Hermosa Cliffs

A small section of a huge escarpment known as the Hermosa  Cliffs, north of Durango.

Hermosa Creek Trail

Hermosa Creek Trail is an awesome singletrack in the mountains just north of town. It begins right near the ski area and travels south along the creek for about twenty miles or so. It is listed in many mountain biking guide books and is known as one of the best singletrack trails in the United States. Some friends and I rode it yesterday and I can confirm that it is an awesome ride. It rolls through very beautiful scenery and is a well maintained trail with a lot of downhill. Although at the end there is a punishing climb out of the canyon to get back to town. All in all, it was an epic experience that I am very happy to have had.

Pine River Valley

With all the water flowing down from the mountains, the growth has been exuberant.  This is in the Pine Valley north of Bayfield and south of Vallecito.

Thin line between cultivated and wild

In my backyard, the cultivated grass and planted Aspen trees give way to the native species of Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and Gambel's Oak ( Quercus gambelii).

Acid Green Leaves

Bright morning sunshine electrifies the Aspen trees in my yard.

Sunrise Silhouette

Raiders Ridge back lit by today's rising sun.

Beautiful Spring Blossoms

Frosty Mornings

A thin coating of ice transforms these trees into crystal.

Lone Pinyon

A solitary tree stands against a the storm battered La Platas.

Mourning Dove

This is actually Streptopelia decaocto. A Eurasian Collard Dove.

Back to Dust

Castle Rock

Castle Rock is a huge section of cliff 800 feet above highway level north of Durango on Hwy 550, near Durango Mountain Resort. It is quite an impressive landform that can be seen for miles. There's a nice hiking trail to its summit which offers an excellent view of the Twilight Peaks of the Needle Range and Mt. Eolus, a nearby Fourteener.

In the Country

Piñon skies

La Plata view

"J" for Juniper

 

 "J" For Juniper. In this case, the silvered remains of a Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) stump.

"J" for Juniper...ABC Wednesday for March 19, 2013. To visit ABC Wednesday, please go to this link:

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

East 4th Avenue

Lifted sidewalk panels and the large trees responsible for the damage define this stretch of the street

"G" for Grip

The roots of this tree hold tightly to stones collected from the river.

"G" for Grip...ABC Wednesday for February 27, 2013. To visit ABC Wednesday, please go to this link:  http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

 

Piñon Pines

 

The Piñon is my favorite tree. I remember going out and harvesting the nuts with my parents when I was just a kid, something I look forward to doing with my own. The specific type of piñon in this picture is a Colorado Piñon (Pinus edulis.) It grows near my front door and brings many types of birds that feed on its seeds. 

Up in the trees

Just hanging out with the squirrels and birds