Scenes from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Snake River, looking toward Mount Moran, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Here are a couple of snapshots from the area around Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  The first, taken from the banks of the Snake River, shows Mount Moran, elevation 12, 605 feet (3,842 meters).  The mountain is located in Grand Teton National Park.

The second photo, below,  shows Jenny Lake, situated at the base of Grand Teton National Park's Cascade Canyon.  There is a nice seven-mile hiking trail around the perimeter of the lake.

Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Tawas Point Lighthouse, Lake Huron, Michigan

Tawas Point Lighthouse on the western shore of Lake Huron

This picturesque Great Lakes lighthouse has been in operation since 1876.  It is situated on the western shore of Lake Huron at East Tawas, Michigan.  The lighthouse tower is 70 feet tall.

According to information from the Michigan Historical Center, the light shines with two colors, white and red.  The white light can be seen from 16 miles offshore in Lake Huron.  The red light marks the entrance to Tawas Bay and can bee seen from 12 miles away.

Those interested in learning more about this lighthouse and its history should visit the Tawas Lighthouse page on Terry Pepper's informative site, Seeing the Light.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel

Location: Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel was built in the early 20th century by F.O. Stanley, co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which built a steam-powered car known as the "Stanley Steamer."  As the story goes, Mr. Stanley moved to the town of Estes Park, Colorado in 1903 for health reasons.  He purchased a large tract of land on which he built the Stanley Hotel.

The hotel, which opened for business in 1909, features  neo-Georgian architecture and luxurious furnishings. Among the many well-known people who have stayed at the Stanley Hotel over the years is the writer Stephen King.  Mr. King's novel The Shining is said to have been inspired by his stay at the Stanley, and portions of the TV mini-series based on that book were filmed at the hotel.  (The feature-length film of the same name was filmed elsewhere.)

For more about the Stanley and its history, visit the Hotel's website, and the Wikipedia page about the Stanley Hotel.

Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado

Summit Lake, elevation 12,830 feet 

Location:  Mount Evans, Colorado, USA 

Mount Evans is one of 55 "Fourteeners" in Colorado - i.e. mountain peaks with summits higher than 14,000 feet above sea level.  The summit of Mount Evans is at an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters).  This small but picturesque alpine lake is situated somewhat below the actual summit of Mount Evans, but at an elevation of 12,830 feet, a hike along the trail that skirts the shore of the lake still can leave you a bit breathless!

Here is a different view of Summit Lake, posted last month.

Rabbit Ears Peak - A Colorado Landmark

Rabbit Ears Peak

Location:  Routt National Forest, Colorado, USA

The two stone pillars on top of this mountain peak are said to have served as a landmark for travelers across the Rocky Mountains since pioneer times.  When the feature was named initially, the two pillars were taller and looked more like real rabbit ears, but over time they have eroded.  The peak, which is part of the Park Range of the Rockies, is situated within the Routt National Forest.  The area is popular with hikers.

This photo was taken from Rabbit Ears Pass, which is located on a stretch of  U.S. Highway 40 between the Colorado towns of Kremmling and Steamboat Springs.  The Pass is at en elevation of 9,426 feet (2,873 meters).

Reflections at the edge of Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado

Summit Lake, elevation 12,830 feet

Location:  Mount Evans, Colorado, USA

Summit Lake is an alpine lake situated above the tree line on Colorado's Mount Evans at an elevation of 12,830 feet above sea level.  It is surrounded by steep cliffs and rocky hills covered by tundra.  This lake is about 2,000 feet below the actual summit of Mount Evans, which rises to an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters).

Principal Peaks of the Teton Range

The Teton Range

Location:  Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

The peaks that form the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains are located in western Wyoming.  This photo of the central massif was shot facing west from a spot in the Jackson Hole valley known as Windy Point. The peaks in this image, from left to right, are:

• South Teton -- summit elevation 12, 514 ft   (3,814 m)
• Middle Teton -- summit elevation 12,804 ft  (3,903 m)
• Grand Teton -- summit elevation 13,770 ft  (4,200 m)
• Mount Owen -- summit elevation 12,928 ft  (3,940 m)
• Teewinot Mountain -- summit elevation  12,325 ft (3,757 m)

The Teton range is situated within the borders of Grand Teton National Park.

Museum of Science, Boston

Museum of Science

Location:  Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I photographed this image of Boston's Museum of Science from a boat on the Charles River.  This is not a new photo, but I still like it -- perhaps because it evokes the memory of a clear October day spent in the company of good friends.

Forest Canyon Overlook, Rocky Mountain National Park

Forest Canyon Overlook

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Trail Ridge Road, the main east-west thoroughfare through Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, climbs high into the mountains and crosses the Continental Divide.  Along the way, there are a number of overlooks where you can stop to enjoy spectacular views.  One of those is the Forest Canyon Overlook, pictured here.  Located above the tree line in an area dominated by tundra, this high perch affords the visitor unobstructed views in every direction.  The sights include huge mountains, several alpine lakes, and a dramatic gorge formed by ancient glaciers.

From the Rocky Mountain National Park website:

Like other high mountain valleys, Forest Canyon was filled with ice and shaped by glaciers during the past two million years.  Here, ice flowed through a stream valley and followed the straight line of the ancient faults.  Side valleys contributed their own rivers of ice, and carved the canyons of Hayden Gorge and Gorge Lakes.  The Rolling terrain of the high country was untouched by glacial ice.

Scenic Endovalley, Rocky Mountain National Park

The meadow at Endovalley

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

This is a view of an area of Rocky Mountain National Park known as Endovalley.   Large animals like elk and Bighorn sheep are often seen grazing in this meadow.  The photo was taken near the base of the Old Fall River Road.  At the back of the valley, that's Sundance Mountain (summit elevation 12,466 ft) on the left, and Mount Chapin (summit elevation 12,454 ft) on the right.  Endovalley is popular with hikers and rock climbers.

Mayflower II - Replica of the historic ship that brought the Pilgrims to America

Mayflower II

Location:  Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This wooden vessel is a replica of the Mayflower, the sailing ship that brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620.  The Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction, was built in Devon, England.  According to an on-line FAQ about the vessel:

Mayflower II is a square-rigged vessel that is about 25 feet wide and 106 feet long, displacing 236 tons of water.  She has four masts, including a mainmast, foremast, mizzen and sprit, with a total of six sails.

The ship sailed across the Atlantic in 1957.  Today, the Mayflower II is moored at a pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts, within sight of Plymouth Rock.  It is open to the public.  If you are a history buff, or have a penchant for all things nautical, the Mayflower II is well worth a visit.

Sailboats at Frisco Bay Marina, Lake Dillon, Colorado

Frisco Bay Marina, Lake Dillon

Location:  Frisco, Colorado, USA

Lake Dillon, a man-made reservoir, is located in Colorado's Summit County.  It supplies water to Denver.

According to the Denver Water website:

The [Dillon] dam was built to divert water from the Blue River Basin through the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel under the Continental Divide into the South Platte River Basin. Dillon Dam is an earth-fill dam, 5,888 feet long by 231 feet above the Blue River stream bed. Dillon Reservoir's surface area of 3,233 acres and 26.8 miles of shoreline support many recreational activities.

Recreational uses of Lake Dillon include boating, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, and fishing.  Frisco Bay Marina, pictured here, is one of two marinas on Lake Dillon.

Field of Russell Lupines in New Zealand's Fiordland

Russell Lupines (Lupinus polyphyllus)

Location: Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Recently I unearthed this image from a 2007 journey to New Zealand.  It was springtime there (December) and the countryside was richly blanketed with wildflowers.  Among our favorites were these Russell Lupines.

Here is a close-up photo of Russell Lupines from that same trip to New Zealand.

Rocky Mountain High: The Long's Peak Massif

Mount Meeker, Long's Peak and Mount Lady Washington

Location: Colorado, USA

These are the three most prominent peaks in the Long's Peak Massif.  From left to right, Mount Meeker, elevation 13,911 feet (4,240 meters); Long's Peak, elevation 14,255 feet (4,345 meters); and Mount Lady Washington 13,281 feet (4,048meters).  These mountains form a part of Colorado's Front Range.

This view of the Long's Peak Massif was photographed from an overlook on Colorado Highway 7, just north of Meeker Park.  That stretch of of Route 7 is a part of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a system of roads traversing the foothills of the Front Range from Estes Park in the north, to Interstate 70 in the south.

Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Sprague Lake

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

This lake is situated near the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.  Sprague Lake lies at an elevation of more than 8,000 feet.  It once was a part of a privately owned resort, prior to the establishment of the national park.  Today there is a picnic area near where the resort's lodge used to be.  There is a well-maintained walking trail around the perimeter of the lake.  This photo, a view facing west across the lake, was taken from that trail.

The mountains in the background of this photo form a part of the Continental Divide.  The pointy-topped mountain in the far left of the photo is Taylor Peak, elevation 13,158 feet.  To its right is Otis Peak, elevation  12,486 feet.  Next is Hallett Peak, elevation  12,713 feet.  To the right of that is Flattop Mountain, elevation  12,324 feet.  Finally, in the far right of the photo, is Notchtop Mountain, elevation 12,129 feet.

Maggie Pond, Breckenridge, Colorado

Maggie Pond

Location: Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

This is Maggie Pond, in Breckenridge, a resort town situated more than 9,000 feet above sea level in Summit County, Colorado.  Ice-skaters frequent Maggie pond during the winter.  In summer, it is the scene of boat rides.  Regardless of the season, you can't fault the surrounding scenery!

June Snow in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Trail Ridge Road, AKA US Route 34

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

This is Trail Ridge Road, the main road through Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.  According to the National Park Service, "Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any National Park in the United States. Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,183 feet.  Due to the high elevations and exposure park roads are subject to strong winds and rapid weather changes."

The photo was taken on June 7, 2011 -- one day after this road was opened for the 2011 season.  As you can see, the snow alongside the road was still several meters high.

Kayaking on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park

Kayaking on the Snake River at Oxbow Bend

Location:  Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

This past September my husband and I vacationed in Wyoming, where we visited both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  Both were dream destinations for a nature photographer.  This is the first of many photos I will post from that trip.

P.S.  I wrote a short article about that trip as an invited guest post for the "Remembering 2010 Travels" series on the Harrisburg International Airport blog:  Wyoming’s Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks: Wild America

Taiaroa Head on New Zealand's Otago Peninsula

Taiaroa Head

Location:  Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

The Otago Peninsula juts eastward from the city of Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island.  The cape at the tip of the Peninsula is known as Taiaroa Head.  The lighthouse there was first built in the mid-nineteenth century.  It's a very picturesque spot, don't you think?

Taiaroa Head is a nature preserve.  A large number of seabirds nest in the area.  Notably, it is home to a breeding colony of Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi), the world's largest seabird species. In fact, the Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head is said to be the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere.

The waters around Taiaroa Head are home to several species of marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migratory whales.  A few years ago I wrote a piece on my ocean blog, The Right Blue, about an encounter with New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) at Taiaroa Head (with photos). Here's the link to that post about male fur seals at Taiaroa Head.

Stormy day on Hawaii's Big Island

Location: Kohala Coast,Big Island, Hawaii

We knew a storm was headed our way, so I was not surprised to see this scene when I looked outside at about 8:30 this morning.  As it turned out, the storm dumped torrents of rain on some parts of the Big Island, and a waterspout was spotted off the Kona coast (well south of us).  Local news Web site Hawaii 24/7 has published a page with pictures of damage from today's storm, and a video clip of the waterspout.

Our district heard the thunder and got some rain, but not so much as elsewhere on the island.  Still, the rain was enough to make the flowers in our garden perk up.