Colorado riverscape in both color and black & white

We carried our snowshoes down to the river this morning, thinking they would be needed in the deep snow.  However, the freeze/thaw cycles of the last couple weeks left the surface rather firm, and we were able to get around quite easily with just boots.  If this condition exists at higher elevations, we might be able to get into the deep backcountry much earlier this spring.

So we carried our snowshoes, instead of wearing them, and set them down to take photos along the Crystal River.  This shot, below Chair Mountain, is at one of those bends in the river where you can walk out into the stream this time of year.

I love this view!

Of course there are thousands of views I love.  Colorado is one of the most spectacular places to hike, backpack, ski, snowshoe.... or just live. 

The scene above is looking southeast towards the Ragged Mountain chain, with Chair Mountain on the right.  I took this from just below McClure Pass, on Highway 133, between Redstone and Marble, Colorado.

The longer days mean more photo ops, and I may be coming in late to work if the conditions warrant it.  Spring is a time for fog in the Crystal River valley, and foggy mornings can produce incredible landscape images.

Snowshoeing is the way to go

Snowshoeing was much easier this weekend, as we enjoyed the warmest weather since November.  The snow was much more settled, and we didn't have to wear nearly as much clothing. 

A friend took us to visit some friends of his.  Their house is accesible only by snowshoe and snowmobile in the winter.  We parked by the road and hiked about a third of a mile uphill.  Then we went farther up with our hosts, exploring the landscape high above the river.