Passages and the Renewal of Spring

The last grip of Winter in the high peaks hangs on to remind us of the passages we have witnessed these last months. Then comes the full throttle colors of Spring, the recurring snow melt, the brilliant green of infant growth. All to celebrate another year, to remember friends and family that have left us this year, and to remind us where we are.
A few days on the Eastern slopes of the Sierra in favorite haunts, with my best friend of thirty years.

Please feel free to open the images up for the full view.

Mt.Tom, last week of April

Spring Thaw, Rock Creek

The Buttermilks

Since 1868

Weathering of a shrine.

As simple as that.

Do other planets have seasons?

Our friends were up on Basin Mountain this morning

"This is my post" - Dances With Wolves

Almost Twilight

Alpenglow

Prosperity's Door

Seasonal Graffiti

Waiting for the horses to return

Rejuvination

The most delicate flowers bloom in the harshest environments.

Desert Peach and Granite

Welcome Spring

The bees were so happy here.

The Reports Say "High Surf Advisory"

The reports say "High Surf Advisory". Everyone is giddy with anticipation. The increasing Pacific swell energy pulls me to catch the strength and power of Aleutian storms. The ocean's equivalent of four feet of fresh powder in the mountains.

The Greening of December

   

Foam and Froth

Top to Bottom

Rolling In

A Big Beauty on the Outer Reef

Locals Only

They're out there somewhere

Morning Shadows

Smuggler's Cove

Rain, Finally Rain

California, specifically the Central Coast of California, finally received some long awaited Pacific storms November 28th and 29th.
Waiting and watching at the shore is always a great time.
Hoping for more as the season gets started.

Click to see in full screen.

The Evening between storms, Moonstone Beach

Evening Cloudbreak

Incoming rain bands, mid-morning.

Passing shadows at Santa Rosa Creek, Cambria

 Gulls fly on a 30 knot wind pushing the squalls

High tides and a large swell North of Moonstone Beach.

The Visual Beauty of Autumn in the Mountains

“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Autumn is an interesting season, even in the metaphor of life, is a time of decline, of loss, but also intense and haunting beauty.

Some places, like some people, never are, or have been, as beautiful in their fall.” 

― Luigina Sgarro

Three weeks to regenerate, three weeks to celebrate entering my seventh decade, to enjoy the explosion of color and cool crisp air and longer evenings with my sweetie and good friends in the high places of the West, three weeks to understand the recent passage of my parents, three weeks that ended perfectly with the first snows of Winter.

This post is extensive, overfilled with images, but that is how my life feels right now, full. In a good way.

Take time away from the daily disturbances to enjoy the beauty that is Fall in our western states.

- Skip

PS. These are not "retouched", the colors are truly real.

Mt. Sneffels Range, Colorado.

Sunrise on Blue Mesa, Gunnison County, Colorado.

Telluride Valley, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

Cottonwoods, Gunnison River, Colorado.

Uncompaghre Peak from Slumgullion Pass.

The red aspens are all one organism, Lake City, Colorado.

The tapestry of aspens and firs, Mineral County, Colorado.

Tranquility

You have to get there first, Highway 70, Utah.

I'm a bit obsessed with unexplainable fence lines, Utah.

Book Cliff Motel, Green River, Utah.

The Original Highway 395 Store, Bishop, California.

If this dining room could only share the stories of its history.

Rowing across a palette of blue and yellow.

The gifts of the season, Rainbow, Brook, Cuthroat.

Awaiting winters cold.

Deep in the forest the light turns yellow.

 A Blend of Fall and Monet. 

"Simplify, simplify" - Henry David Thoreau

San Juan Range, Colorado.

The original "Palouse" horse of the Nez Perce, Appaloosa,  Dallas Creek, Colorado.

Wright's Hall, Ouray, Colorado.

The Elk, BPOE 492.

The last of the Aspen leaves, the first snows of October.

Changing Seasons, San Juan Mountains.

Catholic Church Garden, Ouray.

I took this image the day Christine Blasey Ford testified.

Above Kane Creek, Utah.

Remnants of Hurricane Rosa.

6:45 AM, Kane Creek Utah. Time to go.

30 minutes later, above the Colorado River, Moab.

Mare's Tails, Highway 50 Nevada.

An RV Headed West, Nevada.

All original color and contrast, I wasn't sure it was real.

Great Basin, Nevada.

Wind Farming Central Nevada.

One of nine basins across Central Nevada.

All Shadow and light, Great Basin, Nevada.

First Snows in the Eastern Sierra.

October snows will be followed by Indian Summer, Tioga Pass.

The High Sierra above Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park.