Monday, June 30, 2008

The Hike

Hiking is a favorite pastime for most anyone who lives in the Rockies, and we go every chance we get. With all the open space in our county, all you really need to get going are a pair of great hiking boots and some good friends. 

We started this morning's adventure at a creek, with the mountains looming all about us.


Isn't this creature exquisite? Looks like a spiny urchin beneath the ocean:

Of course, it isn't. It's really a giant dandelion, otherwise known as a weed.

One of my fellow adventurers climbed to the top of this extremely tall rock (gulp!) to survey the land before us. One cannot tell from this photo, but the rock she's standing on plummets straight down:

Mo of the mountain, the famous trail dog, probably works five times harder than any of us, because he only weighs six pounds and must be diligent in order to keep up.  He does indeed keep up, and never complains.  

Sparky is behind him.  Her job is navigator.  

Can you guess what this is?  And no, I didn't edit this photo in any way at all other than to crop it.  The colors really are this intense:  


It's the bloom on a cactus.  

6 comments:

Annapurna said...

You are one awesome photographer.

Who would have thought the dandelion would look so pretty. What a delicate flower on such not so delicate plant. TFS.

Lottery Girl said...

Dear Annapurna,

Thank you!

RE: the dandelion--my thoughts exactly--who would have thought a WEED could be so pretty?

Ken Slavin said...

Gorgeous photos, Stephanie. You have such a great eye! Love, Ken

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

What an intrepid hiker you are but so rewarding and you capture nature along the trail so expertly. Delightful photos.... awesome colours. What camera do you use on these hikes??

Lottery Girl said...

Dear Ken,

Thank you, and thanks for visiting!

Lottery Girl said...

Dear Joan,

I actually have a simple Canon camera. I pretty much point and shoot! Thank you!