Kevin Palmer

  • Portfolio
  • Time Lapse
  • About
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Links
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
69 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • High on the eastern slope of Quandary Peak in the Colorado Rockies, I came across these bizarre shapes in the snow. Drifts several feet high were curved back over themselves, like waves frozen in time. Only recently when reading a book about Antarctica did I learn these formations have a name: 'Sastrugi'. Sastrugi are sharp irregular grooves or ridges formed by wind erosion. They are common in polar regions or other barren, windswept areas. Here at 13,000 feet there were no trees or any other barriers. The winds were relentless, gusting to 60+ mph and producing a wind chill far below zero. Sastrugi are known to make skiing very challenging, and the few skiers I saw on this day looked like they were having a rough time. In Antarctica sastrugi have even been blamed for plane crashes, since they make landings and takeoffs quite difficult. The peak visible in the distance is Red Mountain and down below is Highway 9 just before it crosses the Continental Divide. 2 additional 14’ers, Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, can be seen on the far left.
    Quandary Sastrugi
  • I loved the color of the water in Lake McDonald. Without a snowcapped peak in the picture, this scene almost looked tropical. Rocky Point is located on the southern end of the lake, near Fish Creek campground.
    Rocky Point
  • The sky was the bluest blue and the brightness of the snow was blinding. In every direction there were more stunning Rocky Mountain peaks than I could possibly identify. But it wasn't a view I could sit down and enjoy. Quandary Peak is a 14,265' mountain just south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Climbing it was one of the most challenging hikes I've ever done. The entire climb was straight on into the wind. On the summit I measured gusts of 60 mph with a wind chill of -25°F, but it was likely worse at times. Covering every inch of skin was the only way to avoid frostbite. It was all I could do just to remain upright and not have any of my gear blow away. Changing lenses or using a tripod was not an option. Quandary Peak is considered one of Colorado's easier 14'ers and the safest in the winter since the route avoids avalanche terrain. But on days like this, it should not be underestimated.
    South Slope of Quandary
  • The sky was the bluest blue and the brightness of the snow was blinding. In every direction there were more stunning Rocky Mountain peaks than I could possibly identify. But it wasn't a view I could sit down and enjoy. Quandary Peak is a 14,265' mountain just south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Climbing it was one of the most challenging hikes I've ever done. The entire climb was straight on into the wind. On the summit I measured gusts of 60 mph with a wind chill of -25°F, but it was likely worse at times. Covering every inch of skin was the only way to avoid frostbite. It was all I could do just to remain upright and not have any of my gear blow away. Changing lenses or using a tripod was not an option. Quandary Peak is considered one of Colorado's easier 14'ers and the safest in the winter since the route avoids avalanche terrain. But on days like this, it should not be underestimated.
    Summit of Quandary
  • It wasn't a bad sunrise at Squaw Mountain right before I hiked back to my car.
    Squaw Mountain Sunrise
  • This meadow was in the North Fork section of Glacier National Park near Polebridge.
    North Fork Evening
  • A waterfall is illuminated under the moonlit sky. The peak in the background is the 8,760 foot Clements Mountain.
    Glacier Moonlight
  • The Squaw Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is just 25 miles west of Denver and has a great view of the city lights coming on. The fog and clouds quickly cleared out as it got darker.
    Denver At Twilight
  • Rainbow Peak lights up before sunset beyond a grove of aspen trees. This view is from the north side of Glacier National Park, near Polebridge.
    Rainbow Peak
  • After not being able to see the sun at all the previous day, this morning dawned crystal clear at Squaw Mountain. But it was very windy with lots of blowing snow. At night I measured a wind chill as low as -40°F.
    The Winds of Dawn
  • This is one of many amazing views you'll see when driving Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park.. If you look closely under the glacier you can see Bird Woman Falls which drops 560 feet. It has a much higher flow in the spring and is a lot harder to see in the fall.
    Crown of the Continent
  • Bowman Lake is located on the north side of Glacier National Park. It is long and skinny, and quite shallow along the edges, which allowed me to wade in and get this picture.
    Bowman Lake
  • All morning long I watched fascinating lenticular clouds form around Squaw Mountain. This view is looking at Longs Peak.
    Longs Peak Lenticular
  • This view of the Rocky Mountains is from the 12,000 feet high Loveland Pass. Hidden in the valley below is Interstate 70, where it crosses the Continental Divide at Eisenhower Tunnel.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 11/8/2013
    Loveland Pass
  • Sheep Mountain has been on my list of peaks to climb for awhile. In the summer it's possible to drive to the top of this 9,610' mountain. But that's too easy, so I went in the winter. Snow depths varied from bare ground to drifts 15 feet high. After snowshoeing an exhausting 6 miles while carrying a heavy pack, I made it to the top with barely enough time to pitch a tent before dark. The summit itself is too rocky and exposed to the wind, but I found a nearby campsite that was flat enough and more sheltered. At sunrise the next morning the views were incredible. Looking east, I could see parts of the Black Hills well over 100 miles away. When the sun made it over the horizon, it was only visible for a couple minutes. But this ephemeral light show was worth all the effort to get here.
    Sheep Mountain Sunrise
  • For the Geminid meteor shower I snowshoed to the top of the continental divide in Western Montana. From the Granite Butte lookout tower, the views were stunning in every direction. The weather changed by the second alternating between snow showers, gale force winds, freezing fog with zero visibility, clear skies, and brief moments of calm. The tough whitebark pine trees which grow up here are all permanently bent. They point eastward from the prevailing westerly winds which almost never stop. The low temperatures, strong winds, and fog combined to create hard rime ice, which covered every surface (including me and my camera) with a coating up to 2 inches thick. To say that shooting conditions were challenging would be an understatement. My tripod had to be carefully propped up to avoid it blowing over. And with all my batteries dying too soon, I didn't get to take as many pictures as I wanted to. This was one of the brighter meteors which shone through the fog. The lights on the right are from the city of Helena.
    Through the Freezing Fog
  • The views at sunrise were stunning from the Granite Butte fire lookout on Montana's continental divide. All the whitebark pine trees were coated with thick rime ice and fog drifted around the valleys.
    Rime Before Dawn
  • Morning sunlight illuminates an unnamed peak in Montana's Beartooth Mountains. This was the view I woke up to while camping in the East Rosebud Valley in Early May. In this mountain range are found dozens of glaciers, and the largest high elevation plateau in the US outside of Alaska. In the upper reaches of these steep slopes avalanche activity was high. A cornice, which is an overhang of snow caused by strong winds, can be seen on the upper right. Overnight the snow solidified as the temperatures cooled. But once the sunlight touched the snow and temperatures warmed, the snow became unstable and gave way. In my 10 mile hike through the wilderness I witnessed about 20 avalanches, most of them small. Sometimes I would hear them before I saw them, with the noise sounding like distant thunder. See below for a picture of one.
    Beartooth Mountain Majesty
  • The views at sunrise were stunning from the Granite Butte fire lookout on Montana's continental divide. This is looking west where an atmospheric inversion trapped fog in the valleys.
    West of the Divide
  • The weather was a lot clearer this morning compared to the evening before. But freezing fog still occasionally drifted past Granite Butte, obscuring the valleys below.
    Morning Freezing Fog
  • There are at least a dozen waterfalls flowing down Baronette Peak in Yellowstone National Park.
    Mountain of Waterfalls
  • I witnessed about a dozen small avalanches off of the face of this cliff. Some of them were loud enough that the sound would thunder across the valley and I would hear it before I saw it. I waited along the shore of Elk Lake until I was able to get a clear shot of this avalanche.
    Beartooth Avalanche
  • Crepuscular rays shine on the high plains of Wyoming shortly after sunrise as seen from the top of Sheep Mountain.
    Sheep Mountain Rays
  • Orion shines above snow and rime covered pine trees near the summit of Granite Butte.
    Granite Butte Snowdrift
  • The morning dawned bright and clear on top of Granite Butte. The sun doesn't make it above the horizon until after 8AM this time of year. When I arrived on the summit the evening before, visibility was limited to 50 feet. But now the freezing fog had settled into the valleys, trapped below an inversion layer. Underneath that fog is Montana's capital city of Helena. Between shooting meteors all night and keeping the wood burning stove going, I didn't get much sleep. But a sunrise like this makes it easy to wake up. The weather can be extremely harsh up here. It was at a pass 16 miles away where the coldest temperature in the US (outside of Alaska) was once measured at -70°F. While it wasn't quite that cold on this morning, I was still glad to have a fire lookout tower to stay in and escape from the nearly incessant wind.
    8:09 Sunrise
  • The views at sunrise were stunning from the Granite Butte fire lookout on Montana's continental divide. Red Mountain is the tallest peak on the left.
    Red Mountain Morning
  • Beartooth Lake was still frozen in early June.
    Frozen Beartooth Lake
  • Rock Creek Vista is the first scenic overlook on the Beartooth Highway, located at 9,200 feet. Looking southwest, the U-shape of the valley carved by glaciers was obvious
    U-Shaped Valley
  • There are many waterfalls and rapids along the trail to Elk Lake in the Beartooth Mountains. This one was the biggest.
    Rosebud Falls
  • As I was packing up my tent this halo appeared around the sun. This is near the top of Sheep Mountain, Wyoming.
    Sheep Mountain Halo
  • Once I reached Granite Butte on top of the continental divide, the wind became stronger. The tough whitebark pine trees which grow up here are all pointed eastward, away from the prevailing westerly winds. Every single surface (including myself) was coated with rime ice.
    Frosted Forest
  • For the Geminid meteor shower I snowshoed to the top of the continental divide in Western Montana. From the Granite Butte lookout tower, the views were stunning in every direction. The weather changed by the second alternating between snow showers, gale force winds, freezing fog with zero visibility, clear skies, and brief moments of calm. The tough whitebark pine trees which grow up here are all permanently bent. They point eastward from the prevailing westerly winds which almost never stop. The low temperatures, strong winds, and fog combined to create hard rime ice, which covered every surface (including me and my camera) with a coating up to 2 inches thick. To say that shooting conditions were challenging would be an understatement. My tripod had to be carefully propped up to avoid it blowing over. And with all my batteries dying too soon, I didn't get to take as many pictures as I wanted to. But this was one of the brighter meteors captured, flying in between Orion and Sirius.
    Catching a Gem
  • The views at sunrise were stunning from the Granite Butte fire lookout on Montana's continental divide. All the whitebark pine trees were coated with thick rime ice and fog drifted around the valleys. I had to use my widest lens to capture all the color.
    Morning on the Divide
  • The weather was beautiful while I snowshoed back from Granite Butte after spending the night there. Freezing fog had coated all the trees with thick frost and rime ice, which contrasted with the deep blue skies. This portion of the forest was burnt in a wildfire.
    Frosted Treetops
  • The snowy peaks of the Beartooth Mountains are reflected in the small Elk Lake. The water was calm before the wind picked up later in the morning.
    Elk Lake
  • The community of Alpine sits at the edge of East Rosebud Lake in the Beartooth Mountains. There are over 60 cabins here with incredible views of the snow capped peaks above.
    Village of Alpine
  • Once you are in the middle of the Nachusa Grasslands, the views are expansive making the place feel much bigger than it is. On the top of the rolling hills are outcrops made of St. Peter Sandstone.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: July 10, 2014
    Sandstone Prairie
  • The winds were howling on this November day at Loveland Pass, Colorado. It is located at 12,000 feet on the Continental Divide. When I climbed a nearby mountain right after this I experienced the strongest winds I've ever felt. If I leaned forward at a 45 degree angle, the wind would keep me from falling over.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 11/8/2013
    Mountain Gusts B&W
  • The winter milky way and the zodiacal light were shining brightly in the west after sunset. This view is from Granite Butte on Montana's continental divide.
    Night on the Divide
  • It was a beautiful evening at East Rosebud Lake. The last light on the Beartooth Mountains was reflected in the calm water at the lake's outlet.
    East Rosebud Lake
  • The winds were howling on this November day at Loveland Pass, Colorado. It is located at 12,000 feet on the Continental Divide. When I climbed a nearby mountain right after this I experienced the strongest winds I've ever felt. If I leaned forward at a 45 degree angle, the wind would keep me from falling over.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 11/8/2013
    Mountain Gusts
  • The last light on Sylvan Peak is reflected in the outlet of East Rosebud Lake. There are over 60 cabins scattered around this lake, which are part of the private community of Alpine.
    Alpine Sunset
  • At the end of September week an early season snowstorm swept through northern Wyoming, dropping up to 6 inches in the mountains and valleys. I spent a few hours in the Bighorn Mountains trying to capture the clash of seasons. The snowstorm coincided with the peak of fall colors, although some trees were already bare. Aspen trees are not as widespread in the Bighorns as they are in other parts of the Rockies, growing only in a few areas. Circle Park is one spot I knew I could find them. The trees in an aspen stand are actually clones of one another, all connected by an extensive underground root system. While an individual tree may only live 100 years, aspen groves as a whole are some of the oldest and largest living organisms on Earth. Aspens can survive wildfires much better than conifers, but they require more sunlight to grow.
    September Snow
  • At the end of September an early season snowstorm swept through northern Wyoming, dropping up to 6 inches in the mountains and valleys. I spent a few hours in the Bighorn Mountains trying to capture the clash of seasons. The snowstorm coincided with the peak of fall colors, although some trees were already bare. Aspen trees are not as widespread in the Bighorns as they are in other parts of the Rockies, growing only in a few areas. Circle Park is one spot I knew I could find them. The trees in an aspen stand are actually clones of one another, all connected by an extensive underground root system. While an individual tree may only live 100 years, aspen groves as a whole are some of the oldest and largest living organisms on Earth. Aspens can survive wildfires much better than conifers, but they require more sunlight to grow.
    White Fall Foliage
  • On this day I headed up into the mountains with one goal: to capture the snow and fall colors together as two seasons collided. A snow storm occurring when the colors are at their peak is not something that happens every year. I wanted to be there the moment the storm ended and the sun came out, because fresh snow does not stay looking fresh for very long. Temperatures remained in the high 20’s all day and rime ice caused by freezing fog had coated the forest as well. The sun finally came out shortly after 5PM and then soon disappeared behind a nearby ridge. Aspen trees are not as widespread in the Bighorns as they are in other parts of the Rockies. Large clusters of them can be hard to find, but this stand across from Antelope Butte is one of the larger ones that I’m aware of. All the trees in an aspen stand are actually clones of one another. They are connected underground by a vast root system. This makes aspen trees some of the largest living organisms on Earth.
    Autumn Frosting
  • On this day I headed up into the mountains with one goal: to capture the snow and fall colors together as two seasons collided. A snow storm occurring when the colors are at their peak is not something that happens every year. I wanted to be there the moment the storm ended and the sun came out, because fresh snow does not stay looking fresh for very long. Temperatures remained in the high 20’s all day and rime ice caused by freezing fog had coated the forest as well. The sun finally came out shortly after 5PM and then soon disappeared behind a nearby ridge. Aspen trees are not as widespread in the Bighorns as they are in other parts of the Rockies. Large clusters of them can be hard to find, but this stand across from Antelope Butte is one of the larger ones that I’m aware of. All the trees in an aspen stand are actually clones of one another. They are connected underground by a vast root system. This makes aspen trees some of the largest living organisms on Earth.
    Aspens and Snowy Cliff
  • Steamboat Point is a favorite mountain of mine that I've climbed more than any other. But I've never been able to catch a great sunset from the top, until now. The 7,877' peak is close to Sheridan and easy to access year round. On the lower south-facing slope the snow is quick to melt. After the trail bends around into the forest, the snowpack is often a couple feet deep in the winter. But the summit itself is usually scoured clean by the frequent strong winds. I'd estimate winds were gusting to about 80mph up here, making it difficult to stand up straight. But it was these same winds that contributed to the fiery sunset. On warm winter or early spring days it's common to get lenticular or mountain wave clouds over the Rockies. They are caused by oscillations in the air flow after encountering a mountain range. When the sun catches them just right, the color and texture of these clouds can be truly stunning.
    First Sunset of February
  • I spent Memorial Day chasing storms across the Colorado High Plains. Colorado may not be the first state people think of when it comes to tornadoes. But it actually sees more than 50 a year on average, mostly in the eastern third of the state. Upslope flow causes storms to fire when moist southeasterly winds encounter the Rockies. The Palmer Divide is a ridge east of the Front Range and it creates what's known as the Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone. The changing winds in the DCVZ generates extra spin which makes storms rotate. But many of the tornadoes are weak and short-lived, at least they were on this day. Of the 3 possible twisters I saw, none of them were very clear. This was taken near Holyoke when swirling dust appeared underneath a funnel.
    Holyoke Tornado
  • Steamboat Point is a favorite mountain of mine that I've climbed more than any other. But I've never been able to catch a great sunset from the top, until now. The 7,877' peak is close to Sheridan and easy to access year round. On the lower south-facing slope the snow is quick to melt. After the trail bends around into the forest, the snowpack is often a couple feet deep in the winter. But the summit itself is usually scoured clean by the frequent strong winds. I'd estimate winds were gusting to about 80mph up here, making it difficult to stand up straight. But it was these same winds that contributed to the fiery sunset. On warm winter or early spring days it's common to get lenticular or mountain wave clouds over the Rockies. They are caused by oscillations in the air flow after encountering a mountain range. When the sun catches them just right, the color and texture of these clouds can be truly stunning.
    Vertigo Inducing Sunset
  • Over the last month I've been staying closer to home for obvious reasons. But I'm grateful to have places like this nearby. Lately I've been visiting blocks of public land out on the plains where the snow has already melted. From here I set off cross-country, not following a specific trail. There's a certain freedom that's felt when exploring without a destination in mind. With expectations low, I simply head wherever looks most interesting. From the top of a high hill this is the stunning view I found looking west. The town of Buffalo is tucked away behind the hills but this perspective makes it look like there's nothing around. Cloud Peak at 13,167' is the tallest in the Bighorn Mountains, and it holds the last remaining glacier in the range. The summit is also the 3rd most topographically prominent in the entire Rockies. The flat-topped mountain is flanked by the more jagged Bomber Mountain on the left and Mount Woolsey on the right. I rarely create black and white images, but some scenes are just meant for it.
    From the Hills to the Mountains
  • Pictured is a highly unusual weather event called a derecho. Derechos are a long-lived wind storm that may travel across multiple states and cause widespread damage. They occur a few times a year in the Midwest or Eastern US. What was unusual about this derecho is that it began in Utah at 9AM. Normally the Rockies disrupt organized storm systems, but this one had no problem plowing 750 miles all the way to North Dakota. Hundreds of wind reports ranged from 60 to 110 mph. I intercepted the squall line near the Wyoming/South Dakota border. The severe thunderstorm warning mentioned a storm motion of 100 mph which was a bit difficult to comprehend. I tried to make it to a mountaintop, but then had to go with plan B, which turned into plan C which was pretty much the side of a road off of I-90. The shelf cloud was very ominous. The air was notably calm and quiet just before it struck. One mountain after another vanished into the rain and dust. Then seconds later the wind was roaring and I couldn't even stand up straight.
    Beulah Derecho 3:1 Panorama
  • Pictured is a highly unusual weather event called a derecho. Derechos are a long-lived wind storm that may travel across multiple states and cause widespread damage. They occur a few times a year in the Midwest or Eastern US. What was unusual about this derecho is that it began in Utah at 9AM. Normally the Rockies disrupt organized storm systems, but this one had no problem plowing 750 miles all the way to North Dakota. Hundreds of wind reports ranged from 60 to 110 mph. I intercepted the squall line near the Wyoming/South Dakota border. The severe thunderstorm warning mentioned a storm motion of 100 mph which was a bit difficult to comprehend. I tried to make it to a mountaintop, but then had to go with plan B, which turned into plan C which was pretty much the side of a road off of I-90. The shelf cloud was very ominous. The air was notably calm and quiet just before it struck. One mountain after another vanished into the rain and dust. Then seconds later the wind was roaring and I couldn't even stand up straight.
    Beulah Derecho 2:1 Panorama
  • Abiathar Peak glows shortly before sunset during a brief break in the snow. Snowflakes were in the air almost the entire time I was in Yellowstone National Park. Some of the best views in Yellowstone are found here in the remote northeast corner of the park. On the other side of the mountain is the small town of Cooke City, the highest in the Northern Rockies. It's hard to find a more isolated town in the winter. The closest city with more than 1,000 people is 110 miles away with a 2.5 hour drive. That doesn't include the frequent delays caused by herds of bison, who often travel on the road to conserve energy and avoid the deep snow in the Lamar Valley
    Abiathar Aglow
  • Pasqueflowers are one of the earliest blooming wildflowers in the Rockies. There were a lot of them pushing up through the grass in Tongue River Canyon.
    Early Bloomers
  • At nearly 11,000 feet in elevation, the Beartooth Highway is the highest road in the Northern Rockies. The scenic 68 mile byway starts near Red Lodge, Montana, and leads to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Summers are very short in this harsh alpine zone. It was stormy when I drove up a couple weeks ago. Once I reached Beartooth Pass, a mix of rain, snow, and graupel was falling from the sky. But I knew a rainbow was likely as soon as the sun came back out. So I put on a rain jacket and climbed up this pile of rocks to get a better view. When the rainbow first appeared, it was so close and vivid it felt like I could reach out and touch it. But it only lasted a few minutes as the storm moved away and the sun quickly melted the snow and graupel that coated the ground.
    Rainbow at Beartooth Pass
  • The Buffalo National River is one of the only free-flowing, undammed rivers remaining in the United States. Cutting 135 miles through the Ozarks, the Buffalo is surrounded by rugged mountains and steep cliffs. "Big Bluff" where this was taken is the tallest sheer bluff face found between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Dozens of vultures ride thermals to heights above before swooping down at incredible speeds. Some of the twisted juniper trees clinging to the edge have been dated at over 800 years old. After hiking into the wilderness, a path known as the "Goat Trail" takes you out onto the face of the bluff on a narrow ledge only a few feet wide. This is an incredible place especially during the fall.
    Precarious View
  • Rocky Top is the high ridge to the left and Brown Mountain is on the right. This view is from one of the overlooks on Skyline Drive.
    Rocky Top
  • Vedauwoo is a scenic spot filled with interesting rocky outcrops, located in between Cheyenne and Laramie. The area is popular with climbers. The last light of the day was casting a soft golden glow across the granite.
    Turtle Rock Sunset
  • At 9200 feet in a beautiful valley of the Absaroka Mountains is a collection of abandoned buildings: cabins, a hotel, general store, stables, a post office, and shaft houses. This is the ghost town of Kirwin. Kirwin was established in the 1880's after gold and silver were discovered nearby. But the mines were never profitable and life was rough up here. Very heavy snowfall and avalanches were a regular occurrence. A bad avalanche in February of 1907 swept away buildings and killed 3 people. The town has been abandoned ever since, although some buildings have been stabilized in recent years. Another interesting tidbit of history is that Amelia Earhart and her husband loved this area so much that they had a cabin built. But when she disappeared it was never finished. I visited here at the end of August. The road up is steep and rocky, with river crossings that make it a fun drive. A storm was clearing and the sun came out for just a few minutes before disappearing again behind the high peaks.
    Evening in Kirwin
  • After a rough 35 mile drive on rocky dirt roads, I reached the Dry Fork Overlook at the top of the Pryor Mountains just before sunset. There was a large thunderstorm to the south in Wyoming, which lit up with color.
    Pryor Experience
  • In the Pryor Mountains of Montana lives a herd of about 120 wild horses. Thought to be descendants of Spanish colonial horses, these mustangs were the first to be federally protected after nearly being removed in the late 1960's. This wild horse range is not easy to access. It requires a long 40-mile drive on steep, rough, and rocky dirt roads, where navigation can be tricky. It's not a place to go unprepared. After I couldn't drive any further, I walked the rest of the way since I finally spotted the herd in the distance. I counted a total of 22 horses near the top of Sykes Ridge at 8,000 feet.
    Chasing the Mare
  • In the Pryor Mountains of Montana lives a herd of about 120 wild horses. Thought to be descendants of Spanish colonial horses, these mustangs were the first to be federally protected after nearly being removed in the late 1960's. The foal pictured here (named Renegade) was less than 4 weeks old. He is 1 of 5 foals born this year, although 2 didn't make it. This wild horse range is not easy to access. It requires a long 40-mile drive on steep, rough, and rocky dirt roads, where navigation can be tricky. It's not a place to go unprepared. After I couldn't drive any further, I walked the rest of the way since I finally spotted the herd in the distance. I counted a total of 22 horses near the top of Sykes Ridge at 8,000 feet.
    4 Week Old Foal
  • In the Pryor Mountains of Montana lives a herd of about 120 wild horses. Thought to be descendants of Spanish colonial horses, these mustangs were the first to be federally protected after nearly being removed in the late 1960's. The foal pictured here (named Renegade) was less than 4 weeks old. He is 1 of 5 foals born this year, although 2 didn't make it. This wild horse range is not easy to access. It requires a long 40-mile drive on steep, rough, and rocky dirt roads, where navigation can be tricky. It's not a place to go unprepared. After I couldn't drive any further, I walked the rest of the way since I finally spotted the herd in the distance. I counted a total of 22 horses near the top of Sykes Ridge at 8,000 feet.
    2017 Mustang
  • In the Pryor Mountains of Montana lives a herd of about 120 wild horses. Thought to be descendants of Spanish colonial horses, these mustangs were the first to be federally protected after nearly being removed in the late 1960's. The foal pictured here (named Renegade) was less than 4 weeks old. He is 1 of 5 foals born this year, although 2 didn't make it. This wild horse range is not easy to access. It requires a long 40-mile drive on steep, rough, and rocky dirt roads, where navigation can be tricky. It's not a place to go unprepared. After I couldn't drive any further, I walked the rest of the way since I finally spotted the herd in the distance. I counted a total of 22 horses near the top of Sykes Ridge at 8,000 feet.
    Renegade
  • The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River thunders over a cliff as seen from almost a mile away. At 309 feet high, this waterfall is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. It is the largest waterfall in the Rocky Mountains by volume, although the flow rate was a lot less in September when this was taken. The 24-mile long Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone starts here and in some places is over 1,000 feet deep. The canyon walls consist of a volcanic rock called rhyolite, and display a wide variety of colors. Hot springs and other geothermal features are scattered throughout the canyon along the river. If you look closely you can see a viewing platform just above the falls to the right.
    Falls of the Yellowstone
  • This rocky, treeless area is known as a glade. This glade is on the top of Bald Knob and provided the perfect place to watch the sunset while on a backpacking trip.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 5, 2014
    Ozark Sunset
  • There's nothing quite like spending the night on top of a mountain. High above any haze and light pollution, the air up here is extra clear. Stars stretch from horizon to horizon. Their slow and steady movement is interrupted by the quick flashes of meteors and satellites. This time of year the milky way is up completely by the time it gets dark. Normally camping on a peak is not an option since it's too exposed to the wind and storms, plus the ground is too rocky and sloped to set up a tent. That's why I like to stay in fire lookout towers when possible. This particular one (Sheep Mountain in the Bighorns) is very popular and has to be reserved months in advance. The accommodations may be rustic but I prefer this to any hotel. You simply can't beat the views.
    Night on the Summit
  • Hawksbill Crag is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Arkansas. After driving a rough dirt road up Cave Mountain, the trailhead sits at the edge of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. The trail passes several creekbeds and waterfalls, but they were all dry this time of year. This rocky overhang which is also known as Whitaker Point, is bigger than it looks. Sunrise is a great time to watch the valley fill with golden sunlight. But I only had minutes to take pictures on this morning since the sun soon went behind a cloud deck and the light went flat.
    Hawksbill Crag
  • The sun sets in between two boulders. The boulders are part of a glade, which is a rocky, treeless area commonly found in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 5, 2014
    Between Boulders