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Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, September 13, 2009
The mountain on the horizon is said to resemble a man laying on his back with his arms crossed on his chest. Its name is Sleeping Ute Mountain.
While it was pretty dry during our visit to Mesa Verde — there was a fire ban and no campfires allowed — there was a daily threat of rain. We did get rain one day, but it lasted only a short period. Dry conditions are normal here and there is evidence all over the park of numerous fires that have occurred over a long period.
The Knife Edge Trail is a 2 mile round trip walk along the north rim of Mesa Verde National Park. It takes about l 1/2 to 2 hours to walk the trail.
Historically, part of the Knife Edge Trail follows a section of the Knife Edge Road built in 1914 as the main access into the park. Along the trail you may see patches of asphalt that remain from this road. Old-timers still proudly talk about what a feat it was to build, or “hang,” a road on this steep bluff. Users recall it with a bit of dread because of its narrowness, the unexpected rock slides and its slippery ruts.
The photo is from the newest of my photo galleries and the second from Mesa Verde. The gallery includes images from Cliff Palace — a Puebloan culture cliff dwelling —, the Knife Edge Trail and more.
Gallery: Cliff Palace and More — September 13, 2009, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
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Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, Colorado, August 29, 2004
Dome Rock is a 7,000-acre parcel of land in Teller County, Colorado. Purchased in the late 1970s as habitat protection for bighorn sheep, it was named after a prominent dome-shaped rock outcropping. In 1986, the Colorado Department of Wildlife entered into a lease management agreement with the Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, with the wildlife area to be managed under the umbrella of Mueller State Park, which is adjacent to Dome Rock. While the wildlife area was renamed Mueller State Wildlife area, over time, the combined area became known as Mueller State Park. It was later determined by federal auditors that the lease agreement was in conflict with regulations on the use of federal funds which were used in the original purchase of the wildlife area. As a result the Department of Wildlife resumed management of the land and the name reverted back to Dome Rock State Wildlife Area.
We hiked in to a portion of Dome Rock from a residential area to the south.
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Gallery:
Dome Rock State Wildlife Area – August 29, 2004
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Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 2004
Our second stop of our 2004 Colorado Springs trip was Colorado Springs, where we had a reservation in a hotel. One of the first places we wanted to visit was Garden of the Gods, a free Colorado Springs city park. We liked it so much that we returned the next day to finish see the park. It has several trails as well as a nice auto tour
My first visit here, which I don’t really remember, was in 1957, when I went to Colorado with my grandparents and uncle. I was 5 years old.
(click on image for larger version)
Gallery:
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs – August 22 & 23, 2004
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Rocky Mountain National Park, September 3, 2009, about 11:40. We are on our way to Emerald Lake, about .6 miles on down the trail, past the end of Dream Lake.
Just after we get there, the battery in my camera dies, and neither of the Emerald Lake shots are worth keeping. The last good image was taken at 12:20.
Gallery:
Bear Lake and Emerald Lake Trails – September 3, 2009
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