Happy 4th of July from Ouray, Colorado!
Tag: Ouray
Ouray in June
Ouray, Colorado in June. This was our first fully sunny day in over a month!
Same Place, Different Season
A springtime shot of Ouray from the lower Bridge of Heaven yesterday, and a winter shot from the same spot in April, less than two months ago!
Bridge of Heaven Dayhike
Today I hiked to the top of the Bridge of Heaven, a high ridgeline over 4,000 feet above the town of Ouray. This is my favorite trail in the Ouray area, with breathtaking vistas of all the mountains and valleys surrounding Ouray. The weather was threatening to storm all day, but nothing ever came of it except of bit of chilly wind and a few stray snowflakes. Here’s a couple photos from the hike.
The tundra around 12,000 feet still needs some time before it turns green; the snow is melting fast though. Sneffels Range in the background.
I had fun playing around with the Olympus 7-14mm lens. I look forward to experimenting more with these kinds of close-up, ultra-wide perspectives. This image was shot at 7mm, f/18, and the front of the lens was probably only an inch or so from the leaves.
Spring Green
I got out for a nice hike this morning up to Weehawken Creek, just outside Ouray. Everything is so green up there; it seems summer is pretty much here in the mountains.
United States Mountain, as seen from Camp Bird Road near Ouray, Colorado.
Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls, Ouray, Colorado.
Ouray Alpenglow
Sunset alpenglow on the Amphitheater over Ouray, Colorado.
Springtime Above Ouray
This afternoon I got out for a four hour hike above Ouray. The trails around here are mostly dry, at least on all but the most northerly facing slopes. I did a nice bushwhack hike to the top of a peak that I always see from my house, complete with a slightly hairy scramble to the top of some big outcropped rocks. It felt so good to get out hiking in summer weather, especially after being cooped up at the computer for a few weeks. It always amazes me how much simple exercise improves my mental health.
P.S. – I boosted the contrast on this photo to make it a little more viewable… the camera doesn’t do so well in flat sunny afternoon light like this.
Bridge of Heaven Winter Camp
I just got back from an overnight spring-winter camping trip on the Bridge of Heaven, a high ridgeline 2600 feet above Ouray with a killer view of the town and the surrounding San Juan Mountains.
I’ve been wanting to winter camp up there for almost two years now, but have not had a good opportunity to do it yet. With heavy snows the last two days, and a forecast of clear skies for today, I knew the timing was right to get the shot of Ouray smothered in snow. The fact that I sacrificed two surely epic snowboarding pow days to do this trip shows how much I’ve been wanting to get up there to take these photos. But of course it’s always fun to get out and live in the elements every once in a while too.
Bluebird in Ouray
A gorgeous bluebird winter morning in Ouray, Colorado.