I was daydreaming about alpine meadows last night, thinking ahead to a possible return trip to the mountains next summer. As a prairie dude, I’m not particularly interested in hiking mountain trails surrounded by high peaks and trees, waiting for a brief glimpse of the sun or sky. As quickly as possible, I want to get above tree line and into open country. There, mountain peaks, trees and lakes are just accents for broad grasslands. Perfect.
Overlook near Twin Lakes in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Colorado. Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 320, f/18, 1/60 sec.
The backpacking trip I took with my son Daniel last summer was a great example of the way I like to experience mountains. We spent the vast majority of our time on the high alpine plateau of the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado. Hiking was pretty easy, we didn’t push for long distances, and there was a lot of time to just wander and (for me) photograph.
As I was thinking both backward and forward about mountain trips, I was perusing photos from that trip. I decided to share some of them with you. These are all different images from those I shared in two posts last summer (these and these), though a few will look fairly similar. I hope you enjoy being transported to summer mountain grasslands as much as I did! As always, you can click on a photo to see a better version of it.
Have a great weekend!
Blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/13, 1/60 sec.Wildflowers along the Big Fish Lake Trail. Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 400, f/16, 1/160 sec.Helenium at sunset. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/9, 1/640 sec.Wildflowers along Skinny Fish Trail. Tokina 11-20mm lens @18mm. ISO 400, f/16, 1/250 sec.Gilia (Ipomopsis sp). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/16, 1/60 sec.Himes Peak Trail (burned in 2002). Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 400, f/18, 1/250 sec.Probably sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/9, 1/320 sec.Dusky penstemon (Penstemon whippleanus) and Twin Lakes. Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 320, f/18, 1/100 sec.Hover fly on Old-man-of-the-mountain (Hymenoxys grandiflora). Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/20, 1/100 sec.Wildflowers on Trapper’s Peak. Nikon 18-300mm lens @300mm. ISO 320, f/16, 1/200 sec.Old-man-of-the-mountain and other wildflowers on Trapper’s Peak. Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 320, f/13, 1/320 sec.Alpine forget-me-not (Eritrichium nanum?) Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/13, 1/250 sec.Dusky penstemon on Trapper’s Peak. Tokina 11-20mm lens @11mm. ISO 320, f/11, 1/500 sec.Old-man-of-the-mountain and other wildflowers. Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/16, 1/200 sec.Ragwort (Senecio sp) and American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides). Nikon 18-300mm lens @270mm. ISO 320, f/6.3, 1/60 sec.Trapper’s Peak with wildflowers in the foreground. Tokina 11-20mm lens @12mm. ISO 640, f/16, 1/160 sec.
Love your comment about liking the open spaces. I share your attitude, but it is probably about as rare as true tall grass prairie in good condition (i.e.) without being invaded by eastern red cedar.
My daughter and I will be hiking in Turkey along the Lycian Way and in Cappadocia early April, botanical, landscape and antiquity. Looking forward to this adventure
It was gray, snow-covered and negative 6 degrees here this morning. Your beautiful pictures remind me that nature will be buzzing and blooming again in just a few more months! Sunny-day, nature pictures are good for the soul! Thanks
The Prairie Ecologist 
Photos make me yearn for a trip to the mountains. Haven’t been there in ages.
I think our Illinois prairies May have been equally floriferous. A squandered heritage
I think
Chris:
Love your comment about liking the open spaces. I share your attitude, but it is probably about as rare as true tall grass prairie in good condition (i.e.) without being invaded by eastern red cedar.
Lou Harmon
My daughter and I will be hiking in Turkey along the Lycian Way and in Cappadocia early April, botanical, landscape and antiquity. Looking forward to this adventure
Thank you for sharing these.
It was gray, snow-covered and negative 6 degrees here this morning. Your beautiful pictures remind me that nature will be buzzing and blooming again in just a few more months! Sunny-day, nature pictures are good for the soul! Thanks
Such stunning photographs, Chris. From your delicate close-ups to your wide landscapes, all masterfully shot. Enjoyed every one!
Yes lovely landscape. After a forest fire has gone through, beautiful wild flowers appear. Natures way.
Marvelous educational excellent photos. I am sure you had a great time!!