As NewMexiKen mentioned, at noon Thursday Mountain Time (the Solstice was 12:06) I was in Rocky Mountain National Park. Here are a few photos. Click each for a larger version.
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Looking west from the Tundra Communities Trail at about 12,000 feet above sea level. |
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The landscape was covered in small, close-to-the-ground flowers. The blooms were about the size of a dime. It can drop below freezing at this altitude (and snow) any day of the year. The flowers have a natural antifreeze. The pika gather the flowers and the same chemical helps protect their forage from cold. Nature just never ceases to amaze. |
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The Tundra Communities Trail is asphalt and accessible by just about any healthy person. But, not everyone can climb to the top of the rock formation at the highest point in order to get this documentary proof of being there. |
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The elk have a good union and get plenty of break time. |
All 20 photos taken that day, unedited. Click image to move to next photo.
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This is absolutely gorgeous! Stunning!
🙂
i downloaded the mts w/snow into wallpaper and almost fell thru the monitor. nice.
Thanks Natalie and oneken. It was mostly overcast (storm clouds) and noon, so I was disappointed in the lighting, but it was an interesting place to be as summer began.
Stunning photos of one of the great places on Earth! I’d be soooo jealous if I hadn’t just gotten back from my own adventure.