Chapin Chiquita Ypsilon - July 2026

 While KD was at camp Kolby, Cami and I went for a 13er hike up in RMNP.  Kolby still has his free 4th grade National Parks pass, so we wanted to get some good use out of that.  We drove up the Fall River Road for the first time and, wow...that's the nicest dirt road I've ever been on in the mountains.  Once we start on the trailhead, we made quick work to treeline.

As we appraoched the saddle between Chapin and Chiquita, a couple passed us on their way down telling us to turn back because the winds were 70 miles per hour at the saddle.  Having been through nasty winds last year on Kolbys first failed attempt on a 14er, this concerned us a little.  Years of hiking experience have taught me never to listen to strangers for advice of this sort, so we decided to press on and judge for ourselves if we could handle it.  Before reaching the saddle we left the trail and hiked steeply up the tundra to the summit of Chapin, our first mountain of the day.

Looking at Chiquita from near Chapin's summit

Victory!

To our pleasant surprise, the winds were tame as we descended to the saddle.  The route up Chiquita was fairly steep and arduous, the crux of the day for sure.

Obligatory shot of Longs in the distance

Chiquita summit

Two mountains was enough for Cami and Kolby, so I gave myself a time limit to reach Ypsilon's summit and back.  The slope was gradual and very easy.  It took about half the time I expected.  The best views of the day were near the Ypsilon summit where you look down some very dramatic cliffs with jagged spires into Spectacle Lakes thousands of feet below. 

Looking toward Ypsilon from Chiquita 

Spectacle Lakes - Prints available

Fairchild and friends

On the descent we literally ran into some mule deer bucks that had little fear of humans in them.  This made for some nice photo oportunities.  The animals in these national parks are very used to peaple being up in their business.  Just this past week, some old guy got chased by and flipped into the air by a Bison in Yellowstone, though he was not provoking it at all!  It was all over the news/social media.  At first I thought it was AI, but turns out it was real:

Elk just chilling in the valley below us

Winter Hikes 2026

On our way back from visiting family in OK we took a route through New Mexico to visit the Capulin Volcano National Monument near Raton Pass.  We lingered too long at a few stops along the way which put us there close to sunset.  Just as we arrived, the park rangers closed the gate to the road that goes around the volcano to reach the top.  Bummer.  KD decided to be adventurous and hike up the entire road with me full well knowing that we would be hiking in the dark.  The sunset was stunning once we got higher up on the road before going around to the back side.  The winds really picked up making the hike quite cold and bitter.  It was fully dark by the time we reached the top, but with the bright moonlight we were able to see down into the crater.  It was a neat experience and a cool landmark to explore.  How many 12 year old girls can say they climbed a volcano in the dark in the middle of winter?

Capulin from a distance

Sunset on the way up

On MLK day, a group of us decided to take the boys winter hiking in RMNP.  This would be Kolby's first time trying out the snowshoes.  We started at Bear Lake and headed north to a junction where we gave the boys a choice.  They could go the short route to Bierstadt Lake or the long route to Two Rivers Lake.  Of course they chose the long route.  After a grueling windy adventure, lots of breaks for snacks and a stop to add extra socks for frozen toes, the boys finally reached  the lake.  We took a quick picture before our fingers froze then returned to find a good wind shelter to make some hot cocoa.  Kolby learned that sometimes adventures require a bit of suffering and discomfort, but in the end it's worth it!

Notchtop Mountain - Prints available

Hot Cocoa

Longs and friends

St. Vrain Mountain - June 2025

The sun burning the clouds off of the Longs Peak group

 First hike of 2025 might be the closest 12,000 ft. peak to our house, St. Vrain Mountain.  This was a great warm up with just about 9 miles and 3000 gain.  I was pleasantly surprised by the awesome views on this hike.  It puts you at a perfect vantage for Longs, Wild Basin, and the northern Indian Peaks Wilderness.  This will definitely be one I recommend to visitors in the future. I went with Black and White on the images for this one:

Tim ascending toward St. Vrain's summit

Mt. Alice

Beaver Reservoir I believe

Audubon and Paiute from the summit

5 Colorado Photography Locations You Can Drive To (No Hiking Required)

 

If you're photographing the high mountains of Colorado and don't really feel like going on a strenuous hike, you might want to look into a few locations that have easy access for your low clearance 2 wheel drive vehicle.  This might especially be true if you are visiting from near sea level.  Altitude sickness is a thing!  Here are of few of my favorite spots that you can shoot just by getting out of your car:

1.  Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

 

Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to visit.  If you want a true alpine experience above treeline, take the drive along trail ridge road.  Enjoy alpine wildflowers, unique rock formations and stunning views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide.  All of this can be had from pull-offs along the road.  Keep in mind, there is a National Park fee and this place can get crowded on summer weekends.  

2. Chautauqua Park, Boulder

 

  

The city of Boulder sits along the base of the Front Range foothills a short drive from Denver. The most iconic features here are the Flatirons - huge rocky crags that shoot out from the landscape.  Great views can be seen from the entrance.  In fact, the above picture was taken standing in the parking lot!

3. Crested Butte

 

 Crested Butte is called the "Wildflower Capitol of Colorado".  A super neat town with abundant foliage and aspen groves all around it.  From here, you can literally just pick any road to drive down and see great views.  Kebler pass is a great spot in the fall.  It boasts the largest aspen grove in the country...err...world!

4. Dallas Divide

 

 

 The Sneffels Range near the historic town of Ouray is known as "Switzerland of America".  The mountains here are unique and jagged rising abruptly from the landscape below.  Taking Hwy 62 from Ridgway to Telluride goes along the Dallas Divide.  Prime country here.  You can't trespass onto this pasture land that is own by Ralph Lauren, but the best views are along the road anyway.  Once when standing here, I could hear elk bugling and cattle mooing at the same time.

5. Great Sand Dunes National Park

 

 

 Want to go to an ocean-less beach in the middle of the mountains?  The Great Sand Dunes are a true natural wonder.  The highest ones rise up to an elevation of 9,000 ft.  They are super fun to play in with kids, (or adults) but are a bit of a workout if you want to climb to the top.  No worries though, the prime photography spots are near the entrance to the park.  

Got any other easy access photography spots?  Let me know what else could be added to the list!

Hiking Sky Pond, RMNP - June, 2020

Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park - Prints available

This past weekend we did a "warm up" hike to Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park.  This has got to be one of the best hikes in the whole Estes Park area.  The lake sits at the base of rugged spires known as the Sharkstooth and 13,000 ft. Taylor Peak.  In early June, there was plenty of snow to cross with an exciting scramble up a waterfall to reach this high glacial lake.  Marmots and other critters weren't afraid of people up here. One even walked right up to our feet!  A good day with great friends and a "manhandler" at Smokin' Daves for lunch is always a worthy prize for such a workout.

The Loch

Lake of Glass

The Sharkstooth

...And here's a relaxing set of video clips from the hike:

Four Seasons Mountain Photography

This past year, we visited specific scenic locations four different times throughout the year.  We chose easily accessible, yet scenic areas of Colorado to shoot all four seasons.  These photographs represent what I believe to be iconic views of our mountains with aspens or other foliage in the foreground to show the changing of the colors in the different seasons.  The first area is the Sawatch Range of central Colorado near the towns of Leadville and Buena Vista:

4 Seasons on Mt. Elbert - The tallest mountain in Colorado

4 Seasons - Cabin reflection

4 Seasons - Colorado 14er Mt. Yale

4 Seasons - Colorado 14er mt. Princeton

 The second location was close to home.  Rocky Mountain National Park and the Front Range are within an hour of our home, so naturally it works well for us to take day trips to get to these spots easier:

4 Seasons - Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

4 Seasons - Hallett and Flattop Mountain

4 Seasons - The Boulder Flatirons

4 Seasons - Longs Peak

Prints of each individual image in these collages is also available on it's own.  Check out my four seasons gallery link below for all the photographs:

4 Seasons Gallery