The Unknown

While this looks like a grave site, it is really a relic of the past with some clever graffitti. I found it on the side of the mesa occupied by Fort Lewis College

Engineer and the Hermosa Cliffs

A long view towards the north. Engineer takes center, Hermosa cliffs on the left. This is one of the great views one is treated to as they travel north of town.

Inside Yarn

Photo taken with permission.

Yarn

Here's a great little store for the knitters. Yarn!Durango has a great selection of colorful yarns of many types of fibers. The staff is very helpful and can help you get started on that project you've been thinking about.
Come back tomorrow to see pictures of the interior space

This way to Peace

In the Ned Overend Mountain Park

Prayers in the wind

These Prayer Flags were found near Junction Creek, spreading good will to all

Carver Brewing Co.

In a town that has four breweries, you have to make a top-notch product to survive. Carver Brewing Company has it down to a science and an art. The first brewery to open in Durango, Carver's has a dedicated group of patrons, and I am one of them. Their food is great too. They are dedicated to the use of  local products, like fresh, pink-slime free beef from James Ranch, which is just north of town.

Old building, new life

This old building on Main Ave. has been around for a long time. It currently houses a nice restaurant, Olde Tymer's Cafe. If you are ever in town, stop and have a bite to eat. Their Colorado Plateau plate is monstrous and very Delicious

Hermosa Cliffs

This is a small section of a very large cliff band that is north of town. A bit dull looking in this photo, but with the right light they are very beautiful, especially during Autumn when all the Aspens leaves are golden. They can be seen from the Million Dollar Highway, US 550.

Another sunset

Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times of the day. I like to use them as subjects in my photography as often as I can. I have learned it can be quite tricky to capture a nice one as accurately as I see it with my own eyes. Not to mention the work that goes into trying to be in a photographic location at the right time to enhance the effects

This photo was taken at a small park near my house. I literally ran to get there while there was still good light

No matter the weather, it really is spring...

These Aspens will tell you so.

Ears like radar dishes

This scruffy fellow looks pretty young. Looks like he/she needs to grow into those ears. I was standing about 15 feet away when I snapped it's portrait

This is spring in Colorado

After a whole week of nice, warm weather it is snowing again. After living in Colorado for eight years I have gotten used to this dramatic change in weather. In fact, I was looking forward to it

Looking Southwest

Spring is here!

The snow in town is melting fast, the buds on the trees are coming out, and the daytime temps have been in the 60's. Spring is coming on strong. I wonder if we'll get one of those gnarly Colorado spring snowstorms soon.

Horizon Silhouette

Just after sunset

Animas River

Here the river rolls by Santa Rita Park

La Plata Mountains over Florida River

I was working outside of town today, near the airport. It is always nice to get out of the valley Durango is in because the view is just massive out on the mesa. Here the La Plata Mountains sit with a healthy coating of snow, and the Florida ( pronounced flo-ree-da) River cuts it's path in the foreground. You can also see one of the several thousand natural gas well heads that dot the landscape of the San Juan Basin

The Spanish Trail

From Santa Fe, to Los Angeles a trade route once came through to take and bring goods. I got a shot at this Historic marker in the small town of Chama, New Mexico while on our vacation to Santa Fe.  We found ourselves following the Spanish Trail, a route set up to trade goods between the two large cities.

Durango Sunset

A dramatic sky for the day's end

Downtown

A typical afternoon in Downtown Durango.

Take a load off

A great spot to rest and ponder the world.

Remains

A creative decoration and a style that suits the Four Corners. My little girl called it a "dinosaur"

Heading off

Posting will be suspended for this week. I am going down to Santa Fe to visit my family. Posting shall resume on Friday. Have a good week!

High Desert

Durango is in the high desert. We average around 18 inches of rain in a year, and most of that is from snowfall. The snow doesn't stick around for too long if it is on a south facing slope, but the north faces can hold it for a good while and there can be a decent accumulation. This heavily affects the zones of plant life on all the areas around town. The areas that are facing south are dominated by the pinon-juniper forests, and the northern aspects are inhabited by more shrubby types of plants.  This leads to a great diversity of plant types.

This picture is an example of a north facing slope, just south of town. You can see how the areas that get consistent sunshine are more wide open, but the areas in the shadows have a thicker growth of plants. The water is held in the soil for a longer period of time in these spots and so more plants can get the water they need. Some of the land in this picture has been disturbed by construction and has yet to regrow it's population of plants.

La Plata Mountains...

sparkle in the sun

Narrow Guage Railroad

Durango wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the train. It was because of trains that Durango was established, and it is because of trains that Durango has a great tourist season. I am looking forward to the summer when the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has it's full route to Silverton open. One of the coolest options is to use the train to access the Weminuche Wilderness for some backcountry camping.

Some things get better with age

Like this stone building. I think it is a storage shed or a large garage. I bet it sparkled when it was new, but with the varnish of time it shines in my eyes