Moose along Hoosier Creek

When I get the urge to visit the High Country, I generally head for one of several Subalpine Valleys that are accessed from U.S. 285, thereby avoiding the congestion and popular destinations along Interstate 70.  One of these, the Hoosier Creek Valley, is relatively broad, offering scenic vistas; it is also lined with beaver ponds and willow thickets, seemingly a perfect location to find moose.

While that assumption has failed in the past, it proved accurate this morning when I encountered three of the large herbivores feeding near the creek; I also observed numerous moose tracks criss-crossing the valley.  As I cautiously approached in my pickup, two of the moose trotted off into the adjacent forest but one continued to browse on the willows (see photo), oblivious of my presence.

It was certainly a rewarding journey this morning.  The moose were definitely the highlight but I also enjoyed cool, fresh mountain air, abundant sunshine and, of course, the peaceful solitude that I so often seek. 

Bobcat in the Snow

 Yesterday morning, as light snow was falling along the Colorado Front Range, I caught sight of a bobcat at the edge of our property.  After making its way through a grove of piñon pines, it leaped to the top of a fence with ease and disappeared into a neighbors yard.

Though common across North America, bobcats are most active at dawn and dusk and seldom seen (or recognized) by most homeowners.  About twice as large as a domestic cat, they are best identified by their relatively long legs and bobbed tail; their coloration varies across the Continent and yesterday's visitor had a tawny pelt.  Bobcats feed primarily on rabbits and voles but may attack other small mammals, songbirds, waterfowl and game birds.

Having owned this small farm for thirty years, this was the first time I encountered a bobcat on the property.  No doubt, others have visited and, in light of their secretive nature, may even have denned here without my noticing.  Indeed, yesterday's brief glimpse was just a stroke of good fortune, facilitated by the low clouds and veil of snow.

A Massive Pacific Storm

On the heels of a deep atmospheric trough that now envelops the entire Western U.S., a strong Pacific storm has formed off the coasts of Washington and Oregon and will soon drift to the south.  Onshore winds will sweep copious moisture across the Pacific States, producing chilly rain in the lowlands and heavy snow in the mountains.

Over the next few days, lower elevations are expected to receive up to a foot of rain while the Sierra Nevada may be coated with five feet of snow.  Of course, this precipitation is more than welcome across a landscape that has been ravaged by drought and wildfires and the heavy snowpack will help to insure an adequate water supply for regional cities.  On the other hand, recent burn areas will be at risk for mudslides, lowland rivers are sure to flood and avalanches will pose a danger in the high country.

Such is the nature of Western ecosystems, where prolonged periods of drought are interrupted by brief episodes of intense precipitation.  Mountain snowpack is the vital storage system for that moisture and this storm, while unleashing transient complications, will produce lasting benefits (at least for this year).

Down by the River

With all do respect to Neil Young, I did not shoot my baby but did see a fair variety of wildlife along the South Platte this morning.  Though snow had been forecast, it was sunny and cool and I enjoyed a pleasant, two-mile walk.

Since most of the ponds and lakes are frozen across the South Platte Valley, I expected to see a larger number of waterfowl on the river but their diversity was decent.  Canada geese, cackling geese and mallards were most abundant, joined by small groups or pairs of buffleheads, common goldeneyes, gadwall, hooded mergansers, green-winged teal and pied-billed grebes.  A red-tailed hawk was the only raptor that I observed and a muskrat was the lone mammal that I encountered along the river.

The highlight of my walk was a flock of twenty greater scaup that have been wintering along the same stretch of the South Platte for the past several years.  Another sighting of note was the mating behavior of a male common goldeneye; a bit earlier than usual, it was the first sign of spring that I have observed this year. 

The Wet Mountains

After a long, treacherous drive down Phantom Canyon yesterday, I was relieved to reach the broad Arkansas River Valley and was rewarded with a pleasing view of the Wet Mountains to the southwest.  This relatively small range stretches from the lower reaches of the Arkansas River Canyon to the north side of Highway 69, northwest of Walsenburg.

Like most ranges in Colorado, the Wet Mountains are a faulted anticline with a core of Precambrian granite; younger Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks adorn the lower slopes.  This range parallels the higher Sangre de Cristos (a younger fault-block range) to its west, angling NNW to SSE.  The highest summit in the Wet Mountains, Greenhorn Mountain (12,347 feet) is at the southern end of the range.

Mountains are always beautiful and welcoming from a distance.  If forced to cross them by foot, on horseback or via rugged canyon roads, however, we gain a special respect for their grandeur. 

West of Pike's Peak

Over the past forty years, I have travelled almost every roadway in Colorado.  One exception has been Colorado 67 from Divide (on U.S.24) southward to U.S. 50, passing along the west edge of the Pike's Peak massif.  So, on this mild, sunny day in January, I decided to explore that route.

From Divide, one enjoys a spectacular view of Pike's Peak but, as you travel south on 67, the peak itself soon disappears behind its foothills.  Nevertheless, multiple pullouts along the roadway offer spectacular views of the volcanic ridges to the west, backed by the high peaks of the distant Mosquito and Sawatch Ranges.  Just beyond Tenderfoot Pass (10,200 feet), a parking area provides a pleasing view of Cripple Creek (photo) and of the jagged Sangre de Cristo Range to the southwest.  After passing through the historic mining town, Colorado 67 winds along the base of the massive Newmont pit mine before reaching Victor, a smaller version of Cripple Creek.

Continuing southward as County Road 67, the route becomes a dirt road, covered with a glaze of snow today.  This section of 67 follows the old bed of the Phantom Canyon railroad, soon beginning a long, winding descent toward the Arkansas River Valley. Narrowing to a single lane in some areas (including two tunnels) and rounding countless blind curves, it is not recommended for anyone in a hurry; the canyon's rock formations are spectacular but one cannot safely observe them while driving.  In the end, my journey down Route 67 took at least an hour longer than expected!

Rain, Snow & Wildfire

Over the next few days, light to moderate rain will fall across the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of the American Southwest, bringing some relief to the ongoing drought in those areas.  Across the higher terrain of Northern Arizona and New Mexico, the precipitation will fall as snow.

The benefactors for this scenario are a deep atmospheric trough across the Western U.S. and a "cutoff low" (i.e. not associated with a front) off the coast of Northwest Mexico.  This low, spinning counterclockwise over the Pacific will sweep in moisture from both the ocean and the Gulf of California.  Farther east, the southern edge of the trough will angle to the northeast, igniting showers and thunderstorms across Texas and the Gulf Coast States.

Meanwhile, high pressure over the Great Basin, interacting with the cutoff low, will send strong Santa Ana winds through the canyons of Southern California, increasing the risk for wildfires.  In effect, the same atmospheric conditions may produce beneficial and destructive results in two adjacent geographic areas. 

Winter Inertia

Most humans, native to the Tropics, prefer warm, sunny weather for outdoor activities, whether they be chores or forms of entertainment.  Though we are now equipped with high-tech gear and clothing, just the thought of venturing outdoors on a cold, cloudy day can be enough to put off those activities.  After all, we now have an army of cable-based weathermen who's job relies on warning us of outdoor risks.

Many thus choose to entertain themselves with endless streaming opportunities, TV sports and other indoor pastimes, steeling themselves for jaunts to the store or walks to the curb with their garbage.  Spring cannot arrive soon enough and even a beautiful snowstorm is best enjoyed from the cozy confines of one's heated house.

The cure for this winter inertia is to ignore weather forecasts (except in extreme, life-threatening cases), bundle up and head out into the crisp, invigorating winter air.  The exercise will be beneficial and you might be surprised by the variety of wildlife that you encounter in our winter landscapes.  Put off the chores if you must but don't deprive yourself of winter's tranquility and solitude.

A Pleasant Warning

Strong, southwest winds are raking the Colorado Front Range this afternoon, pushing the temperature into the mid 60s (F) and melting away any pockets of snow that still persist from the most recent winter storm. While pleasant, these chinooks warn that a change in our weather is approaching.

Produced by a dome of high pressure across the the Great Basin, the downsloping winds heat and dry the air as it descends from the Continental Divide, to our west.  West of the Divide and across the Great Basin,  afternoon temperatures are at least twenty degrees cooler today.  The leading edge of that cold air will cross the Front Range this evening and our spring-like weather will revert to more seasonal conditions, perhaps including some overnight snow showers in the coming days.

For now, we'll enjoy a mild but cloudy afternoon, fully aware that a Front Range winter is characterized by such dramatic undulations.  The pleasant warning is both acknowledged and appreciated.

Counting on the Private Sector

As gridlock persists in Washington, the private sector has become increasingly important in efforts to deal with climate change, the COVID pandemic, human rights, global cooperation and other issues facing humanity.  Long a perceived enemy of environmentalism and social welfare, many corporations have seen the light, knowing that their future depends on both their policies and their social image.

Just this week, many prominent corporations are withdrawing support for politicians who chose to disrupt our recent election while several social media companies are cancelling the accounts of those who promote lies and conspiracy theories (including President Trump).  In a more general approach, many companies are aligning themselves with the ESG movement (environmentalism, social justice and corporate governance), taking steps that have not been imposed (or have been actively opposed) by Congress.

While many of us hope that the Biden Administration will be able to turn the tide of obstructionism in Washington, there are reasons to doubt that promise.  Professional politicians, focused on their longevity not on their effectiveness, seem incapable of dealing with threats to humanity and to our planet.  Hopefully, private companies, receptive to the demands of their employees and their patrons, will assume that leadership role.

The Nature of Mobs

Mobs, like the one that attacked our Capitol Building yesterday, are not agents of protest.  Rather, they are designed to instill fear and to deliver punishment for perceived injustice, real or imagined.  Those who incite, justify and unleash mob action, unlike those who lead protests, rarely participate in the mob activity, preferring to delegate power and look on from a safe distance (e.g. the White House).

Mobs are generally led by a relatively small group of "skilled" militia members, often dressed in military garb and equipped with weapons, who, yesterday, broke down barriers, scaled walls, smashed doors and windows and ransacked the Capitol.  In their wake, the majority of the mob, aggrieved for a variety of reasons, file in and wander about, giving high fives, taking selfies, waving flags and choosing not to engage in illegal activity (beyond trespassing, of course).

Depending on the country in which mob activity occurs (and on the degree of democracy that exists), those who incite and lead the mob are subject to prosecution.  The "followers" within the mob are generally left to suffer from the ridicule delivered by the media and the public at large, forever associated with the consequences of the violent event.

Counting at an Icy Refuge

On this beautiful, mild morning along the Colorado Front Range, I participated in the mid-winter waterfowl survey at South Platte Park.  Despite the inviting weather, most lakes and ponds remain ice-covered and birders assigned to those locations were left to document their morning walk.

Fortunately, I was assigned to a section of the South Platte River, where waterfowl congregate when the lakes and ponds are frozen.  Even so, their numbers were less than impressive, dominated by mallards and gadwalls, joined by smaller groups of buffleheads, common goldeneyes and hooded mergansers.  Other sightings included great blue herons, a belted kingfisher, a pair of killdeer and a lone black-crowned night heron (yes, this wader is a permanent resident in Metro Denver).

As can be the case on birding excursions, the experience did not live up to expectations.  On the other hand, the results of these counts are important for wildlife managers and conservation organizations, offering important information on the health and distribution of waterfowl populations.  Besides, unlike some past winter counts, this morning's adventure was especially pleasant.

Toward the Light

Two weeks past the winter solstice, we in the Northern Hemisphere are heading toward longer days and milder temperatures, changes welcomed by most humans.  But this year, in America and across the globe, we have other reasons to be optimistic.

Covid-19 vaccines, if accepted by the public and widely distributed, will eventually put an end to the pandemic, perhaps returning our lives to "normal" by the end of summer.  And then, of course, there is the defeat of Donald Trump and all that he has represented.  It is very possible, despite the antics of the far right, that the Biden Administration will bring a new age of enlightenment, focused on international cooperation and leadership, human rights, environmentalism, respect for a free press, attention to our crumbling infrastructure, support for the arts and widespread access to high quality, affordable healthcare.

Those of us especially concerned about the welfare of our natural ecosystems look forward to the reversal of Trump's arbitrary policies and re-engagement with the world community in our efforts to combat climate change.  We will soon be abandoning the darkness of mysticism and conspiracy theories and moving toward the light of science and truth.

Ice Storm

We awoke to the effects of an ice storm here in central Missouri, not the best way to start a New Year.  Scattered power outages have been reported but our luck is holding so far; just icy trees, slippery walkways and frozen vehicles.

A winter storm, moving eastward to our south, is the culprit, sweeping Gulf moisture over sub-freezing air that had settled across the Midwest.  Since the cold air is very shallow, the precipitation has reached the ground as rain, freezing on trees, power lines, bridges and unheated structures.  As the storm continues to move eastward, the ice storm will stretch from northern Illinois to Pennsylvania; here in Missouri, the cold air will deepen and the freezing rain will change to sleet and then to snow.

Ice storms, especially common across the Southern States in winter, are among the more dangerous weather systems, often causing widespread power outages and treacherous roadways.  Snow is almost always a preferable form of precipitation and we plan to wait until afternoon before venturing out.  When it comes to dealing with dangerous weather, patience is the best approach.