Colorado: A Genuine Cattle Drive

I've been to a few cattle drives over the years, and they're always fun to watch and photograph. Grizzled old cowboys donned in chaps, shirts, and weather-beaten Stetson hats usher cattle up the main street of a town toward a corral. They call out soothingly to the cows. "On, Bess." "Turn around, lady." On an intelligent level, I know that it's done for the tourists. It's a thrill. It speaks of a time when man grappled with nature, struggling to…

Colorado: thinking about a trip to Steamboat Springs?

I have a love-hate relationship with Steamboat Springs. Or maybe it's more accurately described as love-meh relationship. I've been to the town several times over the years. I remember it as a sleepy town that ski bums filled to the brim in winters. It was the sort of town that "real" outdoor athletes and outdoorsmen flocked to, eschewing the other more popular, touristy ski towns like Vail and Aspen. When I was young, it was both fun and boring. Fun…

An autumn hike in Colorado mountains

There’s nothing like the first fall photography hike in Colorado’s mountains when the air is cool and fresh. The meadows filled with sweet-smelling wild grass have transformed from lush green to tawny gold with shimmers of silver. The smell of junipers and pines wafts through the air. Trails are sun-warmed and dry. Miles flow by effortlessly. The Colorado sky is a bold, striking blue with a few fluffy clouds sailing across.When I write “sailing across,” I mean: at Mach 4…

The Aftermath of a Bangin’ Storm

Rambling, gamboling, wandering to and fro, yon adventurers go forth. Let your nose lead you away from the stench of cities and to the sweet mountain meadows. Away from the humid, stagnant air to the cool, refreshing breeze of snowmelt waters rejuvenating the hills and dales below. Bonus points if you can guess what poem inspired that semi-coherent writing (read: awful? Depends on your stance and how picky you are). Last week, a raging thunderstorm swept through southern Colorado. I…