We set out today to find and photograph the famous Rocky Mountain Goats of Mt. Evans. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day down in Denver, so off we went to the high country in search of adventure of a pleasant Sunday.
Mt. Evans was our destination. Denver residents can easy point Mt. Evans out from the city. It's an easy mountain to spot, it's the biggest one. Typically it is the mountain with the snow on top, towering above all others.
Despite the fact Mt. Evans is the highest paved road in North America and it is an hour drive from Downtown Denver many Colorado residents have never taken to the time to drive to the top! I find this a very sad fact and one I'd like to encourage people to rectify!
Getting there is easy, just go west on I-70, exit at the 2nd Idaho Springs ramp and follow the signs 14 miles to the Entrance Gate. The is a park fee of $10 to enter, this fee is good for 3 days.
Driving the road is not for the weak of heart. Today we made the drive up just after a hail storm. The mountain was shrouded in clouds and lightening clapped around us from time to time. The weather was certainly not wonderful for all the cyclists scattering for shelter, but for us safe in the warm car, the scenery was as always, spectacular!
Visitors can expect to see wildlife, including Yellow Bellied Marmots (not beavers as some tourist call them), Peregrine, Pikas, Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats. Today most of these wise animals were playing it cool and keeping out of the weather. We did see a marmot, but he was the only wildlife we viewed.
On a nice normal day it is not uncommon for the goats and sheep to come up to the summit and pose for photographers. All one has to do is wait quietly and the animals will approach. They love to feed off the dirt on the summit, apparently it contains minerals needed in their diet. Not today of course!
Today was the day of the clouds! At the summit the wind blew and temperature was cold enough not to be comfortable without winter clothing. Knowing this I came prepared, but the dark dreary clouds were not very inspiring for photos, so we packed back in the car and went down a few hundred feet in elevation.
The wildflowers are blooming. They make up the ground cover of this delicate alpine tundra. Yellow fields of tiny little flowers brave the cold changing weather, wind, snow, sleet and whatever else nature throws at them. Amazing, inspiring and beautiful they are.
Just above the tree line there is a tree I call "My Tree." It isn't really mine of course, but a few weeks ago I discovered it on another photo shoot. I had the driver of my car stop so I could capture an image of it. Well within minutes a dozen photographers stopped to do the same thing...photograph MY TREE!
Oh well, as they say, great minds think alike!
This particular tree stands alone against the elements, at least 50 feet above the "tree line." Now I don't know who determined how high the tree line should be, but most trees obey the rule. They all cluster close and stop at almost exactly the same spot, except for this tree.
This tree, defies the tree line law. It stands as an individual, unique & strong. Guess that's what attracted me to it initially. If you plan to drive to the summit, you will undoubtably see My Tree, please stop and say hello.
No, there were no goats for me today. Instead we were amazed at the beauty of inclimate weather and the power of nature. Next time I hope to get my goat!
Kristal Kraft
Broker Associate, ABR, CIPS, CRS, GRI, ePRO, PMN, PNG
The Berkshire Group, REALTORS
3801 E. Florida Ave., Suite 400
Denver, Colorado 80210
303-589-2022 ~ direct 303-953-5362 ~ fax
Selling Colorado Since 1984, Serving the Following Areas:
I have lived in Colorado for over 14 years and its beauty never ceases to amaze me.
Great post. Photography is like that. You go out looking for one thing and get something different or better. A good excuse to keep going out to find goats.
What a fun goat search! I tried to find some mountain goats in the gorge on the way to St George Utah and ended up with a post about cactus blooms and roadrunners in the desert. Love your tree.
Kristal: What an absolutely wonderful post. Such incredible pictures. It must be simply incredible to live in a place where such pretty sights are so numerous. I am going to be in Denver for a conference next Sunday thru Wednesday, and perhaps I will take that mountain drive... unless once I get there... it looks too scary.
I will look for your tree, too. And as far as who determined just where the "tree line" would be... I think that was Al Gore. :) Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful city and countryside with us.
Great photography. Hope you get your goat also. Bet the goat photos will be swell as well.
I love the mountains. We have to go to Maui for a nice mountain drive like that.
Gorgeous photos Kristal. The Rocky mountains are breathtaking.
I have never lived in Colorado but you might be changing my mind. Very nice localism post.
Don R
Great photos! Photography just increases the enjoyment of every experience for me as well! Nice post!
Where are the goats? Bummer, I was looking forward to the goats. Great photos! Looks like a great adventure anyway.
... and Kristal hits another one out of the park! As always your photos and stories are phenomenal.
I spent a couple days with friends in Evergreen one September when the aspens were yellow. Then we drove up to above the treeline. You live in very gorgeous country!
Kristal,
Sorry you didn't find the goats but you did get some get photos. I'm sure it was a relaxing day, too.
You hooked me with your wonderful prose and pictures. You are a talented writer, as I'm sure many have told you. I went to CU for two years and just loved driving up to the mountains and simply enjoy the beauty and serenity. Thanks for the journey!
I really enjoy good pics. Those are great thanks for pitting them up.
Krystal Those are some beautiful shots. Gonna have to take a trip there!
Kristal these are great pictures you have taken. Looking forward to seeing more blogs from you.
What a great post, and fabulous photos. The terrain is gorgeous! Nice format with your post as well!
I can remember my trip to Denver some years ago. From Colorado Springs, we headed west and I got my first view of the Rocky Mountains. I was absolutely speechless. It looked like something on a post card.
Absolutely beautiful countryside.
Kristal - it's so you! I'll try to find MY tree aka The Crooked Tree that I found on the bluff of our property in Tennessee and had George move outside my bedroom window when the addition was finished.
Hi Kristal, enjoyed your post.
I had an interesting drive myself a while ago near there. I was in the Denver area over 10 years ago and inquired amongst the local residents what the best local ski area was, and they replied Winter Park. I did not realize that the road to the ski area went up over 12,000 feet, so I drove very slowly as the conditions were icy and there was not much of a guard railing there.
Is Winter Park near Mt. Evans?
Some people get my goat. In fact today was one of those days. It sounds relaxing there.
The only time I went through Colorado it was snowing...beautiful country and you captured it ...for sure. :)
This is beautiful, KK. You take such inspiring photos. Too bad the goats did not cooperate - you'll go have to go back, or perhaps someone you inspired will. I have driven through the area on I-70 but never veered off the highway - next time I certainly shall.
Jeff
Great photos I have always wanted to see the Rockies thanks for the views.
Your pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing...
I am still hoping to be there on the 13th thru the 16th for a seminar, and I hope to take some pictures while I am there. Mebbe I can find some of the goats ?
Kristal, I absolutely loved the whimsical nature of your quest and your pictures. Beautiful...simply beautiful.
kristal- those are some very beautiful pictures. Looks like a wonderful place to visit!
Kristal if I use my imagination (which knows no bounds) I could get a pensive, caricature of a pensive person out of the trunk of that tree :-) Very cool, who needs goats when you have the rest of nature (sorry goats!)
Hi Kristal! I love your photos and the tree story...what WAS that tree THINKING to break the treeline rule??? Or maybe that is the NEW treeline! I spent my honeymoon with my second husband in a cabin near Mt. Evans and hadn't thought about it in a long time! Thanks!!!!
Well Done Kristal, thank you for sharing the wonderful photos. WE are very fortunate to live in such a wonderful state
Very nice post. I'm a Colorado native and I don't think I've been there! I'll have to take a trip up there, it looks beautiful from the pictures. That tree almost looks fake!
Kristal, your pictures are amazing and capture the beautiful views. enjoyed reading your great post.
Great photos. What camera are you using? Wish my photos looked that great. I was up there a few weeks ago and it is a great afternnon drive with the family. Thanks! Love this State.
I think you have a professional eye for landscape photography...
Your posts and avdventures never fail to impress me. Thanks for taking me along to see your tree !
Such beautiful photography!!! It always amazes me how tree can grow in such a unique way and almost anywhere
Dear Kristal,
I just love the pictures of Mount Evans. I know exactly what you mean by that road not being for the faint of heart. We once drove over that in white out conditions. I thought that I was going to have heart failure. I wanted to let you know about another great way to get exposure for your listings. You can post them on Viscape.com, a social marketplace site for buying, selling, and renting vacation properties. It's completely free to post your listings. Here's the link to get started: http://viscape.com/properties/wizard/start.
Thanks again for the amazing blog,
Misty
Very enjoyable post and breathtaking pictures. It reminds me somewhat of the scenery in Northern California, where I lived for a couple of years. I have also traveled a few scary mountain roads and prefer to enjoy the beautiful scenery from a low-lying vantage point.
i know you are talented photographer, but it makes it a lot easier with such amazing scenery :)
everytime i go to the ReMax headquarters in colorado , I am amazed by the landscape
Great post Kristal! This is indeed a wonderful drive and shows just how beautiful Colorado can be. Wonderful pics!