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Helianthus petiolaris, Prairie Sunflower, Great Sand Dunes, late summer.
From a recent camping trip to the Great Sand Dunes with some of my favorite people. It's been years (if ever) since I've taken a real step away from the stresses of life. It was much needed, almost a detox from what's been going on. Plus, a couple of us enjoy photography as a side hobby, I must say it was a blast getting to do some photography with my bro. This means all of you get some treats from our journey as well!
This was the first time I've been out in the dunes, but this is a place I've dreamed of going to since I was a child. One thing that surprised me was the amount of random green spots. The lighting felt very strange there too, the whole place seemed very surreal.
From a recent camping trip to the Great Sand Dunes with some of my favorite people. It's been years (if ever) since I've taken a real step away from the stresses of life. It was much needed, almost a detox from what's been going on. Plus, a couple of us enjoy photography as a side hobby, I must say it was a blast getting to do some photography with my bro. This means all of you get some treats from our journey as well!
This was the first time I've been out in the dunes, but this is a place I've dreamed of going to since I was a child. One thing that surprised me was the amount of random green spots. The lighting felt very strange there too, the whole place seemed very surreal.
Category Photography / Scenery
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1200 x 756px
File Size 494.6 kB
Listed in Folders
I know! I'll be nice to spend like an afternoon or a whole day there and just pack a lunch and have a picnic :D
We're hoping to plan a trip to Moab and go to Arches within the next couple of years, if nothing else major comes up! That will be fun since I've wanted to go there for years!
Have you ever gone to Garden of the Gods in CO Springs?
We're hoping to plan a trip to Moab and go to Arches within the next couple of years, if nothing else major comes up! That will be fun since I've wanted to go there for years!
Have you ever gone to Garden of the Gods in CO Springs?
Oh, Moab would be amazing! It's always fun going to a place that you've always dreamed about. Places are so much different in person, especially when it's a vast nature type place, there's kind of a personality that never quite translates in pictures.
Yeah! When I was young my family took a trip to Garden of the Gods, that's one that I've been meaning to visit again as an adult :D
Yeah! When I was young my family took a trip to Garden of the Gods, that's one that I've been meaning to visit again as an adult :D
I agree, what got me interested in it is seeing some pictures of that park. I'm hoping to make it, if not, then we'll see where else we end up, since Roswell and Carlsbad Caverns are both places that I'd love to visit again.
Last time I was at Garden of the Gods was a couple of years ago. I've been wanting to go back again, just haven't made any plans to head up that way yet ^^;
Last time I was at Garden of the Gods was a couple of years ago. I've been wanting to go back again, just haven't made any plans to head up that way yet ^^;
Yeah, it seems like there would be some neat backup places in that area! Another thing I'd like to try in the more open spaces is night sky photography. This trip would have been a great opportunity, but I procrastinated too much, (one of those, "ugh, I'm tired from hiking all day, I'll do it tomorrow night!" things, haha. Note to self, better planning!).
I would LOVE to do night sky photography since out here there's so little light pollution. I just don't have the proper anything for my camera to do it yet. Also, I'd have to make sure to have someone willing to go with me since one of the areas I frequent got taken over by a mountain lion (I haven't seen it, but have seen its tracks, along with the tracks from the coyotes that reside there).
Yeah, that was the other problem we ran into, just not prepared with equipment or knowing the landscape well enough. Hopefully next time though! Ah geez, yes, safety is huge too. Nothing like night time in nature to remind us of how scary it is to be a human in the dark, lol!
Right? I've been super bummed out about it since that area is where I always went for my evening walks, and now it's not doable.
Whenever I make it back to the Sand Dunes, I want to hike to the top of them and see the views from higher up.
Just a heads up, a few miles from there is Zapata Falls, which is a bit of a steep hike (well traveled trail) that leads to the cavern where the falls are. I've been there once, just not all the way into the cavern as I was unprepared for it.
Whenever I make it back to the Sand Dunes, I want to hike to the top of them and see the views from higher up.
Just a heads up, a few miles from there is Zapata Falls, which is a bit of a steep hike (well traveled trail) that leads to the cavern where the falls are. I've been there once, just not all the way into the cavern as I was unprepared for it.
Aw, that makes it worse when you remember the place as a safe, but then it's not! That's an awesome idea for the dunes! I was curious about the view up there too. I kept having to remind myself, that particular hike requires a little more planning than I had put in, even if at first glance it looks like a brief skip to the top. Perspective was a little disorienting to me, haha. Yes! Zapata Falls was one of the hikes we had on our list. The day we were going to try for it, morning plans leaked into the afternoon plans, so next time! I did hear that this time of year might be a good time. When my neighbors went earlier this year, they were saying the water was a bit too high, but the cavern sounds like it would be fun to explore.
If planned out properly, wintertime is the best time for Zapata Falls since they're beautiful to see when they're frozen over! That's one of my goals, but I need to get lots of thermal clothing to layer on and such. If you want just a casual hike, then now would be a good time, just make sure you have plenty of water and/or hard candies since it's a bit of a steep hike. I also recommend carrying anything in a backpack.
It sucks because that area was my little area for walks and enjoying exquisite sunsets! Maybe one day it will be safe again. It just depends on what CDOW does to the mountain lion now that school's started again.
It sucks because that area was my little area for walks and enjoying exquisite sunsets! Maybe one day it will be safe again. It just depends on what CDOW does to the mountain lion now that school's started again.
Oh, I didn't even think of the falls being frozen, that would be spectacular! Ah, I'm sure one day it will be safe again, I can't imagine CDOW leaving a place where people frequent open to such a danger. Even then, nature changes so often, who knows which direction it'll take in a year or two.
A few years ago CDOW had to tranquilize and relocate a mountain lion as it made part of its territory on and around the school grounds (they even had to cancel school for a week!!!). A few people have seen it every once in a great while making the rounds near the Family Dollar a few blocks from here, but it hasn't proven to be a threat just yet. Maybe now that school's started up again, CDOW might take action before it moves to the school grounds like the last one.
I've seen pictures of the falls being frozen, but have yet to experience them myself! One day I hope!
I've seen pictures of the falls being frozen, but have yet to experience them myself! One day I hope!
Yeah, I had been expecting everything to dry by the time we got there! It really is a treat, some friends got to go when the stream had the larger surges of water. In our case it was pretty shallow and the surges more subtle, although I think that made it a little easier to hang out and do some photography. Such a neat place!
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