Trees

My favorite subject to photograph has become trees.

Whether it's one lone tree that stands on it's own or a forest of trees that appear as skyscrapers with a comforting canopy of branches to enclose oneself; these trees beckon to me.

Depending on where you venture in Colorado, you can find either variety. With all of the open space here, it is easier to find the lone tree.

Here an Eagle stands atop a lone tree at St. Vrain State Park. Longmont, CO

My dear friend stands facing two trees atop Horsetooth Mtn. Fort Collins, CO

An aspen tree in winter without it's leaves. RMNP

An evening view overlooking Boulder on the Mt. Sanitas trail. This tree has some wild hair.

A tree atop Rabbit Mountain. Longmont, CO

A resting spot next to a tree on Rabbit Mountain. Longmont, CO

A lone tree at Lory State Park. Fort Collins, CO

A lone tree at Barr Lake State Park. Brighton, CO

A picturesque boardwalk scene on Barr Lake. Brighton, CO

Being from the east coast, I find that I miss the greenery of the landscapes and the enclosed feeling of being in the woods. A little drive farther away from town, and you can find more forested areas here. Here are a few photos from moments experienced on the trails in Colorado that bring to memory a feeling of exaltation of the sights around me.

The Enchanted Mesa trail in Boulder, CO

The morning was chilly as it was an early start to the day and the flatirons were encapsulated in morning fog. 

An Aspen Grove at Kenosha Pass

This was an unplanned stop on the way home. It's hard to believe, but this little spot is right off the highway. With columbines still in bloom, it was beautiful to walk through. I wanted to start a thru-hike right there and then and not return to the car.

An early drive treated me to a sunrise on the Peak-to-Peak Hwy heading towards Rocky Mountain National Park. I turned around on the highway to go back to a pull off and photograph the tree line as the sun came up.

Looking out from behind a ponderosa pine in RMNP.

My favorite walks are through ponderosa pines. When the sun shines on them, they smell like vanilla. But that's not the only reason I love them. They are tall and strong and beautiful to look at.

The wonderful smelling Ponderosa Pine.

My favorite trees back east are a little cluster of white pines.

Prosser Pines Long Island December 2016

It is different here in CO; more wild, more scary when adventuring alone, more unpredictable, more dramatic. It's not a walk in the park in your neighborhood. It's a heightened level of awareness of what's around you. Every sound becomes a what if. Every cloud on a summer afternoon is a what if. Unlikely occurrences such as a mountain lion encounter teeter in the back of my mind. But I love it. All dirt roads lead to new adventures.

Signed
Angela