The Colorado mountains are full of scenic wonders. We also found subjects of interest in the Winter Park area, and on a day trip to Steamboat Springs.
The Rockies bring to mind mountains and water, but we also found another recurring theme - rocks and trees.
Pine, fir, and spruce intermingle with aspens at high altitude, often among and around great rocky outcroppings and jumbles of huge boulders. The juxtapositions of colors and textures provide great opportunity for the landscape photographer.
Trees cling stubbornly to the top of this cliff along Trail Ridge Road. Did you notice the crow at the very top?		This "lone survivor" is testimony to the tenacity of mountain trees.
	Yellow lichen harmonize with the red and yellow mineral-stained rocks of this canyon wall near Alberta Falls. August is late for Colorado wildflowers, but we did find a few.
		Overlooks on the mountain roads often present views of trees silhouetted against the cloudy sky ... ... or seeming to tower over cumulous clouds.
Summer afternoons are notorious for the thunder- storms that spring up in the mountains. The clouds and dramatic skies make interesting compositions.
Railroads, ranches, and barbed wire - iconic scenes of the West.
The log gateway of the Grand River Ranch is typical of those seen everywhere along the roads. Hats placed for the benefit of visitors are reminiscent of early 20th century lifestyles at this dude ranch. Never Summer Ranch on the maps and guidebooks, this area is now called the Holzwarth Historic Site by the NPS to honor the family that originally settled here.
There aren't many passenger trains left, but Amtrack's California Zephyr still runs through Gore Canyon, near the headwaters of the Colorado River.
Mimicing railroad tracks, or petroglyphs left by the ancient inhabitants of the Southwest, these worm tracks leave artistic patterns in a dead log.
Mountains and lakes, the stereotypical Colorado scenery.
Lake Granby, a man-made reservoir in the Arapaho National Forest.
Absence of wind In early morning and late afternoon turns the lakes into mirrors. Reflections like those above are sometimes more beautiful than direct views.
Man-made Lake Monarch lies just east of Lake Granby. This panoramic view was stitched together from a number of shots. An hour later we captured the two reflections shown above the panoramic shot. A bit after that we got this alpenglow as the sun set.
Another stitched panorama: early-morning view of Lily Lake.
Sunrise at Lily Lake, on the eastern edge of RMNP.
A half-mile hike past the eastern end of Grand Lake brought us to this beautiful mountain meadow, just in time to catch the late afternoon light.
Construction had closed the road to Bear Lake, so we had to ride the shuttle.   By the time we finally arrived, the early light was gone. We grabbed a few shots before the breeze spoiled the reflectons.
	The shot above is a 'straight' view of Hallet's Peak as seen from Bear Lake. The one below is a more abstract rendition made by inverting the view reflected in the lake.
			©2003 Tom and Ellen Judd All rights reserved.