Kristal Kraft, Real Estate Master ~ Amateur Photographer
A shortcut is the quickest way to get from one place to another. My shortcut to Crested Butte from Buena Vista was over this mountain pass. Considering the view, I disregarded the time I was saving by soaking up this view.
It’s one of the million reasons I live in Colorado. Who can blame me?
A Beatles tune came to mind when I was taking this shot. The setting symbolizes the long winding road we take through life and the aspen trees that are all connected underneath the surface.
We are all connected as we journey down the trail of life.
OK, I know this is supposed to be a blog about Denver Photos! Pardon me, but in my mind living in Denver means having more opportunity to enjoy this wonderful place of Colorado. Recently I was drawn to visit Crested Butte, the Wildflower Capitol of Colorado to take some photos. The flowers were awesome, but thanks to the wind I couldn’t get them to stand still.
So I shot things that didn’t move, like mountains, trees and landscape.
This scene is locate just above Crested Butte. In fact the town is just beyond the ranch structures. You will notice the rooftops. I might have missed this picture had I not spotted two outfitted photographers hanging over the barbed wire fence. I’m a quick learner so I climbed up to check out what they saw.
Now you too can see it.
The Columbine is the State Flower of Colorado. It is a beautiful and delicate flower that comes in many colors.
I’ve been in search of a meadow of nothing but Columbines. There are tales and even photos of such a field. To date I haven’t found it, but I continue to search.
Colorado is famous for it’s two Aspens, the town and the tree. The tree is typically the most beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn a golden hue.
Just outside of Crested Butte on the opposite side of Kebler Pass grows an aspen grove of trees that goes on for miles. I found one section where the floor of the aspen forest was covered in soft beautiful ferns. It was a fairy tale setting while I tried to shoot the sunbeams through the trees.
At this elevation (11,250 feet) sundown means the end of a day. Much like the final curtain call to a loved show, only in reverse, instead of the curtain falling, the light rises until it disappears.
Good night ladies and gentleman, lights out!
Slate River Road is not for the weak of heart. It hugs the mountainside while providing a breathtaking view. The road allows for two-way traffic, but cooperation is a must. Two vehicles barely fit side-by-side, so one needs to crouch closely on the outer edge when traffic passes.
If that isn’t difficult enough, there are also rock slides and mountain streams that one must cross over.
The light reflects off the tree tops and the peak of a distant mountain. The day is done and now I am rewarded for simply being there. Elevation 11,250 feet above sea level. Rock on!
My goal was to wake up on top of a mountain at first light. As it turned out, the best time to be there was at sunset. This was taken on top of Paradise Pass in Colorado, just outside of Crested Butte.
They say you need a 4-wheel drive to get there. But this gal did it in a Lexus 330. The 4=wheeler Jeep types, just moved over and let me pass by.
