Colorado Vacation 1993 - Wrap Up

This was one long vacation, but thoroughly enjoyable. I got to see lots of family, as well as visit many of my favorite places. I also visited some new ones, to which I look forward to returning.

Mount Evans

Before my vacation ended, I decided to go to the top of Mount Evans, just west of Denver. It's very high; 14,127 feet above sea level according to the surveyor's benchmark. The temperature is cold year 'round, and it seems like it is always windy.

Share the road. And be careful; it's a long way down!

Looking down from the top. You can see the tiny road down at the bottom.

View of the surrounding peaks. The rocks look absolutely ancient.

A small lake at the top. It really looks prehistoric up here.

I believe this used to be a restaurant.

Here's that surveyor's benchmark I mentioned indication 14,127 feet above sea level.

A marker placed by Rotary International.

Western State College, Gunnison, Colorado

On my way back to Denver, I stopped at the campus of Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. I thought the red columns were distinctive.

Western State College

Western State College

Western State College

Western State College

Day Trip Near the Black Canyon

On this day, I met up with my dad who was 'camping' near Gunnison. I use quotes around the word camping because he's really in a motor home. Anyway, I don't remember the exact sequence of events for the day, but I do remember where most of the photos are from. Unfortunately, my memory of what the photos are make it physically impossible for them to have been taken in the order that they were, unless we did a lot of driving to and fro.

Fowers against a picket fence. I like to think this was in Lake City.

More flowers against the fence row.

Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit. Of this I am certain.

Locomotive #278, Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit.

Trail along what must be Cimarron Creek.

Small waterfall.

This is definitely Lake San Cristobal, near Lake City, which is quite a distance from the rail exhibit.

A train rounds the corner next to the river. Which river I don't recall. Hey - it was over 15 years ago.

My Grandfather's Garden

Another day of the vacation, we visited my grandparents in Loveland. My grandfather maintained a beautiful garden, of which I took a few photos.

The house and garage, with the garden to the right.

Flowers huddled up against the fence.

Lillies.

Flowers.

Lillies.

Mums?

More lillies.

And a rose.

Mountain Sunsets

One day of the vacation, my brother Al and I went to visit some family in Greeley. On the way home, we detoured through the mountains and got a couple of sunset shots.

I can not remember, for the life of me, where exactly I took this photo.

Same here.

And here, but I did catch some lightning.

TWA MD-80

One of my greatest pastimes is to watch jets land and take off. Whenever I am in the city, if I have the chance, I'll spend some time on the airport periphery. On this day, I was able to photograph a Trans World Airlines MD-80 taking off. Mind you, I've probably taken hundreds of photos of airplanes, but this is the only one that has ever turned out half way dencent.

TWA MD-80. By the way, the MD-80 series is my favorite aircraft.

Alpine Microcosms

On my way back to Denver from Colorado National Monument, I pulled off to explore a little. Here is a sampling of what I saw.

Trees and wildflowers on a hillside.

Wildflowers.

Wildflowers.

An alpine meadow.

Looks like Indian Paintbrush.

Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument is a beautiful place in far western Colorado. The largest nearby city is Grand Junction, but the Monument is actually closest to Fruita. Most people have never heard of Colorado National Monument, so whenever I mention it, people invariably ask me what it is. The best answer I know to tell is that it's like a mini Grand Canyon. It may not be as big, but it's every bit as beautiful. Of course, there is a link to the NPS web site for Colorado National Monument in the Landmarks I've Visited section.

The Grand Valley as seen from Colorado National Monument.

The most famous of my 'tree and sky' shots.

Rough, arid terrain.

Independence Monument.

A closer shot of Independence Monument.

Red Canyon.

Walking along a rock wall.

Squirrels looking out from above.

The Coke Ovens.

Canyon wall.

Canyon walls.

Morning in Escalante Canyon

After overnighting at a campground near Delta, I made an early start in continuing my journey to Colorado National Monument. It's not far from Delta to Fruita, where the entrance to the Monument is located, so I had some time to explore. I turned onto Escalante Canyon Road, just to see what there was to see. It was excellent, and some of the photos I got out of here are among my all-time favorites.

Sunrise just as I'm making my way in.

The valley is hidden in shadow, while the rock walls are bathed in early morning light.

Further along the road; the sun now fills the valleys.

One of my road shots.

Interesting formation next to the road.

Beautiful red rock on the canyon wall.

I came across an old camp.

A stone cabin.

Captain Smith remembered.

An old wooden building.