The Last of Fall

This week, at our home in Breckenridge, it looks like winter.

Hoping to delay the inevitable for a bit longer, we traveled farther west.

Fall lingers in the high desert environment of the CO National Monument.

Though the weather turned too cold to bike,
it was perfect for hiking.

Leaves in autumn garb contrasted with the canyon walls.

We climbed over slick rock through Devil's Kitchen.
(Something tells me this area gets HOT in the summer!)

Finally, we descended into Echo Canyon.

Rock walls closed around us.

We followed a sandy trail in a sheltered ecosystem.

Flattened reeds and grasses told of flash floods.
During torrential rains, water pours off the cliff walls.
The trickling wash becomes a wall of water, filling the box canyon.

This day, we hiked through thick vegetation.

 In the quiet, we heard the rustle of leaves.
 Bird calls echoed off the canyon walls.

All was in perfect harmony.

Now we're back in Breckenridge.

Hello to snow!

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

In the San Luis Valley of Colorado,
along the base of the Sangre de Christo mountains
is an awesome sight.

The Great Sand Dunes are the highest dune formations in North America. 

Created by winds scouring the mountains and valley over many centuries,
they appear like hallucinations at the base of the high peaks.

 This fall when I visited, grasses and trees were turning golden.

I remembered a time 20 years ago when I first approached the dunes.
I camped at their base with Helen and Mary.
In the cold dawn of a spring morning,
we drank Helen's cowboy coffee and planned our route.

That day, we climbed laboriously to the top of a high dune.
Each step forward was a struggle.
The sweet reward at the top
was to finally look outward and witness
the undulating sand rolling away in in all directions.

Tiny hikers make their way up the dunes.

This visit, I stood at the base with my memories.
It was a beautiful day.
I watched people climbing the dunes.

I remembered how delicious that cowboy coffee tasted in the early morning chill. 

New Mexico - Enchantment

New Mexico blends Native American culture, the customs of early Spanish conquerors, and the influence of the Catholic Church.

Adobe structures compliment the desert landscape.

A skull tells a tale of heat and loss.

Old sombreros speak of sweat and toil.

In the plazas, church bells toll.

Open markets and galleries display holy relics.

Desert creatures wear camouflage.

But, OH! People need bright colors.

Wrought iron adds pattern and texture.

Chili peppers decorate walkways.

Succulents bloom in courtyards.

Antique lanterns light the way.

Wells promise moisture. 

Cozy nooks provide rest.

Skill is passed from generation to generation.

Even the pickups have a southwest flair.

It's true: New Mexico IS a land of enchantment.

Photos taken in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos.

This weekend my daughter-in-law, Hyun-Jung, is running the Half Marathon and my friend, Pete, is running the Marathon here in Denver. My friend, Nancy, is running the Half Marathon in MD. Good Luck to all three! May they have the wind at their backs and smiles on their faces as they run!  

Albuquerque, New Mexico: My World Balloons!

Preparations begin before dawn.

Finally, at sunrise, with the crowd cheering, balloons float upward.

Burners heat the air.

A fantasy of color floats against the backdrop of dawn.

The sky over Albuquerque is adrift with balloons.

We smile and point.

Many still wait on the ground.

They ascend as the sky brightens to blue.

The scene is magical.

Albuquerque's Balloon Festival is a photographer's dream!

Like a Fairy Tale...

for a Gal from Colorado!

Happy Birthday to: My World!