A HIKE UP HARTMANS ROCKS

Living in Gunnison, CO this winter was a pleasant interim experience, despite the sometimes -35 degree mornings. Now that we are packing-up for our move back to NJ after 21 wonderful years in Colorado on a sunny Saturday a few weeks ago we decided to go out and enjoy the local scenery.  The house we rented for a year is right by a beautiful recreation area called Hartman's Rocks, so we decided the front side was probably dry enough from the morning sun to allow a hike.  The area is open to X-country skiing in the winter, and hiking, biking, Rock Climbing and dirt bikes the rest of the year.

Just off the parking lot there are 2 carved wooden figures, this ninja turtle on a unicycle, accompanied by a equally displayed bear.

As we started up the trail, the dirt was dry and the sky was blue.  We couldn't ask for more.

However as the progressed up the trail we started to encounter snow, and thus mud.

So we detoured to the right, staying at the same altitude.

The rocks which give the area its name began to appear in fascinating formations.

With the occasional tree seeming to grow
 out of them.

   Sage grew in abundance between the rocks adding a nice contrast of color and height.
 

The view, even from the height we attained was beautiful looking across the valley and the snow covered mountains to the north towards Crested Butte.

However the trip down at times gave me pause as the rock surface was wet and at times quite slippery.

ANOTHER SIDE OF HARTMAN ROCKS

Tired of packing for our move back to New Jersey on this beautiful day we decided to "take a hike".

The house we rented for this past year in Gunnison, Colorado was on Fairway Lane, across from the Dos Rio Golf Course.  A beautiful place where we could cross country ski in the winter, and with easy access to Hartman Rocks Recreational Area.  As always I took my camera, and this lovely lake on the golf course took my eye.

The trees had not leafed out as yet, but they still made a nice reflection with the blue sky and clouds.

Tomichi Creek runs at the bottom of our street, separating the Hartmans Rock recreation from the Dos Rio Golf course.

As we crossed the bridge we spied this marmot enjoying a bit of sunshine on one of the few remaining patches of snow.

The path up the hill was well traveled and easy to follow.

The rock formation were interesting and varied

Many covered with bright orange lichen

As we neared the top the colors of the cottonwood bushes stems,  still not leafed out were apparent.

They ranged from yellow to orange to a subtle red.

The rocks at the top were piled into interesting formations.

The path to " the top of the world" looked deserted until this young man on his motorbike appeared.

We watch the older rider take a fall near the top of the path, but he stopped by us, unhurt and with a smile on his face

We began our walk back down , me as usual trailing behind with my camera.  I seem to have more photo of my husbands rear over the years than I do of his face.

But he did turn at least look back when I called.

Before long we were at the bottom among the sage bushes with the golf course across the creek and the snow capped mountains in the distance.  I am really going to miss Colorado!!

THE SANDHILL CRANES ARRIVE

We are back from California and Utah, and almost finished the packing for our move back to Surf City, Long Beach Island, NJ, but things have not stopped here.  When we moved to Gunnison a year ago these wonderful birds arrived en-mass but I was never able to photograph them.  I was always in the wrong place, or my camera was, so I hope I would get another chance.  Years ago I took a workshop  in Bosque del Apache, NM, where the Sandhill Cranes winter, and I got many good photo of them in the ponds there, but I had not expected to see any again so close to home.  What a treat.

There was a huge flock (on which this is only a small part) feeding in  on the other side of the field behind our house at the end of the day.

 They began to get restless,  leaving a few at the time, and it wasn't long before more followed,

 probably to the golf course for the night.

As they rose into the sky over the mountains, they turn towards our house,

And the sun hit their wings.











 I ran out on the deck and caught these three as they flew over our house.  What a treat.