October 2010 Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

October's calendar is Lake Agnes located in the Colorado State Forest near Cameron Pass. Although hard to see, this alpine lake has an island off to the right side of the photo which makes it unique among mountain lakes. The elevation of Lake Agnes is 10,663 feet and it is usually accessible only part of the year. This is a wonderful hike to take if you visit Colorado. It is a beautiful and remote trail, but accessible and easy to do if you are in reasonably good shape. And since it is in the Colorado State Forest you may also take your leashed dog, a bonus for dog lovers!

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for October 2010 here

Easy Instructions
After clicking on the above link
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Elk Meadow

This time of year in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, you might hear a high pitched whistle coming from the alpine meadows. It is the sound of a bull elk calling to claim his harem and challenge other bulls. The sound makes me think of autumn campfires and coyote cries taking me to another era in time, one long long ago. My spirit craves this and I find myself wandering with the herd keeping watch and feeling alive. Sights sounds smells mingle in the primal musk of procreation and life. Nature continues.

Elk Meadow
A bull elk is found walking through an alpine meadow. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Elk Flower
A bull elk is grazing on purple flowers in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Elk Herd Resting
An elk herd is resting in a high alpine summer meadow with snow patched mountains all around. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Sunday Morning Gallery - Mount Evans, Colorado

Mount Evans was our destination on one warm and sunny weekend. West of Denver, Colorado, Mount Evans reaches an altitude of 14,264 feet. It is so amazing that there is a road to the top of this fourteener, the highest paved road in all of North America. Originally there were plans to connect three fourteeners by highway, but this grandiose vision proved unfeasible.



For every 1,000 feet gained in elevation temperatures drop 3.5-5 degrees F and we were totally unprepared for the 26 degree blasting winds. I felt sorry for the motorcycle riders we met on top huddled against the stone wall out of the brutal wind, but they were bravely getting ready for their descent by warming their hands in their pockets.



This is the Crest House restaurant that was built in 1941. It burned down in 1979 but the stone remains are a delight to photograph.



With the numbing cold it was hard to keep the camera steady, but I was determined to get my shots. With regrets, and self recrimination at being so unprepared, I ran back to the car heater.



On the way back down we stopped to appreciate the beauty of the flat alpine tundra with hundreds of little pools reflecting the sky. My daughter was also smitten with the beauty and was doing her own shooting.



Have you been to Mount Evans or the top of any other mountains?

Sunday Morning Gallery - Alpine Loop to Cinnamon Pass

Today's Sunday Morning Gallery is Part 2 of our Lake City vacation. After finding our campsite (see the April 26 blog entry in the archives) and enjoying a day of rest we packed up the 4 Runner with dogs and lunch and headed up the Alpine Loop 4WD road to Cinnamon Pass.

Cinnamon Pass Road is part of the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. This route is opened by snowplow early in the season. Be warned though, in the summer peak season Cinnamon Pass Road is an extremely popular 4WD route. Parts of the road are a single lane rock shelf with no pull offs. Uphill traffic has the right of way in these situations and believe me when I say that you do not want to back up on some of this road! There are also a few switchbacks that a full sized SUV can not navigate without several passes. If you are squeamish about steep plunging drop offs without guard rails this may not be your cup of tea.

Like many trails/roads in Colorado, the Cinnamon Pass Road was travelled originally by Native American Indians, in this case Ute Indians. The first documented travel by white settlers was in the early 1860s when Charles Baker used Cinnamon Pass in his exploration of the San Juan mountains.

Cinnamon Pass is at 12,640 and there are signs located here explaining the tundra conditions at this altitude. By the way, this is not paid advertising for Toyota. But don't you think they should send me money for this shot?

After a fun day driving up to the pass we headed back to camp and our room with a view, popped a beer, and kicked back. Not a bad day.