Colorado National Monument

[IntrepidXJ]

Been gone for a few weeks....finally back home and can go through more of the photos I took before I left...including this one.


Rising Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[Nick]

Been gone for a few weeks....finally back home and can go through more of the photos I took before I left...including this one.

Good to have you back.

 

[Yvonne]

I simply love your shots, Randy. And the Sandstone Buttes look like islands in the fog. :twothumbs:

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Another from the foggy morning at the Monument. Heading back there tomorrow morning for sunrise...no fog this time.


Out of the Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Sunrise yesterday.


Morning Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[RedDirtDawg]

Great shots Randy ! You and I are lucky to live so close to the Monument. I feel especially lucky living 'literally' right across the street from it (just below Liberty Cap). I think I see more of the morning fogs that invade the Monument than most folks in the Valley....they are there quite often during the winter months but vanish many times before I can even grab the camera. The glory of sunrises and sunsets are never ending

The other day I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hank Schoch....he is retired now but was the chief Park Ranger of the Colorado National Monument for 17 years. I had quite an interesting conversation with him. During his tenure at the Monument, he spent much time locating and cataloging John Otto's old campsites and artifacts from early 1900's.

Mr. Schoch also showed me photos of many projectile points he had found and documented within the Monument.......one of which really looked like an atlatl spear point to me.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Here's a new one from this morning. The early morning sun strikes Independence Monument with Fruita and the Book Cliffs beyond.


Fruita Beyond Independence Monument by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[Yvonne]

wonderful golden tones

 

[IntrepidXJ]

I went up to the Monument last night for the sunset because it looked like it might be a good one. The colors I was hoping for didn't happen, but there was this cool storm cloud over the Grand Valley in the distance.


Potholes & Storm Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Taken last night hoping for a colorful sunset....it never happened.


Monument Canyon Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Another one from yesterday evening.


Monument Canyon Monuments by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[Nick]

How far is your photo spot from where you park? If it's not far, I'd start packing a 5-gallon bucket of water to fill one of those potholes whenever an awesome sunset is imminent!

 

[Yvonne]

How far is your photo spot from where you park? If it's not far, I'd start packing a 5-gallon bucket of water to fill one of those potholes whenever an awesome sunset is imminent!

ha ha, great idea!!

 

[IntrepidXJ]

How far is your photo spot from where you park? If it's not far, I'd start packing a 5-gallon bucket of water to fill one of those potholes whenever an awesome sunset is imminent!

That thought has crossed my mind before.....since those potholes are only full after a storm. They dry up the next day if the sun is out.

It's probably only about a quarter mile from the parking area.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Ran into a large group of Bighorn Sheep this evening on my way into the Monument.....must have been at least 20 of them including many young ones.


Young Bighorn Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Also stopped by Balanced Rock while it still had some light on it.


Balanced Rock by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Here's a couple more from yesterday evening. All taken from near Otto's Trail


Spire Tops & The Island by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Grand Valley Layers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Dead Tree at Dusk by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Another from last night, looking past Independence Monument over Grand Junction towards the Grand Mesa.


Independence Monument View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

From last night again.....a big storm cloud built up over the Grand Mesa while I was up there. Maybe I should have gone over to the Mesa instead...


Storm Over the Mesa by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Here's a photo I took a few weeks ago that I decided to process this evening...


Pothole Point Storm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr