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…

Trail Dog Fitness (Trail Dog part 2.1)

Your steadfast sidekick, hairy and four-legged, keeps pace with you. He gamely balances on fallen logs to cross ravines. He leaps from boulder to boulder with the grace of a ballerina. Your dog places his trust in you and crests ragged mountaintops by your side. This fantasy can be your reality with a little hard work and patience. Dogs, just like us people, don't get fit overnight. That burst of energy you see when you get home from a work…

Transform Your Dog into a Trail Dog (part 1)

Your dog keeps pace at your side as you mount rugged mountaintops. He ambles alongside, exploring the gentle rolling hills. He keeps a wary eye out as you both dodge invisible orcs in the murky, damp woods. A stalwart dog, faithful and stout of heart. It's a fantasy that most dog-loving hikers have. And bonus, they make a great photography model when the landscapes are drab or weather isn't cooperating (had to tie in with photography!) . Aside: while I…

Tips on Optimizing Your Photography Hike

Going on a hike? You're taking your camera, right? Of course you are! The trouble is: you have to consider weight. After loading up your backpack or fanny pack with water, food, a first aid kit, a knife, a sweatshirt and a couple other essentials, that 20-lbs pack will feel like hundreds of pounds after you've covered 10 miles in rough terrain. A camera, extra lens, and all the accessories add to that load (obviously). After you've hiked 10 miles,…