Down By The San Miguel River in May

The San Miguel River downstream from Naturita, Colorado, with muddy spring runoff from the high country.

The lower San Miguel River in Montrose County's West End is a cold high country stream running through red rock canyons of the high desert. It's a ribbon of green in a rocky and sandy land.

Growing leaves of Gambel Oak on the San Miguel floodplain. 

Between the town of Naturita ("little nature") and its confluence with the Dolores River, the San Miguel flows through both private and public land. The Nature Conservancy owns part of it, the Tabeguache (pronounced "tabba-shay" by the locals) Preserve, which it keeps open to the public on a day use basis.

The Nature Conservancy's Tabeguache Preserve on the lower San Miguel River.

"The San Miguel, a major tributary of the Colorado River, is one of the few remaining naturally functioning rivers in the West and is home to some of the best riparian (streamside) habitat in the upper Colorado basin." So says The Nature Conservancy on its interpretive signage along the river.

The Nature Conservancy has three preserves in the San Miguel River basin.

A particular spot I have been becoming familiar with is down a quiet dirt spur through the sagebrush  and oak brush to the river.

Claret-cup cactus beginning to bloom.

Some of the Claret-cup cactus, earliest of cacti bloomers, were opening their blossoms.

Blossom of one of the barrel cactus species near the San Miguel River.

So were some barrel cactus nearby.

The inconspicuous flowers of Gambel Oak.

The Gambel Oak ("oakbrush") flowers and leaves were expanding. Hopefully this year they won't get nailed by a late freeze, which prevented acorn production last year.

See more of my best photography on my website: www.NaturalMoment.com.

© Copyright 2018 Stephen J. Krieg

The Edge Of Spring, Mesa Verde

Cliff Canyon on a March morning.

The middle of March of a mild winter and I was searching for the very first signs of spring at 7,000 feet in Mesa Verde National Park.

A recent weak storm system had left the air clear and crisp in the morning sunlight. I began with a morning drive around the Mesa Top Loop road as well as the newly reopened for the season Cliff Palace Loop road.

Cliff Palace, the crown jewel of Mesa Verde National Park.

I stopped to make a panorama of Cliff Palace in soft morning shade. Then another for views of Cliff Canyon and the House Of Many Windows Ruin.

House Of Many Windows, Cliff Canyon. They are actually doorways, not windows.

Returning in late afternoon I made another panorama of Square Tower House, my favorite in the park.

Square Tower House site on a March afternoon.

And I once again tried to imagine how the ancient ones could build a four story tower by hand out of sandstone "bricks" and mud mortar. No iron tools yet, only stone tools. No beasts of burden. Only humans. Amazing.

Square Tower House site, featuring the tallest structure in the park.

Back on the Cliff Palace road, I bypassed the Balcony House parking lot, looking at the few tourists that had stopped to see it. Surprise: you can't. Not from there. Because it's in the alcove underneath you. The Ranger led tours down to it hadn't started for the season.

Hemenway House, from across the canyon.

But I did stop at the overlook for Hemenway House, which you're not allowed to tour at all. Same as with most of the park. Too many sites, too rugged.

It would take massive road construction to reach even a fraction more than you can now. Instead, you get to see the most impressive sites, and the rest are protected for research.

Balcony House from the Soda Canyon overlook.

But I wanted some more shots of Balcony House. So I hiked the easy Soda Canyon Overlook Trail to the viewpoint across the head of the canyon.

Balcony House, with a long lens.

On the hike back I photographed the only emerging greenery I could find: bunch grasses and Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata).

New spring growth, bunch grass.

Emerging leaves of Bitterbrush, Purshia tridentata (meaning three lobed, you can see some already).

I was also interested in how the cacti had fared during the winter. Their somewhat leathery and waxy "skin" preserves moisture but by now they were looking quite wrinkled, waiting to revive themselves.

Wrinkled pads of Prickly Pear Cactus at the end of winter.

And the Banana Yucca (Yucca spp.), which weren't wrinkled but were looking a bit yellow compared to how they will soon look again with the revival of springtime.

End of winter coloration in Banana Yucca.

See more of my photography at my website: www.NaturalMoment.com.

Photo location: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

© Copyright 2018 Stephen J. Krieg

Mesa Verde: North Rim Morning

Point Lookout, from the northern end of Mesa Verde National Park.

Early April, and time to drive back up into Mesa Verde to go to work. The warm-season crowds have not yet arrived, just the Spring Break families that have livened up the place after the winter doldrums. The days continue to lengthen and some shrubs and grasses are sprouting a little bit of greenery.

From just inside the deserted (it's too early for a ranger to be on duty) entrance station I pull over into the parking lot that is designated for visitors towing trailers to drop them off before driving up the steep tight switchbacks. The parking lot is empty this early in the season. It's a good place to stop and photograph Point Lookout, the iconic northern tip of the Mesa Verde itself. There is a trail to the top of it, from Morefield Campground on the south side of it. The gentle side.

Mancos Valley Overlook, April 2. The La Plata Mountains in the distance.

After the first set of switchbacks you come to the Mancos Valley Overlook. Take it. Especially on a springtime morning like this, with the clouds clearing as the early sunlight lights them up.

Looking south onto the steep slopes of Mesa Verde, from the Mancos Valley Overlook.

Driving on a ways, I go through the tunnel and up some more switchbacks, pulling over at the Montezuma Valley Overlook, which allows one to gaze down the other side, down toward the town of Cortez.

Morning at the Montezuma Valley Overlook, with Sleeping Ute in the far distance.

There I make several photos, captivated by the sunlit lumps of the distant Sleeping Ute Mountain, still largely covered in snow.

Panorama from Montezuma Valley Overlook.

Then the road climbs toward Park Point, which is -- no surprise there -- the highest point in the park. On this cold April morning it also means rising into and out of fog. A veil dance.

Sunrise fog near Park Point, Mesa Verde.

After Far View, where the lodge has yet to open for the season, the highway descends back to 7,000 feet and the Park Headquarters and Museum. Time to park the vehicle and get ready for work. Time to greet more visitors and share what I've learned so far about this World Heritage Site in southwest Colorado.

Foggy turnout, Mesa Verde.

Into and out of the morning fog, Mesa Verde.

Photo location: Mesa Verde National Park, southwest Colorado.

See more of my photography at www.NaturalMoment.com.

© Copyright 2017 Stephen J. Krieg

March: Out Like a Lion

Downtown Monticello, Utah, March 30. 

It's a rather early spring in southeast Utah. But plenty of unsettled weather has been rolling through. Last evening the latest one was arriving, with rain and snow showers.

Loyd's Lake, March 31.

In the morning it was snowing hard, then much harder. I drove out to the lake to get cell reception, and the snow was flying by.

Snowy Gambel Oak trees.

Surrounding the lake are stands of large (for them) Gambel Oak trees. Besides being fantastic cover for wildlife, they look great when they're coated with fresh snow. 

Photo location: Monticello, Utah.

See more of my photography at www.NaturalMoment.com. 

© Copyright 2017 Stephen J. Krieg

Here Comes Spring

Rainbow Trout, February 19.

Until yesterday I had not caught any trout since January 5. The two times I had gone after that were brutal, the cold and wind. Oh, well. If this had been a normal winter here in southeast Utah the lake would have frozen much earlier and the snow much deeper than it has been.

East end of the lake from the dam, February 19.

Back then in early January the lake had opened partially. I had trudged along the part of the dam shoreline that was open, having to keep back from the thin shelf ice. I caught a couple of rainbow trout and then retreated first to my vehicle, then home.

Northeast corner of the lake, Jan. 5.

Over the past few weeks much warmer weather has taken hold. A few light snow storms, but mostly melting of the deep snows that had pointed the local mule deer down to lower elevations where their food would not take so much energy to get to.

Last trout of the winter, Jan. 5.

Yesterday the deer were back. Trout and deer, a good indication of early spring, even at 7,000 feet in late February.

Photo location: San Juan County, southeast Utah.

See more of my photography on my website at www.NaturalMoment.com.

© Copyright 2017 Stephen J. Krieg

Deer Canyon, Utah

Deer Canyon in springtime.

A springtime hike up Deer Canyon in Natural Bridges National Monument. Another hike there, I mean. I'd been longing to return there, so I did.

Down into White Canyon to begin with. Beneath mighty Sipapu Natural Bridge, sixth largest in the world, as far as we know. A very special place, that's for sure.

Sipapu Bridge, with some hikers for scale.

Down the canyon. I'm enjoying the springtime flush of leaves on the deciduous species: Oak, Willow, Cottonwood. I love the winter snows here, but when they're absent I ache for the greenery of spring. No longer; spring is here.

Sipapu Bridge, from upstream.

Especially the wildflowers. 

Claret Cup hedgehog cactus, White Canyon.

Photo location: Natural Bridges National Monument (and environs), San Juan County, southeast Utah.

© Copyright 2016 Stephen J. Krieg