach I grew up on

Morro Bay, California

Alas we have had not interesting clouds this week so I am cheating. I went back to Morro Bay a couple of Novembers' ago and took a bunch of shots at sunset.

For those of you wondering when my next snowshoe blog will be, you are going to have to wait a bit. I am working on a description of a trip to Austin Texas that is turning out to be much longer than I anticiapted. I am going to a new place this weekend though, which will give me an opportunity to chronical someplace new.

For other photos of the sky, check out Skywatch Friday.

Another sunset

There were no clouds at all last night so this is one from last week. The clouds were low behind the hills but still brilliant.

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Skywatch Friday

Strange, ethereal rays have been emanating from the east lately. They cover the horizon but this picture is just one half of the phenomenon. I will keep the snide comments about fleeting faux divinity radiating from our eastern seaboard to myself.

Looking south from the tree plaza

Clouds on the drive home

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Lenticular Clouds

Looking south at some lenticular clouds taken from the Mayflower Gulch trailhead.

I love lenticular clouds! Living at altitude means we get our fair share of them since they tend to form when moist, stable air flows over mountain ranges. When that happens a standing wave forms. On the downward side of this weave lenticular clouds can form. They are frequently lens shaped and when large and dramatic can mimic the profile of a UFO.

Other sky shots can be seen at Skywatch Friday.

Sunset from the Mesa Lab (Skywatch Friday)

Looking south

Once again I have been shooting sunsets on my way home. Today I left after the colors had reached their peak. The last couple of days have been spectacular with the Chinook winds and all the clouds.

Looking north

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