At the beginning of summer, snowmelt continues above 11,000' in elevation.
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| Looking toward Mosquito and 10 Mile Ranges from Black Powder Pass |
Streams are much lower than in previous years because our past winter's snowpack was below average.
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| My friend, Barb S, hiking up French Creek Drainage, Black Powder Pass |
Above tree line, tiny tundra flowers adapt to dry conditions to form pleasing vignettes among the lichen-covered rocks.
Nights are chilly at altitude, but days warm into the 70's.
Besides hiking, I'm spending time in my gardens.
Angelica and Angelo are standing watch once again.
Late afternoons, my husband and I sit on the deck, reading, talking, and listening to the stream gurgling nearby.
Fox usually pays us a visit before trotting off for an evening of hunting.
Feeling content, I can't think of a place I'd rather be.
This is my world in Summit County, Colorado.
Please visit other bloggers around the world at Our World.
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| Top of Black Powder Pass with Keystone Mountain ski runs in distance |
Besides hiking, I'm spending time in my gardens.
Angelica and Angelo are standing watch once again.
Late afternoons, my husband and I sit on the deck, reading, talking, and listening to the stream gurgling nearby.
Fox usually pays us a visit before trotting off for an evening of hunting.
Feeling content, I can't think of a place I'd rather be.
This is my world in Summit County, Colorado.
Please visit other bloggers around the world at Our World.
Beautiful landscapes with such lovely flowers.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you are content. You are truly living the good life! What wonderful photos and the fox was a treat to see. I've only climbed above tree line three times - Marcy and Algonquin in the Adirondack Mountains and Mount Washington in New Hampshire. I wonder if I could still do that now (I'm 65). Fun post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever given food treats to Fox? I wonder if s/he comes by simply to say hello? I think it's just so sweet.
ReplyDeleteWe had a deer, a big one, in the back yard the night before last. She did her one foot stamp a few times and then huffed vigorously several times. I stood still and stared at her and just thought, "You are SO BEAUTIFUL!" Then I faded backward and away so she could enjoy her evening ramble.
Your pictures are stunning as usual, Barb. The 70 degree days sound especially nice with the heat we have had lately.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the difference from last year! Last year, I think that the high ground was still covered in feet of snow on this date.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you've been enjoying the early season hiking! We're hoping that K is well enough for a long weekend of camping at high altitude this weekend (above Salida). We're taking it one day at a time.
Your photos make me really want to get up high!
What beautiful scenery -- and it's right outside your door!
ReplyDeletethanks again for a touch of colorado! i love the wildflowers above treeline- the resilience always amazes me! happy wednesday-
ReplyDeleteBarb, your mountain looks relaxing now different from the beautiful but cold and tense air of winter. Between Angelica and Angelo, forget-me-nots are like blue stars twinkling around angels. The fox has gotten to be a regular customer? He looks so wise. I wonder what truth he would share with you? You made me want to sit on the deck by your side, listening to the whispering of the brook.
ReplyDeleteYoko
We never feed the fox. However our neighbor fed it throughout the winter before leaving to go back to Canada. Now the fox is too acclimated to humans. It literally comes right up to us - we clap to shoo it away. I don't want it approaching my Grands. There is another fox that also passes through, but it is more wild.
ReplyDeleteI love your angel Barb, so cute. Our dog Roxy looks very much like your Fox friend!!
ReplyDeleteLove Di ♥
As always, your photos are gorgeous, Barb. The view form Black Powder Pass is stunning! Temps in the 70's?? Perfect. Ours have been in the low 90's- looking forward to the Monsoons which will cool it down a bit in the afternoons. Enjoy the rest of your week!
ReplyDeleteI think your world has a touch of perfection, Barb - Mr. Fox and Angelo contribute to this. Lovely photos. We are not too bad here in the Similkameen but it seems the rest of British Columbia is being inundated with water from heavy rains and late snowmelt.
ReplyDeleteThose red poppies are stunning! What is the plant by the stream? Did you put in anything new this spring?
ReplyDeleteYour world seems just perfect. Love your garden and the wildflowers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Barb. I love the sound of a gurgling brook.
ReplyDeleteOh you lucky lucky gal. How beautiful and so peaceful and serene looking. Carol
ReplyDeleteHi, Barb.
ReplyDeleteYour hiking in such a grand mountain is superb!!
I wish I could walk with you, though I need to strengthen my legs much more. I am looking at your photos with a sigh of admiration!
Tomoko
Contentment washes through your writing. Mr Fox is lovely -
ReplyDeleteExcelentes fotografias....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
Your world is such a lovely place and I'm glad you appreciate it's beauty.
ReplyDeleteAlways love to see your fox friend -- so sweet!
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty can only breed contentment and joy!
ReplyDeleteFabulous shots.
Your world is enviable, so different from my world, also enviable, but so much smaller, narrower, less grandiose.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no fox visiting me.
I have to admit that I am a little envious that I don't have a fox friend. However, I do have the coyotes to lull me to sleep with their night songs. I never see them, but their presence is welcome as they make their way through the "city" gulch behind my house each evening.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos, especially the poppies!
A place made for contentment. The mountain vistas are so magnificant in your part of the world.
ReplyDeletesimply fantastic blue sky and flowers! I envy you a little also about your cute friend the fox, give him/her a hug from me:-))
ReplyDeleteGreat photos as usual, Barb. Awesome view at the top....that fox is too friendly, I wouldn't want him near the children either.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to see how plants adapt to harsh climates.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure you are on again. Respect.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
I am enjoying being above timber line, although I know it's not good for the temps to be this high up there. What a beautiful hike you were on! I love that the fox visits you so often.
ReplyDeleteI just read that Breckenridge cancelled their July 4th fireworks display. I think ours is cancelled also, although they haven't made the official announcement yet.
I like Angelica and/or Angelo. Cool! I love your fox. He/she is awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos of your countryside. The wildflowers are so pretty and I even spotted a tiny heart! I think an afternoon beside a brook is a great place to be.
ReplyDeleteYour world dazzles me and what dazzles me most is your fox friend! I can't believe he gets so close -- or that you zoom is so good!
ReplyDeleteit is wonderful to see your area through your heart and lens. such a wonderful post. thank you Barb.
ReplyDeleteSuch splendid vistas! I love the poppies. The fox looks like he could use a little fattening up - I hope his hunting is successful.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb!
ReplyDeleteI'm just settling into my first week off from school ... The last two weeks were long, hot and wild.
{High heat, new changes *again* to our teaching standards and evaluations... and lots of parties *showers and retirements}
It's soooo nice to be home ~ and we have nice cool weather this week to get some home stuff done. We're doing some long overdue painting ... It's nice to freshen up some of our rooms.
The photos of the mountains that surround you are so beautiful, Barb. They are so majestic. There must be an incredible peace and inner joy to just sit quietly there in the midst of that great creation and *Be*
The purple flowers really caught my attention. They are stunning.
I wish you many lovely days as summer unfolds,
Blessings and peace to you,
*Maria
It is good to be back and see your beautiful photos Barb but I have been thinking about you with all the fires going on in CO. I was so sad to see this on the news, hope you and your family are safe, sending big hugs.....:-)
ReplyDeleteYour world is full of joy~and beauty~ I was re-reading your post above (and thinking again about how strong and healthy your lungs must be!) and I wondered if you have to worry about lightning in "your" mountains. Seems like in the summer Geoff and Lisa go out early because they get storms in the afternoon and don't want to be up high.
ReplyDeleteHi Sallie,
DeleteIndeed, it's best to start early. We try to start by 8AM or even earlier if we're doing some mileage ESP if we're climbing above tree-line. Remember that my house is above 10,000' so I'm fully acclimated and have more red blood cells than someone visiting from a lower altitude. My friend, Barb, is actually 75 and hikes with the best of them. Both of us ave lived at altitude for more than 20 years.