Nothing like a vacation!

We did a LOT of hiking on this vacation (over 200 miles) but we did some touristy things, too. From RMNP, we went down to Colorado Springs, where we drove up this crazy road to the top of Pikes Peak (didn’t see Clara…BamaGirl…there, though…).

We also visited Garden of the Gods, where we enjoyed red rock formations like this one, the Siamese Twins, with Pikes Peak in the background. Didn't see Clara OR Kim there, either. Too bad...could have been Village 365 party!

Add-a-theme: Bloglifting

I enjoyed Kim2900’s photo of Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park so much, we made a point to visit there on our way out of the park. By chance we passed another place she had blogged about, the lovely Camp St. Malo. Sorry, Kim, for being a copy-cat bloglifter, but I couldn’t help myself. Thanks for introducing me to these great scenes!

..."fire burn and cauldron bubble"...

Can’t go camping without a campfire! I learned it’s tough taking photos of a fire! I tried different manual settings, some of the “scene” settings on my camera, and even switched on the flash (a big disaster…see photo #3). Of some fifty photos, I was happy with just two. Click for more detail. Which do you prefer?

Rules are made to be broken

In the wind shelter on Chiquita Peak, a marmot pauses to decide if he should interrupt my lunch. When shooting wildlife, especially wildlife that sneaks up on you, sometimes you break the rule of thirds in order to preserve the shot.

"The hills are alive..."

The vistas from the hike up to Chiquita Peak in Rocky Mtn National Park call to mind “Sound of Music” song lyrics… (sing along, everyone!)

All hail!

One of the fun roads to drive in RMNP is Old Fall River Road. It’s one way, up hill only, with many switchbacks and very narrow spots. Driving it one morning to hike to Chiquita Peak, we pass this regal young Bighorn Sheep.

Water's edge...10,000 feet in the air

5 miles from the trailhead, we reach the water’s edge, at Sky Pond. Made it! The distinctive Cathedral Spires make a dramatic backdrop to this lovely, icy-cold, teal-colored pond.

Risky business

There was a lot of snow on the hike to Sky Pond. Hiking across a snowfield in summer sounds like unique fun, but it can be risky. The snow is very slick, and most hiking boot treads aren’t aggressive enough to really give a firm grip. Trekking poles help, but it pays to be cautious.

Are we having fun yet?

Granted, everyone's idea of summer fun is different. On our hike to Sky Pond, we had to hike IN a waterfall. This group of women just ahead of us managed the steep, slippery ascent, so we followed them up. It was a blast!

Going green

One day in Rocky Mountain National Park, we hiked to Sky Pond. Along the way, we passed Loch Vale, and this lovely river filling it. The sunshine on the grass reflects in the clear water, casting a lovely green glow over the entire scene.

This season, the well-dressed, eco-conscious elk will be wearing "green" jewelry

This young buck Elk, spotted along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, appears to be sporting earrings (click to zoom and see them). These tags help rangers track his movements as he makes his way around the park, changing elevation with the seasons to forage for food.

Entrez vous!

We enjoy taking photos of the entrance signs to all the national parks we visit. Usually, only one of us appears in the photo, but at RMNP, there was a little camera stand available. I lined up the shot, hit the self timer, and hopped into the frame.

Midwest summers

...wouldn't be complete without a riot of Queen Anne's Lace growing alongside every road and byway. Here's a quick detour from my vacation photos for a shot taken last weekend.

How does your garden grow?

Day two in Salt Lake, we made the climb up to Lake Blanche, in the Twin Peaks wilderness. Flowers were in full bloom, decorating the landscape.

When the lights go down in the city...

Great Basin behind us, we continued east, and spent two nights in Salt Lake City, Utah. Near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, we found a reasonable place to watch the sun set. As the sky bled from blue to salmon to orange, the city lights began to twinkle below us.

For the post-hike munchies

It’s true…it’s as much fun to make as it is to eat! Outdoor cooking is a big part of camping, and sometimes a little salty treat hits the spot.

The payoff!

Finally, the view from up on top of Wheeler Peak, the 2nd highest point in Nevada. Dark clouds were beginning to roll in, so we didn’t get to stay up there very long. We took a handful of photos and then headed down, to avoid getting stuck above treeline should lightning make an appearance.

"Solitary man"

Hiking can be a solitary activity, even when you are with someone else. We were about halfway up Wheeler Peak at this point. For once, I was ahead of Jon.

Not quite Everest, but felt like it!

Our second day in Great Basin National Park, July 4th, we decided to tackle the 3000 foot climb to the top of Wheeler Peak. At 13,063 feet, it towers above us as we begin our journey. Jon's on the trail in the foreground. The trail led us through the woods on the right side of the photo and popped out on the ridgeline (against the edge of the photo), and then followed the ridge all the way up to the peak.

Stately old man

On our first full day in Great Basin, we selected a hike that took us through a bristlecone pine forest. Many of these trees are over 3000 (yes, three THOUSAND) years old. Most, like this one, have aged gracefully.

Eligible for "Cash for Clunkers?"

From Lake Tahoe, we motored across Nevada and spent 3 nights in Great Basin National Park. On the road that leads into the park, we drove past a road-side interpretive display talking about farming in the area, back in the day. I enjoyed this antique car, just beyond the information kiosk. I thought of BillZ when I snapped this photo!

Pup power

In some Native American cultures, the coyote was considered to have magical, or mystical energy. Early on our bike around the lake, we spotted this beautiful fellow near a city park in South Lake Tahoe.

“Many primordial tribal tales provide a glimpse of Coyote's mystical power. In most, Coyote isn't merely a wild dog, but divine, an immortal spirit that brought his universal magic and good medicine to the First People. The Crow tribe describes him as the Creator of the world and all it holds, the First Artist, the First Worker.” From: http://coyotekiva.org/coyote.html

Pedal power

After leaving Sequoia/Kings Canyon, we made our way to Lake Tahoe. We rented bikes and spent two days on two wheels biking the 70 miles around the lake. On the first leg of the trip, we stopped to ogle the view of Emerald Bay.

For Z. Z. Top

I enjoyed this cluster of legs as visitors to Sequoia National Park cluster around the "you are here" trail maps, deciding where to hike.

Phew! Made it!

The longest hike of our trip was just over one dozen miles…12.4 according to my GPS. In Sequoia National Park, it took us through the woods and out across a ridgeline. We had great views of the Sierra Nevadas, and ultimately ended up in glorious Alta Meadow, which you might have to scroll to see.

Charismatic megafauna

Rangers in several of the national parks we visited told us to be on the watch for charismatic megafauna...the big ones being bear, elk, coyote and cougar.

During the course of our trip, we saw three of the four - (no cougars, thankfully). This mama bear and her baby cub were a surprise in Sequoia National Park. I had just one shot. It's a little blurry...the bears were about 10 feet away and I was hoping they didn't notice me, noticing them. They didn't seem too troubled by our presence.

A different kind of drive-through

After seven days in Yosemite, we headed to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. On our first day, we did the requisite tourist activity and drove through a tree. I was glad to learn the tree was dead before they cut the hole in it.

It was a dark and stormy night . . .

Actually, just dark. I was in the tent, reading. Jon was outside, playing around with long-exposure photos. I liked this image so much, I asked him to be a guest photographer for this theme. Enlarge it to see the silhouetted trees behind our campsite.

Bridal Veil Falls...

...can usually be counted on to display a lovely rainbow. It doesn't disappoint.

Into the mist...

Many visitors to Yosemite enjoy a cool spray from climbing the granite steps at Vernal Falls, but we avoided the crowds and still got to experience the icy vapor. Wapama Falls, in the Hetch Hetchy area of the park, gave us a frosty shower as we passed by, and we had it all to ourselves.

Giddy up

Wouldn’t feel like we were out west if we didn’t see a cowboy! Our hike to Wapama Falls in Yosemite is interrupted by this team, carrying supplies to a distant camp.