journeys

I love to explore new places, to immerse myself in the beauty of this wonderous Earth.  Today I share with you a few photos of favorite places to which I've journeyed.  

Ophir Pass, Colorado, 11789'

Ophir Pass is near Telluride in Southeastern Colorado.  The road is dirt, narrow, rocky, and often with steep drop offs.  The view is magnificent!  The path climbs out of aspen groves littered with wildflowers, and ascends into fields of gray, green, and maroon talas.  I was there in late September of 2007 and 2 days later the pass was closed due to snow.  See the San Miguel Mountains in the distance?  To get to Ophir Pass, we took US Highway 550 North from Durango.  Between Silverton and Ouray 550 is known as the "Million Dollar Highway."  The scenery is absolutely breathtaking!

Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana

The sweeping vistas in the mountains are so majestic!  Beauty abounds in the smaller things as well--colorful rocks, wild animals, gorgeous flowers.  Breathe the air and let joy fill your spirit! 

Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles

Oh how I do love St. Maarten!  The beaches are gorgeous.  Some are small; some are long.  Some are crowded and busy; some are secluded and serene.  There's always something to explore here...and time to let your soul simply be alive.  

LINKS:

description of Ophir Pass drive

Hidden Lake trail 
St. Maarten beaches 


LINKS to my past posts:

Glacier National Park:

escape  one of a view along Ophir Pass; most are of Grinnell Glacier
Majesty  Hidden Lake near Logan Pass
along the Hidden Lake Treail with some fun questions asked of Park Rangers 
Glacier Skies  Hidden Lake Trail

St. Maarten:

Cupecoy (one of my favorite photos)

Sail Away  Cupecoy beach with a poem by John Masefield
maps + a couple photos
sunset and sunset (Cupecoy)
Baie Longue  
Pointe de Bluff 

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock, as we work our way through the alphabet.  Please do go visit the other students, for you never know what gems you may find--humor, poignancy, information, visions of far away places, stuff you've never even dreamed of!  Check it out HERE.  You may even wish to join in yourself!  This week our letter is "J."


photos by me © 2007 and 2008  all rights reserved

highways and byways

 off-roading from Silverton to Telluride, Colorado, USA

 Ophir Pass 11,789 ft elevation (mid September; 2 days later it was snow-covered and closed)

The Ophir Pass Road winds through a narrow valley up through tundra to a rocky summit.  It was once a wagon toll road used for transporting ore from the town of Ophir to Silverton for processing.  

The views of the mountains and valley are spectacular.  The road winds down through lush Aspen groves into the valley.  Below are a few views of the road and scenery.

The richness of the Autumn colors-greens, golds, earthy reds and browns, gray; and the sky fading from turquoise to a darker blue, makes this one of the most spectacular places on earth.

printable map here

This post is for The Brenda Photo Challenge.  Read about it HERE and HERE.
This challenge was hosted by Judy:  The Road to Here  and Through Squirrel Eyes

photos by me © 2007

Happy Earth Day!

Ophir Pass, Colorado
photo by me ©2007

escape

mountains....

Ophir Pass, Colorado, on the road between Telluride and Silverton through the San Juan Mountains

Wild Goose Island, Glacier National Park, Montana

LINKS to other photos:

http://http//www.flickr.com/photos/8206650@N02/2274277701/

http://http://gonw.about.com/od/photosmt/ig/Glacier-National-Park/Going-to-the-Sun-Viewpoint.--1k.htm

Glacier National Park, trail along Logan Pass to Hidden Lake http://http://www.takemytrip.com/06glacier/06_16a.htm


 

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park

This post was inspired by Chrisy's blog post "Escape" at Sophism Press: http://sophismpress.blogspot.com/2009/02/escape.html

These are places of wonder and awe. I have been to many of the national parks in the US, but went to Glacier for the first time last September. It is a magnificant, majestic place. There are no words to describe its awesome beauty.
 

LINKS (Glacier National Park):

http://http//www.glacier.national-park.com/

http://http//www.nps.gov/glac/

http://http//gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_park/mt_glaci.htm

Grinnell Galcier: http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinnell_Glacier

some outstanding photos of Grinnell Glacier: http://http//www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.glacier.7.html

A glacier forms when more snow and ice accumulates than melts. This accumulation of ice and snow presses down on the more flexible layers below. This flexible layer allows the ice to move. Depending on the amount of ice, the angle of the slope, and the pull of gravity, the ice may start to move downhill. Once this mass of snow and ice begins to move, it is called a glacier.

The distinctive blue color of glacial ice is actually created by the slight absorption of red light.

LINKS (about glaciers):

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaciers

all photos taken by me 'cause I was there--© 2007-2008