Fiery Badlands - Prints available

 

Our big vacation this summer wasn't our usual backpack into the Rockies, but a family trip to visit Nathan and Kameryn and the cousins in Pine Haven.  We just hung out the first couple days and the kids got to play their Playstation VR, then we went for some fun in Rapid City to a water park and Reptile Gardens.  We did do a couple photography outings a couple of evenings.  KD and I spent an evening at Devil's Tower to shoot the sunset and some night sky photos.  She was super patient waiting for dark to come that night waiting for the milky way to show.  Another night we were able to get out to Badlands National Park, which I didn't even know exhisted until we were up there in the hotel and looking at some pamphlets.  I'm glad we checked that one out.  It was such a hidden gem out in the middle of nowhere!

Devil's Tower Milky Way - Prints available

New Paintings - Summer 2022

 This was the first summer we've had that Cami has been working while I stay home and play Mr. Mom.  It's been an adjustment, but we found our groove.  We all spent a few hours in the mornings painting and jamming out to Skillet in the studio before we went on to chores and the rest of our day.  I was able to finish a couple paintings during these sessions with the kids.  The first one features an awesome sunset I shot a couple summers ago from up high on the rock cut formation along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park:

Blocking in color

Finishied acrylic painting - Prints Available

The second is of a peaceful waterfall inspired by an off the path discovery in the Bighorn Mountains of Northeasterrn Wyoming.  This one took a bit longer with all the flower details.  I've learned that I enjoy rocks.  I could paint rocks for days.  Grass?  Not so much!

Flowing - Prints Available

Lost Twin Lakes, Bighorn Mountains - July, 2020

We spent a week in Wyoming at Nathan and Kameryn's place which sits on a foresty hill.  Wow! They have built a beautiful house in a beautiful place!  All the in-laws joined us up there with all the kids which was chaotic... and... fun.  On the weekend, we went backpacking into the Bighorns for one night to Lost Twin Lakes from the Tensleep trailhead.  It was a moderate hike, though it kicked our butts cause we're getting old.  The fishing was really good, the veiws were good, and we saw some bull moose on the way out.  It was also nice to get to know Nathan and Kameryn a little better.

Sunset - Lost Twin Lakes - Prints available

Lost Twin Waterfalls :)

Sunrise - Lost Twin Lakes - Prints available

Painting - Teton Milky Way

Teton Milky Way - Prints available

There's something about starry skies that can bring about a sense of awe and inspiration for me.  The same goes for mountains.  The infinite space and giant rock forms make us seem small...or make God seem big.

This acrylic painting was taken from multiple images of midnight photo shoots of the Milky Way and predawn images of the Grand Teton Mountain Range from northwestern Wyoming.  In my opinion, the Tetons from near Jackson Hole are the most majestic and jagged peaks in the lower 48 states.  I've wanted to paint them for a while, but have been focusing on summer trips and photography.  A couple of rainy days in the mountains have kept us home giving me the opportunity to paint.


This time-lapse video is approximately 6 hours of painting time condensed into about 4 minutes:

Medicine Bow Peak - July, 2017

James had 3 consecutive days off this week so we made plans to go do a backpacking trip in the Elks or Sangre de Cristos.  However, the weather forecast for most of Colorado called for rain and thunderstorms in the mornings for Wednesday and Thursday.  We didn't like the idea of sitting in our tents while it rained so we looked for a second option.  We considered Canyonlands, but that wasn't practical.  We'd spend as much time driving as we would hiking.  Just a few hours north of us in Wyoming, the weather in the snowy range looked clearer.  Bingo!

We drove up with the intention of hiking Browns peak the first day if the weather held, then Medicine Bow Peak the following day.  We arrived in the afternoon and started along the trail from Lewis Lake toward South Gap Lake.  From there we could reach the saddle and walk up the south flank of Browns.  As we hiked the thunder started rolling in.  Each time the thunder cracked, James and I would look at each other thinking the same thing.  We decided it unwise to travel too far past tree line.  We headed back to find a place to camp near Lake Marie.

Medicine Bow and Sugarloaf from Lewis Lake

South Gap Lake

We scoped out a spot at Lake Marie to shoot sunrise.  As we arrived, we saw a fish and game truck at the shoreline.  They were stocking 2,500 rainbow trout into the lake.  It was pretty cool to see how they transfer the fish through a long tube.  Most of the fish just kind of sit there after they enter their new habitat.  The guy said that most of them are kind of in shock because of the long truck ride and the difference in temperature between the lake and the fish tank they were transferred from.  He also said about 30% of them wouldn't survive.  We were tempted to just grab a couple with our bare hands to eat for dinner, but we figured that wouldn't go over well.

Molly was interested too.

We woke early the next morning to bluebird skies and a perfect reflection of Medicine Bow on the lake.

Medicine Bow at sunrise - Prints available

Our hike was a loop that started at the Mirror Lake trailhead and headed through the valley below the cliffs of the long Medicine Bow ridge past Lookout Lake.  It then gained the steep southeast ridge route to the summit.  From there we took the more popular trail over the ridge and back down to Lake Marie.  The route was easy hiking on an excellent trail.  There was one short sketchy snow crossing we wished we had brought our ice axes for.  When will I learn?  If there's even a slight chance of snow, just bring the snow gear!

All white columbines

Medicine Bow wildflowers - Prints Available

Looking north at Browns Peak

Snow crossing

Looking back down at the lakes from the summit.  You can see a small group of hikers to the right.

West

Summit selfie...THAT BEARD!!!

Gentle terrain on the return route to Lake Marie