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Lands End
Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009Our first stop in Colorado was Grand Mesa. Western Colorado is barren and dry, not unlike much of Utah – but lacking its beauty. Grand Mesa sits right in the middle of it. It doesn’t look particularly beautiful or particularly high; at least not until you try to drive to the top of it.
At 500 square miles, it is the largest mesa in the world. However, its size is not the thing we found most impressive about it. The top of Grand Mesa sits 5,000 feet above the arid river basins that surround it. As the road ascends, the landscape is transformed from harsh to lush, from brown to green. This is what we found so remarkable. There are over 300 lakes at the top, along with giant stands of Aspen, fields of wildflowers, and many different kinds of wildlife.
Standing at the edge of the Mesa was like standing at the edge of one world, looking down on another. Very cool.
Sunset at Lands End
Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009Lands End Observatory, where we would be spending the night, sits at an altitude of about 10,500 feet. This is just about the point at which I start noticing the altitude – and I was definitely noticing it here. I was hoping to get used to it; otherwise I would spend the night awake and feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath. Much of Colorado is at such a high altitude that I was either going to adapt or experience a month of misery. Tonight would be my first test.
We enjoyed great color as the sun set, although Lewis was more excited about a chipmunk he kept spotting. He insisted each sighting was a different chipmunk; I assured him that they couldn’t all be different. We’d have a chance to look again in the morning.
Exploring our Surroundings
Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009Before it got completely dark, The Boy and I decided to wander around a little bit. Beside our camper was a field of sagebrush and wildflowers. Lots of wildflowers. I’ve seen more wildflowers in other places but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many different kinds in one place before. I would be out again at first light to take a closer look.
Last Light
Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Wildflowers
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009I slept well, despite the altitude, and woke refreshed and ready to enjoy the beautiful light of morning. Wanting to do something different, I threw a Lensbaby Composer on my camera and headed out the camper door to shoot some wildflowers. (Mom, you should have been here!)
Wildflowers II
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009I had used my Lensbaby to shoot portraits before but I had never used it to shoot wildflowers. I was immediately pleased with the results.
Wildflowers III
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of mosquitoes but I figured it would be bad. This seemed like prime mosquito habitat and it was a perfectly still morning. Turns out they weren’t too bad. I was able to concentrate on flowers, not bugs.
Wildflowers IV
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Wildflowers V
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Wildflowers VI
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Wildflowers VII
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Chipmunk!
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009I had just about made my way to the edge of the mesa when I spotted what turned out to be one of hundreds of chipmunks. I had never seen so many in my life. Lewis had been correct. Time to swap out the Lensbaby in favor of a longer lens…and wake up a certain Boy!
Another Chipmunk
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
And Another…
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
And One More…
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Chipmunk Hunters
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009The Boy did not need any prodding to get out of bed once he knew there were chipmunks to be observed. He could not believe his good fortune. I could not believe what a snappy dresser he had become.
Breakfast of Chipmunks
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Reviewing Images in the Field
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009The Mom emerged from the camper shortly after The Boy and began taking her own pictures. But it wasn’t long before The Boy took matters– or rather her camera – into his own hands.
The Dad
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Looking at You Looking at Me
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Looking at Me Looking at You
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Dad and Boy
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Grand Mesa Landscape
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Quick Camper Break
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009Actually, The Boy isn’t taking a break as much as he is impatiently waiting for the Mom to find something to feed the chipmunks.
Feeding the Wildlife
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009A father and his two teenage boys joined us at the overlook for a time. Both the father and his boys had grown up in the Grand Junction area below the mesa. This was the first time he had ever brought them up to see the top of it. They had a large bag of sunflower seeds with them which one of the boys poured all over himself. It wasn’t long before he was crawling with chipmunks – literally!
Predictably, Lewis saw this and wanted to experience it for himself…kind of. He let the chipmunks eat peanuts off his shoes. I guess it’s good to be a chipmunk up here.
Come and Get It
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009
Breakfast is Served
Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado - July 2009previous image set: Canyonlands RV Park, Moab, Utah
next image set: Vail, Colorado
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