https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/san-juan-mountains/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/town/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city-black-and-white/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/town-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/greater-yellowstone/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/colorado-plateau/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/wildlife/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/travels/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/bestselling-prints/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/galapagos/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/peru/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/utah/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/arizona/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/yellowstone/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/tetons/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/desert-wildlife/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/mountain-wildlife/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/san-juan-panoramas/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/glacier/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/kauai/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/alaska/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/lake-city-archive/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/new-england/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/colorado/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/the-alpine-loop/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/blog/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/ancestral--puebloans/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/telluride-ouray-silverton/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/old-cars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/mining/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/nebraska/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/new-mexico/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/wildlife-favorites/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/bluebirds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/bears/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/bison/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/owls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/gallery/colorado-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/about/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/footer1/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/footer2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/prints/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/error/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/page/lakecitygallery/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1467/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260409--2.jpg 90x35 Custom Metal Print with Black Frame https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1466/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260504-.jpg 11x14 Print https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1465/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260327--4.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/canyon-caw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250420-Canyon-Caw.jpg Canyon Caw The whoosh of black wings, the echo of the caw, and you know you're in the presence of an ancient spirit and/or raven. Arizona https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/creede-traffic/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260227-Creede-Traffic.jpg Creede Traffic Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/manifest-destiny/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260122-Manifest-Destiny.jpg Manifest Destiny Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/historic-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260122-Historic-Sunset.jpg Historic Sunset Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stay-out-stay-alive/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260125-Stay-Out-Stay-Alive.jpg Stay Out, Stay Alive Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lost-dreams/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260204-Lost-Dreams.jpg Lost Dreams Core Samples litter this old workshop. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/peace-in-the-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260227-Peace-in-the-Aspens.jpg Peace in the Aspens An unmarked grave in a quiet aspen grove. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/haunted-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260220-Haunted-Storm.jpg Haunted Storm Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/henson-dam/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260220-Henson-Dam.jpg Henson Dam Henson, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/portal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260220-Portal-to-the-World.jpg Portal Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/modernity/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-Souless-Modernity.jpg Modernity Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-winds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260121-Winter-Winds.jpg Winter Winds Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/chasing-does/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-Chasing-Does.jpg Chasing Does Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/business-done/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260313-Business-Done.jpg Business Done A doe and one of the many historic outhouses. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mouthful-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Mouthful.jpg Mouthful Alternatively titled, the face you make when it hits 70 degrees. https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-lookout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Pika-Lookout.jpg Pika Lookout https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wary-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250618-Wary-Pika.jpg Wary Pika https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-to-face/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250618-Face-to-Face.jpg Face to Face https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/great-grey-gaze-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Great-Grey-Gaze.jpg Great Grey Gaze Pretty much all I wanted to photograph this summer was Great Grey Owls! So much so I drove past bears/moose at multiple times just to go wander through forests alone looking for them. They are incredibly elusive, mostly silent, and have the best camouflage making them near impossible to see. Despite that, I had 5 sightings, and saw 7 different owls this autumn! Each sighting was really owlsome and left me wanting to spend more time with them in their forest kingdoms! Mostly I got to see a bunch of nothing while searching, but I was rewarded one dawn in Yellowstone when this owl I was watching hunt flew over and landed just a few yards from me. The photos from that morning are the favorite of my trip. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dinnertime/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231003-Dinnertime.jpg Dinnertime Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/forest-friend/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231006-Forest-Friend.jpg Forest Friend A red fox in the morning forest filtered light Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-portrait/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231003-Pika-Portrait.jpg Pika Portrait Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/phantoms-flight-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Phantoms-Flight.jpg Phantom's Flight Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-king-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Autumn-King.jpg Autumn King A bull elk in the moody autumn weather of the Tetons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/king-of-autumn-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-King-of-Autumn.jpg King of Autumn Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grizzly-twilight-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230927-.jpg Grizzly Twilight Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fritter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230927-Fritter.jpg Fritter The Grizzly Bear sow known as Fritter or 1063 to the science types. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-frost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230911-First-Frost.jpg First Frost A frosty bison on a late summer day in Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sage-empire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231029-Sage-Empire.jpg Sage Empire Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-friends-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231029-Teton-Friends.jpg Teton Friends A pair of bull moose graze in front of the Tetons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-Alpine-Home.jpg Alpine Home I can guarantee that if I was a ghost I'd haunt and guard this spot for eternity.    Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/creede-rodeo/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230704-Creede-Rodeo.jpg Creede Rodeo Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/one-horn-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200304-One-Horn.jpg One Horn Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-lamb/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200304-Spring-Lamb.jpg Spring Lamb Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/deer-lakes-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190609-Deer-Lakes-Sunset.jpg Deer Lakes Sunset Sunset at Deer Lakes Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210429-.jpg San Juan Falls Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lakeside-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200906-Lakeside-Moose.jpg Lakeside Moose Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/light-perch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200503-Light-Perch.jpg Light Perch Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beckwith-blues-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211009-Beckwith-Blues-2.jpg Beckwith Blues Taken during a October blue hour on Kebler Pass, I loved the contrast of the golden leaves glowing in the fading light against the blues of the twilight sky and looming Beckwith Mountian. Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-sunsets/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Summer-Sunsets.jpg Summer Sunsets A summer sunset from the Windy Point overlook in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-smile/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211021-Moose-Smile.jpg Moose Smile Maybe there's a reason they don't smile often! Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/september-1st/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200901-September-1st.jpg September 1st It's like the calendar day changes and so does the weather! First snow of 2020 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tundra-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200904-Autumn-Tundra-Fire.jpg Tundra Fire A firey sunset from the top of Handies Peak looking towards Half Peak and the Rio Grande Pyramid to the east. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-ends/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200910-Summer-Ends.jpg Summer Ends A Bull Moose in a pond after a storm dropped the temperature and left some snow on the ground. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/not-ready-to-fight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200910-Not-Ready-To-Fight.jpg Not Ready To Fight Two Bull Moose, one ready for the rut disagreements with shedded velvet on his antlers, and the other actively shedding it. The latter of which was not ready to spar as the antlers are tender during this time. In a day or two the blood will be gone and the antler hardened for the fights to come Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200910-Sunset-Moose.jpg Sunset Moose Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bison-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201004-Bison-Shadows.jpg Bison Shadows A lone bison in the Lamar Valley at sunset. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wolf-crossing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201005-Wolf-Crossing.jpg Wolf Crossing If you know me, you'll know I love wolves more than any animal by far. This pretty much comes from the time I visited Yellowstone when I was around 12 and some guy in the Lamar Valley let me look through his spotting scope to see some wolf pups playing with each other. Years later, I began the whole photography thing, and I've always wanted to photograph a wild wolf. I've seen several wolves in all but two of my Yellowstone trips since then, but always from an absurd distance. I've had incredible encounters with about every animal native to the Rockies, except them. It just hasn't worked out. Finally, that changed! (Sort of, not really, but I'll get close someday soon!) I was watching the Junction Butte pack at twilight when one of the younger black wolves left the pack. It was up to something, and that something was walking towards me! It was still hundreds of yards off, but it was coming closer as the light disappeared. Finally, it paused on the banks of the Lamar River and then crossed! It was just such a pleasure to watch these guys a few days ago, and especially to return the favor and show as many people as possible the 3 pups playing by their hillside den, with my camera live view, as possible! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-band/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200427-High-Country-Band.jpg High Country Band Bighorn Sheep Rams on a cold Spring day in the rocky cliffs they call home. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/porcupine-pine/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200517-Porcupine-Pine.jpg Porcupine Pine Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/treetop-lookout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200517-Treetop-Lookout.jpg Treetop Lookout Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/on-the-move/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201004-On-The-Move.jpg On The Move Junction Butte Pack on the move in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-snow-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200909-First-Snow-Blues.jpg First Snow Blues Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ready-to-go/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200909-Ready-to-Go.jpg Ready to Go Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1408/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120302-.jpg The first photo I have of 219 in 2012. https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1407/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170813--2.jpg 219 in 2017. https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1406/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/thenandnoww.jpg Charles Forberg and his barber shop sometime in the 1910s and Me and my gallery. Hard to believe the change a place can see in just a century! https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1405/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/lakecitymedical1960.jpg The Medical Center Era 1975-91 https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1404/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/derelict1949.jpg The state of 219 in 1949 https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1403/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/mountainmemories1990.jpg After being remodeled again to a retail space. Early 1990s https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1402/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260316--2.jpg "It turned out amazing!! Thank you SO much for providing us with one of your maroon bells photos , we love it 😊" Laura in Castle Rock, CO https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1392/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210523--2.jpg Snowshoes were no help this day in American Basin https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1391/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260304-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1390/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220417-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1388/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250420--2.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1387/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210615--2.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1386/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/meyellow.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/its-me-im-him/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210101-its-me.-im-him.jpg it's me. i'm him! https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/paria-2025/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250221-Paria-2025-2.jpg Paria 2025 https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1382/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-.jpg Hiking Handies in 2019, my first 'big' hike https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/listen/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Listen.jpg Listen! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grizzly-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Grizzly-Forest.jpg Grizzly Forest Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grey-camo/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Grey-Camo.jpg Grey Camo If you've ever wanted to see a Great Grey Owl in Yellowstone, and haven't been able to spot one I think this might be one of the reasons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grey-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Grey-Aspens.jpg Grey Aspens Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1374/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260316-.jpg "Moose Gathering" in Denver International Airport. It's about 10'x20'! https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1372/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200715-.jpg "North Face" in Colorado Springs! https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-summers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200726-Lake-City-Summers.jpg Lake City Summers Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/let-winter-in/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260220-Let-Winter-In.jpg Let Winter In Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snowden/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260220-Snowden.jpg Snowden Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-artist/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260222-Aspen-Artist.jpg Aspen Artist A Downy Woodpecker marks up an aspen Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/valley-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221218-Valley-Deer.jpg Valley Deer A buck overlooking Ball Flats neighborhood of town with Round Top, and Red Mountain above. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sundog-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221213-Sundog-Sunrise.jpg Sundog Sunrise Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moody-uncompahgre-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220730-Moody-Uncompahgre-.jpg Moody Uncompahgre A stormy summer day and Uncompahgre Peak about to be envoloped by it all. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/little-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211106-Little-Lake-City-4.jpg Little Lake City From the air Lake City doesn't seem like the bustling metropolis it does when you are standing on Silver Street. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/another-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210927-Another-Sunrise.jpg Another Sunrise Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Aspen-Home.jpg Aspen Home Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/as-the-raven-flies-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241005-As-The-Raven-Flies.jpg As The Raven Flies Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/st-rose-of-lima/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260213-St.-Rose-of-Lima.jpg St. Rose of Lima Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-rabbit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Alpine-Rabbit.jpg Alpine Rabbit Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-hideaway/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Pika-Hideaway.jpg Pika Hideaway Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/august-cristobal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240822-August-Cristobal.jpg August Cristobal August sunrise above Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-sunset-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240819-Bridge-Sunset.jpg Bridge Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hard-tack/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260125-Hard-Tack.jpg Hard Tack Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sherwin-groceries/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260130-.jpg Sherwin Groceries Old advertising billboards along Engineer Pass on the way to Henson Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-bachelor-way/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260122-The-Bachelor-Way.jpg The Bachelor Way The Bachelor Loop begins Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/to-the-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260121-to-the-Light.jpg To the Light Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golconda-lost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Golconda-Lost-2.jpg Golconda Lost Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/open-wound/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Open-Wound-2.jpg Open Wound Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golconda-gravel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Golconda-Gravel.jpg Golconda Gravel Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-hotel-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-High-Country-Hotel.jpg High Country Hotel Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/carson-elements/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250912-Carson-Elements.jpg Carson Elements Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/as-the-raven-flies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241005-As-The-Raven-Flies.jpg As The Raven Flies Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/waiting-it-out/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180501-Waiting-it-Out.jpg Waiting it Out Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cinnamon-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190729-Cinnamon-Sunset.jpg Cinnamon Sunset Sunset high above Cinnamon Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bee/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190727-Bee.jpg Bee and Columbine Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-curves/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200922-Slumgullion-Curves.jpg Slumgullion Curves Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-luis-view-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200808-San-Luis-View.jpg San Luis View The view of the San Juan Mountains from the most isolated 14er, San Luis Peak Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ridgeline-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200808-Ridgeline.jpg Ridgeline Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bristol-head-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200214-Bristol-Head.jpg Bristol Head Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cottonwood-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Cottonwood-2.jpg Cottonwood Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grande-summers-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Grande-Summers-2.jpg Grande Summers Golden afternoon light on the meadows as the Rio Grande meanders its way through the many oxbows the valley. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/phoenix-falls-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200915-Phoenix-Falls.jpg Phoenix Falls Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-luis-view/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200808-San-Luis-View.jpg San Luis View The view of the San Juan Mountains from the most isolated 14er, San Luis Peak Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ridgeline/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200808-Ridgeline.jpg Ridgeline Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bristol-head/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200214-Bristol-Head.jpg Bristol Head Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cottonwood/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Cottonwood-2.jpg Cottonwood Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grande-summers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Grande-Summers-2.jpg Grande Summers Golden summer afternoon light in the Rio Grande Valley Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/phoenix-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200915-Phoenix-Falls.jpg Phoenix Falls Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/river-of-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130623-River-of-Light.jpg River of Light A brilliant sunset reflects off the winding Rio Grande near its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/vegas-local/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211223-Vegas-Local.jpg Vegas Local A Burrowing Owl in the middle of Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/solitary-elk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220308-Solitary-Elk.jpg Solitary Elk I've spent a lot of my life just silently willing an animal, clouds, or light to go just where I wanted. Usually there's quite a bit of compromise, and more often then not no luck at all. So when I spotted a bull elk doing nothing interesting at all, I began to hope he'd go stand in this empty snow covered field right by a lone aspen. It took him awhile to decide to move but surprisingly he did just that!! Not surprisingly the photos where out of focus. Just when I was starting to get disappointed I noticed he had a bigger friend hidden in the trees! He took and even closer path next to the aspen and I got the shot I was hoping for! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-geese-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220122-Snow-Geese-Sunset.jpg Snow Geese Sunset Snow geese on their winter range. Socorro County, New Mexico https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-flats/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211106-Snow-Flats.jpg Snow Flats San Luis Peak risies above Snow Mesa and its unbroken expanse of tundra. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bristol-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220105-Bristol-Sunrise-4.jpg Bristol Sunrise Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/happy-bear/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240827-Happy-Bear.jpg Happy Bear Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blonde-bear/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210820-Blonde-Bear.jpg Blonde Bear Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cross-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220325-Cross-FoxM.jpg Cross Fox Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1313/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240814-.jpg Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250620-Spring-Blues.jpg Spring Blues Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ready-for-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240525-Ready-For-Spring.jpg Ready For Spring Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gone-white/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240604-Gone-White.jpg Gone White Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-sunrises/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240605-First-Sunrises.jpg First Sunrises A cow moose and calf share their first week of sunrises together. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-weary-king/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240826-The-Weary-King.jpg The Weary King I watched this bull move through the willows with a quiet grace, his antlers almost fully grown Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rut-minded/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240826-Rut-Minded.jpg Rut Minded Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/in-the-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180426-In-the-Light.jpg In the Light Wolves are a pretty black and white issue Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beautiful-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120308-Beautiful-Snow.jpg Beautiful Snow Beautiful Mountain in Winter Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hinsdale-county-courthouse-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120302-Hinsdale-County-Courthouse.jpg Hinsdale County Courthouse Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-moonset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120622-Engineer-Moonset.jpg Engineer Moonset Engineer Pass leads deeper into the mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-nights-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121204-Lake-City-Nights.jpg Lake City Nights Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-loop-jeep/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120806-Alpine-Loop-Jeep.jpg Alpine Loop Jeep A Jeep parked at the summit of Engineer Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-pass/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110627-Engineer-Pass.jpg Engineer Pass 10ft plus snowbanks line Engineer Pass a couple days after the opening in late May Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/never-ending/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170209-Never-Ending.jpg Never Ending The road just goes on forever. Ravenna, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nebraska-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170210-Nebraska-Sunset.jpg Nebraska Sunset Kearney, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-dead-end/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170702-The-Dead-End.jpg The Dead End Storm chasing in Overton, Nebraska Overton, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/echoes-of-the-plains/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170708-Echoes-of-the-Plains.jpg Echoes of the Plains A classic rustic Nebraska barn sits beneath developing clouds from the leading edge of a severe thunderstorm. Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/evindently-endless/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170708-Evindently-Endless.jpg Evindently Endless Long counrty raods and summer storms in the farmlands of Nebraska Kearney, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pleasanton-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170708-Pleasanton-Storm.jpg Pleasanton Storm Storm and a growing crop of corn. Pleasanton, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170816-Summer-Storm.jpg Summer Storm At the end of a storm there's a golden sky on the Nebraska Plains Buffalo County, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-rain-did-not-come/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170904-The-Rain-Did-Not-Come.jpg The Rain Did Not Come An old farmhouse stands abandoned near Ord on the Sandhills of Nebraska Ord, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sky-alight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170915-Sky-Alight.jpg Sky Alight Loup City, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-watcher-on-the-hill/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170903-The-Watcher-on-the-Hill.jpg The Watcher on the Hill I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. . Book of Revelation 19:11 Broken Bow, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/waltzing-cottonwoods/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170306-Waltzing-Cottonwoods.jpg Waltzing Cottonwoods The Tangled Cottonwoods of the Gunnison Valley in winter. Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/twilight-in-the-monument/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170311-Twilight-in-the-Monument.jpg Twilight in the Monument Twilight in the Colorado National Monument. Colorado National Monument https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sand-dune-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170308-Sand-Dune-Sunset.jpg Sand Dune Sunset Sunset in the sands below Mount Herard Great Sand Dunes National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170222-First-Nights.jpg First Nights A newborn Desert Bighorn Sheep and Mom at twilight. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baby-steps/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170222-Baby-Steps.jpg Baby Steps An ewe with twin lambs wander the Colorado National Monument at sunset. I got really lucky in being able to observe the herd of Desert Bighorn sheep in the Colorado National Monument last week. On my first day I spotted the herd way up on the cliffs silhouetted against the clouds at sunset. This ewe trailed behind the rest because the little ones had some slight trouble getting to the top allowing me to get this shot before they disappeared. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stone-and-sky/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170222-Stone-and-Sky.jpg Stone and Sky An ewe with twin lambs wander the Colorado National Monument at sunset. I got really lucky in being able to observe the herd of Desert Bighorn sheep in the Colorado National Monument last week. On my first day I spotted the herd way up on the cliffs silhouetted against the clouds at sunset. This ewe trailed behind the rest because the little ones had some slight trouble getting to the top allowing me to get this shot before they disappeared. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/jackrabbit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170226-Jackrabbit.jpg Jackrabbit Black Tailed Jackrabbit Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ewe-portrait/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170303-Ewe-Portrait-.jpg Ewe Portrait Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1281/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170303-.jpg Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/desert-wanderer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170303-Desert-Wanderer.jpg Desert Wanderer Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/one-horn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170303-One-Horn.jpg One Horn Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sheep-school/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170304-Sheep-School.jpg Sheep School While in the Colorado National Monument last month, I spotted a herd of Desert Bighorns in Fruita Canyon. They were pretty high up and not the best for photos, but among them were about 10 babies so I sat there watching them frolic in their natural habit. As night started to set in they retreated higher up into the canyons. Before they could get there though, they had to cross this bit, an obviously well traveled rock. The adults crossed with ease, the lambs however? They had lots of trouble. As you can see they were scared even to attempt it, and when they did, they would slide down the rock barely in control just able to stop themselves from a disastrous fall. They tried and failed several times. They would ran away back towards the comfort of the stragglers in the herd, stared at the crossing filled with trepidation looking for a route over and would watch the older sheep cross. They would follow the same route as the others, but couldn't even get halfway across. Maybe 10 minutes of this and then a brave little one attempted it and went almost vertically up the rock then across instead of just across like the older ones did. This allowed it to be in a more manageable position when it started to slide back down, which it did, but through this it had enough momentum/traction to make it across! The others spurred on by the success followed using the same tactic, failing quite a few times but all managing it in the end. Not often you get to see newborn animals learning in front of your eyes. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/learning-the-trail/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170304-Learning-the-Trail.jpg Learning the Trail Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-fawns/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110727-Summer-Fawns.jpg Summer Fawns A doe and twin fawns in a meadow just outside of Lake City. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/forest-bound/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120308-Forest-Bound.jpg Forest Bound A herd of around fifty elk heads back into the forest after a trip down to the Rio Grande River Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-prayers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121216-Winter-Prayers.jpg Winter Prayers Cow Moose and calf licking salt off the road on Slumgullion Pass. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snowstorm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121216-Snowstorm.jpg Snowstorm A moose calf during a snowstorm in the mountain twilight. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/young-shadow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110710-Young-Shadow.jpg Young Shadow Shadow, a bull moose I came to know in his younger years. This was also the first moose I had even seen. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/big-thompson/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110325-Big-Thompson.jpg Big Thompson Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fishing-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160904-Fishing-Moose.jpg Fishing Moose A bit of luck at the local moose swimming hole. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tundra-elk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160908-Tundra-Elk.jpg Tundra Elk A Bull Elk on the tunrdra around Trail Ridge Road. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-bugle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160908-Night-Bugle.jpg Night Bugle A bull elk bugles on the tundra twilight of Trail Ridge Road. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-golden-guard/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161005-The-Golden-Guard.jpg The Golden Guard A bull elk bugles to ward off others from his harem in the Colorado Mountains Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/defiance-of-the-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161010-Defiance-of-the-Storm.jpg Defiance of the Storm I was photographing this Bull Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park when the snow and wind I left up on Trail Ridge caught up with me in the form of rain down lower in the park. He let out this hoarse bellow of a bugle to show his disapproval and then laid down to weather the storm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sandhill-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170310-Sandhill-Sunrise.jpg Sandhill Sunrise Sandhill Cranes at sunrise in a pond in the San Luis Valley. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/separation-anxiety/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170309-Separation-Anxiety.jpg Separation Anxiety A baby cow stuck on the wrong side of a fence in the San Luis Valley Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/windy-point-eclipse/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120520-Windy-Point-Eclipse.jpg Windy Point Eclipse Annular Solar Eclipse 2012 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/163/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170930-163.jpg 163 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/valley-of-gold-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171001-Valley-of-Gold.jpg Valley of Gold Lake City, Colorado in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/foggy-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171001-Foggy-Morning.jpg Foggy Morning Sunrise from Lake City, Colorado this year. I really like how you can see the fog forming above the Lake Fork. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-2012/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120302-Winter-2012.jpg Winter 2012 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fall-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120928-Fall-Light.jpg Fall Light Clouds cover Mt. Sneffels during an autumn sunset on the Dallas Divide. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dallas-divide-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120928-Dallas-Divide-Sunset.jpg Dallas Divide Sunset Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sneffels-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120929-Sneffels-Gold.jpg Sneffels Gold Mt. Sneffels framed by peak fall foliage Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pink-and-blue-sneffels/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120928-Pink-and-Blue.jpg Pink and Blue The very last pink alpenglow illuminates the iconic face of Mt. Sneffels during a dramatic sunset Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/watching-the-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171012-Watching-the-Sunrise.jpg Watching the Sunrise Red Fox Portrait in Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171017-Yellowstone-Twilight.jpg Yellowstone Twilight Twilight at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-gibbon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171017-Golden-Gibbon.jpg Golden Gibbon A bison stray from its herd grazes by the Gibbon River while the golden light of an autumn day hits Mount Holmes in the distance Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-crossing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171019-The-Crossing.jpg The Crossing Elk Crossing the Madison River in golden sunlight Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/prismatic-palette/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171020-Prismatic-Palette.jpg Prismatic Palette Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boiling-canvas/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171020-Boiling-Canvas.jpg Boiling Canvas Looking into the deep cerulean center of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-snows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171020-First-Snows.jpg First Snows A bull elk rests by the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/big-sam/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171020-Big-Sam.jpg Big Sam Sam at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone West Yellowstone, Montana https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/river-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171021-River-Fox.jpg River Fox A fox along the blanks of the Madison river in Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dashing-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171021-Dashing-Fox.jpg Dashing Fox Red Fox dashing through the Yellwstone snow Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-hour/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110924-Golden-Hour.jpg Golden Hour A dramatic autumn sunset sets the sky ablaze over Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golds-last-stand/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20111006-Golds-Last-Stand.jpg Gold's Last Stand Vibrant golden aspens glows against a fresh blanket of early winter snow on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gold-along-the-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120923-Gold-Along-the-Divide.jpg Gold Along the Divide Sunset high above Lake San Cristobal on a brilliant autumn day at Gold Hill. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-river/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120924-Aspen-River-.jpg Aspen River Aspens fill an old avalanche path creating a river of gold every September Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-fall-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120924-Slumgullion-Fall-.jpg Slumgullion Fall Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-and-wetterhorn-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120925-Uncompahgre-and-Wetterhorn.jpg Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Sunlight hits the snow covered peaks of Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, and Matterhorn during an autumn sunrise. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/clearing-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120925-Clearing-Storm.jpg Clearing Storm The first snow storm of the season clears to revel the snow capped peaks of Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, and Materhorn above a sea of golden aspens, and receding tide of clouds. Probably my all time favorite image from this spot, and I've got a few! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120925-Uncompahgre-Autumn.jpg Uncompahgre Autumn The first snow storm of the season clears to revel the snow capped Uncompahgre Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fall-alone/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170930-Fall-Alone.jpg Fall Alone A lone aspen among the dark pines. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/postage-stamp/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160904-Postage-Stamp.jpg Postage Stamp Lake City's own canary in the mine for Autumn's arrvial. This one aspen stand above town, nicknamed the postage stamp, always turns 1-2 weeks early without fail. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/follow-the-river/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171001-Follow-the-River.jpg Follow the River Autumn on the Lake Fork River Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/still-san-cristobal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110805-Still-San-Cristobal.jpg Still San Cristobal A tranquil moonlit night at Lake San Cristobal near, where the still summer waters create a perfect mirror of the night sky and mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/capitol-city-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120622-Capitol-City-Sunset.jpg Capitol City Sunset A sunset in the sky above Henson Creek along the ascent on Engineer Pass near Captiol City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/divide-moonlight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120902-Divide-Moonlight.jpg Divide Moonlight Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/double-moonbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120902-Double-Moonbow.jpg Double Moonbow Double Moonbow from a rising full moon over Highlander Campground Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120913-Slumgullion-Dawn.jpg Slumgullion Dawn A magical foggy morning on Slumgullion Pass as the first sunlight breaks through the mist in the forests at Deer Lakes. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-storm-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110710-Sunset-Storm.jpg Sunset Storm Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-cristobal-summer-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-San-Cristobal-Summer-Sunset.jpg San Cristobal Summer Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-windy-point/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Summer-Windy-Point.jpg Summer Windy Point Featuring a Canada Jay Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170813-Summer-Sunrise.jpg Summer Sunrise Sometimes everything just falls in to place perfectly.A grey blue boring twilight into this in just a few minutes. I couldn't believe the change in mood and color in the sky in such a short time! You just can't ask for a more perfect morning at the lake. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pink-skies-over-san-cristobal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170813-Pink-Skies-over-San-Cristobal.jpg Pink Skies over San Cristobal Another one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset which happens to be right off the road, but I've never once had to share it with anybody Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170814-Uncompahgre-Summer.jpg Uncompahgre Summer First Light on Uncompahgre Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-scythe/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171001-The-Scythe.jpg The Scythe The Lake Fork River in Autumn Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-wetlands/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20171001-Cristobal-Wetlands.jpg Cristobal Wetlands Where the lake meets the marsh Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/flowing-henson/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120608-Flowing-Henson.jpg Flowing Henson Long exposure of Henson Creek as it carves through the rugged canyons along Engineer Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-cristobal-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120629-San-Cristobal-Gold.jpg San Cristobal Gold A golden hour vista from the Lake San Cristobal Overlook along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spruce-and-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120122-Spruce-and-Snow.jpg Spruce and Snow A photo of the snow covered spruce trees that once lived on Slumgullion Pass. They were killed by the beetle a year or two after this was taken Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120204-Slumgullion-Snow.jpg Slumgullion Snow Light and Snow on Slumgullion Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-wall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120204-Slumgullion-Wall.jpg Slumgullion Wall Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-of-old/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120204-Slumgullion-of-Old-.jpg Slumgullion of Old A beautiful winter twilight over the Mt. Baldy Cinco / No Es Baldy Cinco on Slumgullion Pass before the beetle. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-frozen-tree/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120402-The-Frozen-Tree-.jpg The Frozen Tree Frost encrusting an aspen along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River near the confluence with Henson Creek. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/old-barn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120403-Old-Barn.jpg Old Barn A rustic barn reflected in a still pond during an April Snowstorm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/november-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121104-November-Skies.jpg November Skies November sunset at North Clear Creek Falls along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-plunge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121125-Frozen-Plunge.jpg Frozen Plunge Frozen North Clear Creek Falls in the Winter. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/solitary-traveler/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170307-Solitary-Traveler.jpg Solitary Traveler Fox tracks lead down to Clear Creek in Hinsdale County, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-summit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110424-Slumgullion-Summit.jpg Slumgullion Summit A snowy sunset glow on Slumgullion Pass before the beetle. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/madonna-mine-snowstorm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121211-Madonna-Mine-Snowstorm.jpg Madonna Mine Snowstorm The historic Monarch Mine building (Madonna Mine) on the eastern slope of Monarch Pass IN THE WINTER. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/post-office-circles/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121030-Post-Office-Circles.jpg Post Office Circles The old Capitol City post office under a moonlit night of stars. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frisco/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110627-Frisco.jpg Frisco Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-on-the-alpine-road/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120925-Sunset-on-the-Alpine-Road.jpg Sunset on the Alpine Road Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-in-the-valley/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120310-Winter-in-the-Valley.jpg Winter in the Valley A historic barn and snow-dusted hay bales in the frozen heart of the San Luis Valley, Colorado Monte Vista, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powderhorn-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120612-Powderhorn-Sunset.jpg Powderhorn Sunset The sun sets in the mountains above Powderhorn with San Luis Peak in the background. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/apsen-mysteries/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120916-Apsen-Mysteries.jpg Apsen Mysteries Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/east-river-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20120916-East-River-Aspens.jpg East River Aspens On the Gothic Road near Crested Butte. Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-mesa-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110701-Blue-Mesa-Stars.jpg Blue Mesa Stars Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ivx-barn-gunnison/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-IVX-Barn-Gunnison.jpg IVX Barn Gunnison Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powderhorn-sky-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Powderhorn-Sky.jpg Powderhorn Sky An old mining road leading to nowhere in a night with just me, the yips of coyotes, and my view of universe through a dark rudely but only briefly intruded upon by my flashlight. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powderhorn-sky/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Powderhorn-Sky-2.jpg Powderhorn Sky The Milky Way and a desolate dirt road on the border between Hinsdale and Gunnison Counties. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-thread-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Silver-Thread.jpg Silver Thread Colorado Highway 149, The Silver Thread Byway on a clear summer night. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grand-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160907-Grand-Sunset.jpg Grand Sunset A few minutes of the sunset overlooking the Grand Valley Grand Junction, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gunnison-valley-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160903-Gunnison-Valley-Sunrise.jpg Gunnison Valley Sunrise Ranch land sunrise Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumns-last-stand/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161014-Autumns-Last-Stand.jpg Autumn's Last Stand The final aspen leaves hanging onto fall on McClure Pass Marble, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161014-Mountain-Moose.jpg Mountain Moose A cow moose in the Elk Mountains Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cape-cod-railroad-bridge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160925-Cape-Cod-Railroad-Bridge.jpg Cape Cod Railroad Bridge Cape Cod Railroad Bridge in the fading light. Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blackstone-river-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161106-Blackstone-River-Sunset.jpg Blackstone River Sunset The meandering Blackstone River in autumn Uxbridge, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rice-city-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161106-Rice-City-Twilight.jpg Rice City Twilight Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/castle-hill-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161113-Castle-Hill-Light.jpg Castle Hill Light Newport's own Castle Hill Lighthouse. Rhode Island https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fort-pickering-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161120-Fort-Pickering-Light.jpg Fort Pickering Light Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/newport-bridge-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161210-Newport-Bridge-Twilight.jpg Newport Bridge Twilight The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge in the light of twilight in Jamestown, Rhode Island Rhode Island https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/on-whitin-pond/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161216-On-Whitin-Pond.jpg On Whitin Pond My new swan friend in the last part of the open water at Whitin Pond in Whitinsville Whitinsville, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ram-island-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161226-Ram-Island-Light.jpg Ram Island Light The Graves Lighthouse's twin light, Ram Island Light out in Casco Bay. Maine https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/portland-head-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161226-Portland-Head-Sunrise.jpg Portland Head Sunrise Sunrise at the iconic Portland Head Lighthouse on Cape Elizabeth, Maine the morning after Christmas. Maine https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-first-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161226-The-First-Light.jpg The First Light Portland Head Light shines in the morning twilight Maine https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nubble-christmas/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161228-Nubble-Christmas.jpg Nubble Christmas Nubble Light in Maine at Christmas Maine https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nubble-light-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20161229-Nubble-Light-Storm.jpg Nubble Light Storm Maine https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-light-at-sakonnet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170104-Sunset-Light-at-Sakonnet.jpg Sunset Light at Sakonnet Rhode Island https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/atlantic-rise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170104-Atlantic-Rise.jpg Atlantic Rise As the sun breaks the horizon of the Atlantic, it marks the beginning of a new day for Rhode Island Rhode Island https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sakonnet-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20170104-Sakonnet-Sunset-.jpg Sakonnet Sunset One year ago today I saw easily the most vivid and colorful sunset I've ever seen at Sakonnet Beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island. When I arrived, the conditions were looking pretty rotten for a sunset with the sky being hazy and grey so I almost left, but the beach and the waves crashing against the rocks made for a nice place to sit even without a sunset. Though it was like 20 degrees! Then it started slowly to clear. A few minutes of some golden light, and then nothing. Oh well. The blue started to set in, and I started home, but then this, out of nowhere. I had to do a quick jog back down the beach to get the lighthouse in frame because I was already nearly at my car! Would you believe if I said it was even more vivid than this before I got set up again? Cause I probably wouldn't. Rhode Island https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/whitin-mill/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160526-Whitin-Mill.jpg Whitin Mill Whitinsville, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1175/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160604-.jpg Uxbridge, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quaker-street/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160205-Quaker-Street.jpg Quaker Street Uxbridge, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/whitinsville--dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160206-Whitinsville--Dawn.jpg Whitinsville Dawn Whitinsville, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lookout-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20160205-Lookout-Sunset.jpg Lookout Sunset The Blackstone Valley in Winter Whitinsville, Massachusetts https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/new-owner/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20110930-New-Owner.jpg New Owner A deer resting ruins of an abandoned mining cabin in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/white-sands-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220121-White-Sands-Sunset.jpg White Sands Sunset A clear sunset in White Sands National Park in New Mexico White Sands National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/chimayo-moonrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150402-Chimayo-Moonrise.jpg Chimayo Moonrise Moonrise on Easter Eve at El Santuario de Chimayó Chimayo, New Mexico https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/chimayo-noel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121228-Chimay-Noel.jpg Chimayó Noel The historic El Santuario de Chimayó on a Christmas Eve Chimayo, New Mexico https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180708-American-Storm.jpg American Storm Summer rain on the tundra of American Basin. These storms provide the majority of the mid-season moisture required to sustain the dense wildflower growth after the primary winter snowpack has melted Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nebraskan-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150610-Nebraskan-Skies.jpg Nebraskan Skies Storm on the plains. Pleasanton, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/impending-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150521-Impending-Storm.jpg Impending Storm Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-gate-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140724-The-Gate.jpg The Gate The Lake Fork River races through the towering stone walls of The Gate Gunnison County, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140724-Sunset-Storm.jpg Sunset Storm An oxbow bend in the Lake Fork River and a the colors of a stormy mountain sunset. Gunnison County, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fury-and-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140724-Fury-and-Light.jpg Fury and Light Turbulent storm clouds catch the final, fiery light of the day as they roll over the Lake Fork River as thunder sounded in the distance. Gunnison County, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunlit-spires/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130115-Sunlit-Spires.jpg Sunlit Spires The sun sets on a cold winter's day at the Dillon Pinnacles. Gunnison County, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridal-veil-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140627-Bridal-Veil-Summer.jpg Bridal Veil Summer Summer sunlight illuminates the mist of Bridal Veil Falls as it plunges from the head of Telluride's iconic box canyon. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/last-dollar-flowers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140627-Last-Dollar-Flowers.jpg Last Dollar Flowers Wildflowers and a rainbow on the Last Dollar Road near Telluride, Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150215-Winter-Divide.jpg Winter Divide Winter sunset on the Dallas Divide outside of Ridgway, Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150215-Ouray.jpg Ouray Winter night in Ouray, Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-2013/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20121230-Ouray.jpg Ouray in 2013 Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130215-Ouray-Winter.jpg Ouray Winter Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/colors-of-renewal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200917-Colors-of-Renewal.jpg Colors of Renewal Among the blackened trunks of the Papoose Fire burn scar, colorful aspens celebrate a new season, painting the scarred landscape with new life. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130627-Summer-Sunset.jpg Summer Sunset Lake San Cristobal's sunseet sky enhanced by wildfire haze and an 8 second exposure Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hidden-treasure/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200819-Hidden-Treasure.jpg Hidden Treasure Miles of walking in a creek through sometimes chest deep water while scrambling up smaller waterfalls, I was rewarded by standing at the base of this waterfall. There was really no dry spot around so I set up my 5ft tripod in the 4ft water and took this photo. Insulated from the outside by rock walls that almost completely surround it, the roar of the falls was deafening, and the turquoise waters of the deep pool were numbingly cold, but it was all just incredible to see. Definitely worth the numb feet and achy everything from hiking hours in the water and over rocks. Also I know I'm going to be asked so I'll just go ahead and say I'm not sharing this location. Sorry, I know it's disappointing, but I don't think every location needs to be on the internet or easily accessible and known. I don't think the falls have a name, and they don't need one. There's no trail here, and there doesn't need to be one, nor does there need to be trash and bagged dog poop like there is in pretty much every spot I've been this year. This is actually the first hike I've been on this year where I haven't picked up someone else's trash, and it needs to stay that way. Not sharing locations helps, and besides, this page isn't a guide. It's just a place to see nature. When I see a photo like this on some other photographer's page, I just enjoy seeing and knowing these places exist even though I may never see them in person. I hope you can too, and if you can't, that's ok too, but this page isn't for you. If you find this, or somewhere else special, please be selfish. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-way-up/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200924-The-Way-Up.jpg The Way Up A friend climbs the rocky slopes of Wetterhorn Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130623-Night-Fire.jpg Night Fire The mountain above the Rio Grande burns during the 2013 Papoose Fire Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fires-fury/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130627-Fires-Fury.jpg Fire's Fury Papoose Fire 2013 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/new-years-2014/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140101-New-Years-2014.jpg New Years 2014 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pounce/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200503-Pounce.jpg Pounce A red fox hunts in a meadow Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dead-caw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200605-Dead-Caw.jpg Dead Caw A lone raven breaks the silence in the dead forests of Slumgullion Pass Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lambs-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200304-Lambs-Gaze.jpg Lamb's Gaze Desert Bighorn lamb in Colorado National Monument Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/california-condor/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201117-California-Condor.jpg California Condor A California Condor perched along the Angels Landing Trail watching and waiting for the next tourist or nature photographer to perish in the spring heat Zion National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grizzly-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150522-Grizzly-Twilight.jpg Grizzly Twilight 610 and her two cubs in the summer twilight. Unfortunately the cubs were too small to be seen through the brush, but they were there! Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201007-Golden-Moose.jpg Golden Moose A bull moose wanders the Tetons in autumn Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201007-Autumn-Glow.jpg Autumn Glow Bathed in golden autumn light, a bull moose moves through the sage in Wyoming Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-king-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201007-Autumn-King.jpg Autumn King Soft fall sunlight illuminates a Teton bull moose grazing among cottonwoods and golden changing leaves Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-couple/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201007-Moose-Couple.jpg Moose Couple Back in October I took a trip north to Wyoming, and after some skillful eavesdropping, I heard another photographer mention a good place to see a lot of moose while photographing another moose. So before dawn the next day I headed out, and sure enough, there were quite a few moose there! Actually, about 10 in the immediate area! I couldn't get an exact count because they were all over! I was photographing this one lone bull when with a sniff of the air, he got that look he was about to be up to something. He was. He walked from the middle of the meadow to the tree line to challenge another bull, who was courting a cow. The two squared up, and dueled with a crash of antlers that sounded like a tree snapping in the wind. After a brief but fierce back and forth, the bull I was following lost. He was sent fleeing through the trees. The victorious bull went back to courting the cow, and scaring off a smaller bull with ease for good measure. After all the morning excitement, they laid down next to each other. That's where I left them. I decided to come back that night, hoping things would be more exciting. They would be, at least he was Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20141002-Teton-Dawn.jpg Teton Dawn A pink sunrise washes over the Tetons and historic Moulton Barn, signaling the arrival of a crisp autumn morning. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-bison/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20141002-Teton-Bison.jpg Teton Bison A bison on Anetlope Flats in front of the Tetons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-wolf/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201005-The-Wolf.jpg The Wolf A lone black wolf from the Junction Butte pass in Yellowstone on an autumn afternoon. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150513-Spring-Gaze.jpg Spring Gaze Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150513-Lake-Fox.jpg Lake Fox Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/portrait-of-a-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150515-Portrait-of-a-Fox.jpg Portrait of a Fox Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140222-Curious.jpg Curious I opened my door one day and this girl was curious as to why I was standing there. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sundog-and-redcloud/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200429-Sundog-and-RedCloud.jpg Sundog and RedCloud I'm mostly just hiking and scouting locations while impatiently waiting for snow to melt so the roads/trails to become accessible, and the aspens to bloom so it's not all so brown! This week the 14ers Redcloud and Sunshine were my main interests Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-troll-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200502-The-Troll.jpg The Troll Lake City's Stone Troll Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-basin-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200516-American-Basin-Reflections.jpg American Basin Reflections Cinnamon Pass on a muddy spring day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahge-in-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201231-Uncompahge-In-Winter.jpg Uncompahge In Winter Uncompahgre is always beautiful, but this cold afternoon is was especially beautiful! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/animas-ghosts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-Animas-Ghosts.jpg Animas Ghosts The ghost town of Animas Forks sits quietly among the San Juan Mountains, a reminder of Colorado's mining past. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20131115-Night-Light.jpg Night Light A winter night at the historic Presbyterian Church of Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lone-tree/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130128-Lone-Tree.jpg Lone Tree A solitary spruce stands defiant against the overwhelming silent snows of a winter whiteout Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200922-Aspen-Forest.jpg Aspen Forest White trunks stand out against the golden aspen leaves of September Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-among-the-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200922-Morning-among-the-Aspens.jpg Morning among the Aspens Golden light filters through the golden leaves of my favorite aspen grove in Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200922-Morning-Aspens.jpg Morning Aspens Golden light filters through the golden leaves of my favorite aspen grove in Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspens-in-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200922-Aspens-in-Fall.jpg Aspens in Fall Aspen grove in full fall display near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorns-view/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200924-Wetterhorns-View.jpg Wetterhorn's View The view looking towards Uncompahgre Peak and Matterhorn Peak, from the 14er Wetterhorn Peak in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200926-Summer-Light.jpg Summer Light Pink skies greeted me as I slogged up the last couple hundred yards of thr Uncompahgre Peak trail one summer morning. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-and-matterhorn-at-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200926-Wetterhorn-and-Matterhorn-at-Sunrise.jpg Wetterhorn and Matterhorn at Sunrise A friend of a friend of mine was celebrating a birthday, and I convinced them Uncompaghre Peak was the only mountain for the occasion! We camped at the trailhead the night before, and set the alarm for 3:15am, and after the second backup alarm at 3:25 the hike began! Aided by starlight and our headlamps we followed my favorite trail always upwards towards the mountain. Once through the trees, and the expectation of glowing mountain lions eyes faded the hike was so pleasant. Meteors streaked through the sky, there were no sounds but those of the wind or the small streams we passed by. The light gradually increased, as did the wind, all the while we gained elevation with each step. 2 hours of hiking in at 6:30 the headlamps were no longer needed and we could tell the stage was set for an incredible San Juan sunrise. We scrambled up the scrambly bit of the hike, just as the scattered high clouds in the south western sky lit up in the most vibrant pinks. In complete awe we summited just at sunrise. Just to be there and feel the wind, cold, and see it all unfold beneath you as the light hits the tops the peaks. It's just something you can't capture the beauty or feelings of in words, or even photos. We found a barrier of rocks to hide behind, donned party hats to celebrate! The wind continued to pick up, and while I would've been content to stay up there all day I didn't complain or stay longer when my hiking companions decided to head down. Instead, already thinking about my next trip above tree line, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunrise-shadow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200926-Sunrise-Shadow.jpg Sunrise Shadow Uncompahgre Peak's early morning shadow reaching across the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-trail/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200926-Uncompahgre-Trail.jpg Uncompahgre Trail The Uncompahgre Peak Trail Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/falls-waterfall-4/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Falls-Waterfall.jpg Fall's Waterfall Probably my favorite autumn scene in Colorado. A waterfall and Fall colors what more could you ask for? Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/falls-waterfall-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Falls-Waterfall-2.jpg Fall's Waterfall Probably my favorite autumn scene in Colorado. A waterfall and Fall colors what more could you ask for? Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/orange-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Orange-Forest.jpg Orange Forest An aspen grove in autumn near Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/left-and-leaving/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Last-Left.jpg Left and Leaving The final aspens hold onto their leaves while all their companions have begun stick season. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-drive/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Morning-Drive.jpg Morning Drive Even though I'm not exactly thrilled about summer ending, and I haven't been looking forward to seeing scenes like this since the aspens got their leaves back in May, you can't help but have a permanent smile driving these aspen lined "roads" that you somehow have entirely to yourself! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-memories/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200930-Mountain-Memories.jpg Mountain Memories An old truck sits abandoned by the side of an old road in the aspens at sunrise. Not a bad place to break down, two weeks out of the year! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-valley-view/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130923-Lake-Fork-Valley-View.jpg Lake Fork Valley View Round Top and Red Mountian rise above the Lake Fork Valley. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/t-mountains-first-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130923-T-Mountains-First-Snow.jpg T Mountain's First Snow Early winter snow blankets the golden autumn aspens at the base of T Mountain Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-early-reach/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130927-Winters-Early-Reach.jpg Winter's Early Reach Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20131011-Slumgullion-Gold.jpg Slumgullion Gold A heavy autumn snowfall blankets the iconic Slumgullion Pass. Between the light in the sky over The Divide, the golden aspen groves and the fresh mountain powder this has always been a favorite of mine. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-chapel-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20131011-Redcloud-Chapel-2.jpg Redcloud Chapel The Red Cloud Chapel, standing solitary against the rugged backdrop of the San Juans, is perhaps never more moving than during an autumn snow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-chapel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20131011-Redcloud-Chapel.jpg Redcloud Chapel The Red Cloud Chapel, standing solitary against the backdrop of the San Juan forests, is perhaps never more moving than during an autumn snow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-luis-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200808-San-Luis-Shadows.jpg San Luis Shadows The summit view of San Luis Peak offers a breathtaking vista of surrounding Stewart Peak on this summer day. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-love/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200911-Autumn-Love.jpg Autumn Love Sunrise at Love Lake near Creede on a cold autumn morning, Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-love/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130721-Summer-Love.jpg Summer Love LSummer sunset at Love Lake Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stars-of-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200408-Stars-of-Lake-City.jpg Stars of Lake City Star trails over a Lake City illuminated by the light of April's Pink Moon.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-snow-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200908-Spring-Snow-in-Lake-City.jpg Spring Snow in Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/vickers-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140712-Vickers-Rainbow.jpg Vicker's Rainbow A brilliant rainbow stretches across the pond at Vickers Ranch as a summer storm retreats over the San Juans Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-wakes-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200409-Spring-Wakes-Lake-City.jpg Spring Wakes Lake City Spring arrives in Lake City, Colorado as snow melts and the mountain town begins to thaw Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cold-clear-water/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200428-Cold-Clear-Water.jpg Cold Clear Water Lake San Cristobal's turguiose spring waters and the mud of the Slumgullion Earthflow create a colorful scene for a moose to walk through and take a swim. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sediment/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200520-Slumgullion-Sediment.jpg Slumgullion Sediment The Lake Fork River looked pretty interesting this day. With recent high winds and the spring runoff, the waters of Lake San Cristobal have churned up a lot of the yellow soil from the Slumgullion Earthflow that naturally dammed the river creating the lake hundreds of years ago. As the waves hit the north shore, the water becomes yellow with the sediment from the earthflow where it then it mixes with the regular blue water of the rest of the lake/river here just a few feet down from the outlet of the lake. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineered-open/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200526-Engineered-Open.jpg Engineered Open Spring slowly returns to Engineer Pass as snow lingers along the high alpine road. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rust-and-renewal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200526-Rust-and-Renewal.jpg Rust and Renewal An old abandoned truck lost somewhere deep in the mountains begins another season surrounded by the neon green of aspens of a Spring that has just arrived at the higher elevations Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-victory/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200604-Sunshine.jpg Sunshine Victory Two years ago, this was the first hike I attempted after moving back to Colorado. I wanted to see the waterfall which is just over 2 miles into the hike, all uphill of course. At the time I was just barely recovering from Lyme disease which had left me unable to walk from December to February. I was in horrific shape, and I had terrible and constant knee pain from a torn meniscus/infection. In the end, I made it 3.2 miles, 950ft up in four agonizing hours.⠀ ⠀ Beginning in February 2019, I began really making an effort to get in better shape, and redid the hike just under a year later. I made it to the waterfall goal, but it was still a lot tougher than I felt it should be. 4.4 miles, 1,600ft.⠀ ⠀ Fast forward to last week. After awhile of asking just about everyone I met if they wanted to go backpacking somewhere, sometime, someone finally took me up on it, and suggested this as a destination. I finally removed the price tags from the pile of brand new backpacking gear that I had impulse bought over the winter, and headed out.⠀ ⠀ This time, the hiking was so much easier than last year, despite a shockingly heavy pack, but an equally shockingly lower base weight. I don't bother to keep up with mileage or time anymore, but it was so much more enjoyable, and in what felt like no time I was knee deep crossing the creek at the falls. After a break to talk to some other hikers, (who ended up stopping by my gallery!) camp was set up, healthy snack of a maple doughnut was eaten, and we continued up the trail.⠀ ⠀ At about 11,800 ft, we were turned back by 5 foot snowdrifts, and another high creek crossing. Maybe this summer I'll get to the lake at the top and the Divide beyond that, but for now swipe to see what I did see on this short trip. The entire area is just incredible, even though it's been changed by the spruce beetle, it will always remain one of my favorite areas. Anyway, this is a photo of Sunshine Peak lit up by golden hour light Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/north-face-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200626-North-Face-Glow.jpg North Face Glow The Lake City hiking group was planning a day hike on this trail, and so I decided to plan a mini thru hike, with plans to be picked up 14-ish miles away. The plan, follow the creek up the valley through the Uncompahgre Wilderness, spend the night, and then climb over the ridge, and hike to the road a mile from that. ⠀ ⠀ We met at the bank, and hiked with the group to where they ate lunch 4 miles in at the first water crossing. Then a friend and I continued on. Six miles and three more water crossings later the valley opened up, and Uncompahgre Peak all of a sudden appeared. By this point the weather had turned and the sky filled with some truly ominous clouds and an incredible sound of echoing thunder cracked through the mountain valley.⠀ ⠀ Thankfully, it all avoided us, and the night cleared up nicely, and when my 5 am alarm sounded, I reluctantly left the warmth of my quilt behind and ventured the 50 steps to this vantage point. I was greeted by an Uncompahgre Peak lit up in a strong alpenglow thirty minutes before sunrise. I can't say how incredible it was to wake up in this meadow. The stillness of the meadow, the sound of hundreds of birds calling out in the soft blueish dawn light, but mostly just to feel like you're in a different world with nature untouched by us. Not only to know this happens every single day, but just to know how lucky you are to witness it in it's truest form for a few hours.⠀ ⠀ As the sun rose to warm the entire valley and my now numb hands, we packed up camp, headed over the ridge, and ended up on the Uncompahgre Peak trail. After following that, we began walking down the road. Four miles later at the junction of Engineer Pass, the first car that passed, picked us up, and dropped us off at my gallery in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/north-face-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200626-North-Face-Sunrise.jpg North Face Sunrise The Lake City hiking group was planning a day hike on this trail, and so I decided to plan a mini thru hike, with plans to be picked up 14-ish miles away. The plan, follow the creek up the valley through the Uncompahgre Wilderness, spend the night, and then climb over the ridge, and hike to the road a mile from that. ⠀ ⠀ We met at the bank, and hiked with the group to where they ate lunch 4 miles in at the first water crossing. Then a friend and I continued on. Six miles and three more water crossings later the valley opened up, and Uncompahgre Peak all of a sudden appeared. By this point the weather had turned and the sky filled with some truly ominous clouds and an incredible sound of echoing thunder cracked through the mountain valley.⠀ ⠀ Thankfully, it all avoided us, and the night cleared up nicely, and when my 5 am alarm sounded, I reluctantly left the warmth of my quilt behind and ventured the 50 steps to this vantage point. I was greeted by an Uncompahgre Peak lit up in a strong alpenglow thirty minutes before sunrise. I can't say how incredible it was to wake up in this meadow. The stillness of the meadow, the sound of hundreds of birds calling out in the soft blueish dawn light, but mostly just to feel like you're in a different world with nature untouched by us. Not only to know this happens every single day, but just to know how lucky you are to witness it in it's truest form for a few hours.⠀ ⠀ As the sun rose to warm the entire valley and my now numb hands, we packed up camp, headed over the ridge, and ended up on the Uncompahgre Peak trail. After following that, we began walking down the road. Four miles later at the junction of Engineer Pass, the first car that passed, picked us up, and dropped us off at my gallery in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-mirror/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200711-Mountain-Mirror.jpg Mountain Mirror Sloan Lake reflects the surrounding alpine peaks, capturing the calm of high mountain mornings Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tranquil-waters/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200711-Tranquil-Waters.jpg Tranquil Waters Reflections ripple gently across Sloan Lake along the Handies Peak Trail Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-alpine-majesty/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200717-High-Alpine-Majesty.jpg High Alpine Majesty Sunrise, Snow patches, rugged rock, and blooming meadows create a dramatic scene in American Basin. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-columbines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-American-Columbines.jpg American Columbines American Basin is a high-alpine treasure in the heart of the San Juan Mountains along Cinnamon Pass. Snow patches linger into the late summer on American Peak while columbines grow in numbers in the tundra below. Being here reminds me how important it is to tread lightly. Pack out trash, stay on trails, and respect the fragile alpine environment. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-Mountain-Light.jpg Mountain Light Driving the Alpine Loop, I was struck by how every turn opens up another dramatic Colorado peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-loop-views/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-Alpine-Loop-Views.jpg Alpine Loop Views Standing at Oh! Point on the Alpine Loop, I could see Colorado's wild beauty in every direction as a summer storm loomed on the horizon. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/trail-to-handies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200723-Trail-to-Handies.jpg Trail to Handies The Handies Peak Trail winds through wildflower meadowson its way to the summit of the San Juan Mountains 14er near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-greens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200723-Mountain-Greens.jpg Mountain Greens A glacial colored tarn in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-peak-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200801-Redcloud-Peak.jpg Redcloud Peak Redcloud Peak on a summer day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/clear-creek-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200803-Clear-Creek-Colors.jpg Clear Creek Colors I sat in my car for thirty minutes and nearly gave up on this sunset, but finally decided that of course I had nothing better to do than sit there and wait. It rained some, all the tourists went home, rained some more, and I finally left my car to scramble down the canyon as the sky began its show. The clouds lit up in colors that even I don't believe were real, but the last rays of light through the rain and the perfect conditions created a more perfect sunset than I could ever dream up Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-trail-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200904-Handies-Trail-Sunset.jpg Handies Trail Sunset Business in my gallery was pretty slow, and my friend who was up for the weekend suggested we hike Handies that night to avoid doing it when crowds might appear. Not exactly a hard sell to me, so a few minutes later, the closed sign went up early, and we were on the road to the trailhead. An adventure in itself any other day.⠀ ⠀ The basin was already in shadow when we started, but we quickly caught up to the growing shadows. Marmots and pikas guided us up the empty trail where the only other people were friends (@cabinfevermerclakecity) who unbeknownst to me were on the way down celebrating a birthday and their first 14er! After them, it was just us racing the sun. We really had to pick up the pace about midway as the sun was setting fast, and we still had a lot of elevation to gain. Confidence waned, and we contemplated turning back, but once we reached the saddle, the light was absolutely incredible. It was so vivid and warm, but we had no time to notice since this is where the grade goes from moderate to straight up. The thought of turning back had been forgotten! From here, it was a race with no more rest stops, and it ended up being a true photo finish to see if we would make the sunset.⠀ ⠀ We ended up reaching the summit just seconds before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. The weather was pretty ideal at the top with only a slight breeze, and the sky was nicely clearing itself of the few remaining clouds. That said, the temperature was dropping as fast as the sun, so we just enjoyed the last of the alpenglow and the incredible 360 degree views of the San Juans while we donned warmer clothes to prepare for the descent. ⠀ ⠀ So it was headlamps on until a nice comfy rock presented itself. So it was headlamps off, and time for some stargazing before the moon rose. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summit-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200904-Summit-Light.jpg Summit Light Alpenglow from 14,058 ft on Handies Peak in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/all-downhill-from-here/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200904-All-Downhill-From-Here.jpg All Downhill From Here This was the last photo I took that night on the way down from the summit of Handies Peak before the fading light made it impossible to get sharp handheld photos. It is also my favorite photo of the night. Just the realization that just over 12 months ago (376 days ago) I took this same photo after I had barely made it up this mountain due to being in horrible shape/knee pain from Lyme disease, to now climbing this mountain on little more than a late afternoon whim made my night. Just the fact that I can get out there, explore, and be immersed in nature now without much pain or difficulty is incredible. Confidence isn't exactly there yet, and sure, there's a long way to go before I get to where I want to be or what I want to be doing in life, but it kind of feels good to recognize a victory Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-peak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201014-Wetterhorn-Peak.jpg Wetterhorn Peak Wetterhorn Peak, as viewed from the summit of Matterhorn Peak in October Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/roar-of-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140603-Roar-of-Spring.jpg Roar of Spring The peak of spring runoff at North Clear Creek Falls, where the canyon roars with the force of the melting mountain snow, and the sometimes burns with colors of a high-country sunset. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-surge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140603-Spring-Surge.jpg Spring Surge A roaring North Clear Creek Falls fed by the Spring snow melt. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/divide-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140603-Divide-Twilight.jpg Divide Twilight Twilight skies glow pink and blue above Spring Creek on the Continental Divide Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hidden-waters/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140621-Hidden-Waters.jpg Hidden Waters Crookes Falls Cascade aloong the Lake Fork River. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140709-Lake-Fork-Light.jpg Lake Fork Light Sunset light spills across the Lake Fork River as it carves through the rugged mountain valleys along Cinnamon Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moonlit-lake-fork/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140709-Moonlit-Lake-Fork.jpg Moonlit Lake Fork The Full Moon rises above the the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/columbines-of-american-basin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140725-Columbines-of-American-Basin.jpg Columbines of American Basin American Basin is considered the crown jewel of the San Juans, especially when the basin floor is carpeted in Colorado's state flower like it was on this July day on the Alpine Loop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140806-Engineer-Sunset.jpg Engineer Sunset Sunset in the deep mountian valleys along Engineer Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/light-in-the-high-valley/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140806-Light-in-the-High-Valley.jpg Light in the High Valley Sunset above Henson Creek Valley on Engineer Pass near the ghost town of Captiol City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/henson-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140806-Henson-Blues.jpg Henson Blues Henson Creek glows with a serene, ethereal light during the deepening blue hour. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-bloom/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140814-Morning-Bloom.jpg Morning Bloom Golden morning light floods the vast cirque of American Basin Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cinnamon-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140814-Cinnamon-Skies.jpg Cinnamon Skies Sunset Cinnamon Pass Skies. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cinnamon-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140814-Cinnamon-Blues.jpg Cinnamon Blues Twilight descends upon the high road of Cinnamon Pass, with Redcloud Peak and Sundog Peak against a deepening blue sky Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-thread-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140927-Silver-Thread-Fall.jpg Silver Thread Fall Brilliant gold aspens shimmer against a blue sky on Slumgullion Pass. In the distance, the rugged peaks of Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn tower above the aspens Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summit-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130602-Summit-Colors.jpg Summit Colors A vibrant Spring sunset ignites the sky above the iconic summits of Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, and Matterhorn in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summit-colors-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130602-Summit-Colors-Panorama.jpg Summit Colors Panorama A vibrant Spring sunset ignites the sky above the iconic summits of Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, and Matterhorn in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-road-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130710-The-Road-Home.jpg The Road Home The sun sets over the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, casting a warm glow over the road with the towering Uncompahgre Peak rising in the distance a few miles outside of town. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130827-Lake-Fork-Twilight.jpg Lake Fork Twilight Twilight on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River at the south end of Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/henson-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130920-Henson-Sunset.jpg Henson Sunset The rushing waters of Henson Creek shimmer under a vibrant sunset as it flows toward the confluenece with the Lake Fork River along the Alpine Loop Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-flowers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130726-American-Flowers.jpg American Flowers Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/open-range/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200305-Open-Range.jpg Open Range The old Continental barn stands quiet in winter, surrounded by snow and cold barren Colorado landscape Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200307-Frozen-Falls.jpg Frozen Falls North Clear Creek Falls transformed by snow and ice during a Colorado winter. One of the most striking frozen waterfalls in the state. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/springs-warm-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200417-Springs-Warm-Light.jpg Spring's Warm Light It's been good to see the ice receding on Lake San Cristobal over the past few days! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-flare/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140201-Slumgullion-Flare.jpg Slumgullion Flare Sunlight through the now gone spruce trees on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-memory/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140211-Slumgullion-Memory.jpg Slumgullion Memory A winter morning on Slumgullion Pass where the sun shines through frozen branches of the forest, a year or two before the beetle. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-lake-fork/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130125-Frozen-Lake-Fork.jpg Frozen Lake Fork A winter storm begins to move in above the frozen ice blues of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/january-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130106-January-Sunset.jpg January Sunset January Sunset on the Alpine Loop, near the ghost town of Sherman on Cinnamon Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-bells/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200929-Autumn-Bells.jpg Autumn Bells I've lived in Colorado on and off since 1997, but somehow have never visited its most photographed and well known landscape. That changed a few days ago when a friend who happened to have a permit gave me the invite! We camped outside of Aspen, set a 5am alarm, where we then headed out to be greeted with this iconic scene and soon after the first frozen hands of the season! The water in the lake is a bit low so you can't get a full reflection this year, but you've all seen that photo (a few hundred thousand times) so that doesn't bother me too much. It was just nice to see the scene, watch the incredible alpenglow on the peaks just before sunrise, and not have to be so stressed about getting that perfect photo everyone else already has. Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ninemile-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140111-Ninemile-Sunset.jpg Ninemile Sunset A winter sunset from Ninemile Hill in southern Gunnison County, Colorado. Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-mesa-moonbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140214-Blue-Mesa-Moonbow.jpg Blue Mesa Moonbow A rare moonbow in the night skies over Blue Mesa Reservoir. Gunnison County, Colorado. Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-canyon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140313-Red-Canyon.jpg Red Canyon Sunset at Red Canyon in the Colorado National Monument. Grand Junction, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lights-of-grand-junction/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140313-Lights-of-Grand-Junction.jpg Lights of Grand Junction Twilight in the Colorado National Monumnet. Grand Junction, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/long-road-to-san-luis/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20140612-Long-Road-to-San-Luis.jpg Long Road to San Luis San Luis Peak and Stewart Peak above the Silver Thread Scenic Byway heading into the Powderhorn Valley. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/reflections-of-paradise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130713-Reflections-of-Paradise.jpg Reflections of Paradise A perfectly still summer afternoon at Paradise Divide in the Elk Mountains Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gunnison-backroads/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130713-Gunnison-Backroads.jpg Gunnison Backroads A classic Colorado sunset illuminates a winding dirt road in the Gunnison Valley Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pagosa-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20150405-Pagosa-Sunset.jpg Pagosa Sunset Pagosa Springs, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/orphaned/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200424-Orphaned.jpg Orphaned I'm very happy to report that I recently spotted the twin moose calves that were orphaned last year after their Mom, Moose 163, was illegally killed by a hunter in October. The twins were last seen the day after, and to my knowledge hadn't been seen since. Since then, I've received a few messages a week asking about their well-being, and I'm so happy to finally be able to respond.⁣ ⁣ They drank from a pond, ate some willow, and spent most of their time in the forest, so what I'm saying is they seemed healthy and normal! Obviously, they are still together, never being more than 20 feet apart, usually a lot closer. If their mom was still with them, the three would separate in the next few weeks so the biggest fear for them will be human interaction/interference with their lives. ⁣ ⁣ So, if you see them (or any animal) use great discretion with their locations, and don't bother them. I always do my absolute best to make sure the animals I photograph aren't stressed, and if I feel they are, I leave. My photos (and yours) aren't worth risking the well being of any animal. It's incredibly obvious to tell when a moose is stressed, and you can keep them calm by watching from a safe distance, maintaining that distance if they approach by backing up, staying quiet, not using a drone to photograph them, and not chasing them in your vehicle. Seriously, I feel like these are very basic practices and should be commonplace when wildlife watching, but from experiences in the past year, they aren't. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/twin-orphans/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200424-Twin-Orphans.jpg Twin Orphans I'm very happy to report that I recently spotted the twin moose calves that were orphaned last year after their Mom, Moose 163, was illegally killed by a hunter in October. The twins were last seen the day after, and to my knowledge hadn't been seen since. Since then, I've received a few messages a week asking about their well-being, and I'm so happy to finally be able to respond.⁣ ⁣ They drank from a pond, ate some willow, and spent most of their time in the forest, so what I'm saying is they seemed healthy and normal! Obviously, they are still together, never being more than 20 feet apart, usually a lot closer. If their mom was still with them, the three would separate in the next few weeks so the biggest fear for them will be human interaction/interference with their lives. ⁣ ⁣ So, if you see them (or any animal) use great discretion with their locations, and don't bother them. I always do my absolute best to make sure the animals I photograph aren't stressed, and if I feel they are, I leave. My photos (and yours) aren't worth risking the well being of any animal. It's incredibly obvious to tell when a moose is stressed, and you can keep them calm by watching from a safe distance, maintaining that distance if they approach by backing up, staying quiet, not using a drone to photograph them, and not chasing them in your vehicle. Seriously, I feel like these are very basic practices and should be commonplace when wildlife watching, but from experiences in the past year, they aren't. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gentle-defense/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200510-Gentle-Defense.jpg Gentle Defense Porcupine Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/untouchable-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200510-Untouchable.jpg Untouchable Met my first ever porcupine the other day! I doubt I'm the first human he's seen or he was even particularly interested in me, but I'm probably the only one that laid in the dirt 15 feet from him with a permanent grin while taking photos. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-school/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200531-Moose-School.jpg Moose School After spotting this cow moose on the river's edge, I quickly made my way down the hill and found a nice comfy spot that was guarded by a snake! While I do everything I can to not disturb or interfere with moose (or other animals), I certainly didn't mind seeing him disturbed and slithering away. Thankfully, the cow moose never even glanced in my direction this entire encounter, which always makes me happy to see moose doing normal moose things and not making choices influenced by me or other people. Almost immediately after settling in my chosen vantage point, the cow moose walked straight across the river into the willows just below me. This left the twins stranded on the other side while their mom stared at them, willing them across. With about a minute of delay, they finally got into the river! The river is running high from the runoff and immediately they were up to their chests, but they continued, until one disappeared from my viewfinder! It had been swept downstream, where the second calf followed with its next step. The first calf washed up on shore about 30 yards downstream, the second maybe 20 yards further downstream in a bend in the river. During this time, Mom ran down the stream to catch up to them and make sure they were alright, checking on both calves. They were both alright, and happily began playing around again less than a minute later! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-vandals/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200719-High-Country-Vandals.jpg High Country Vandals A herd of sheep grazes along Engineer Pass, damaging the fragile tundra terrain. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/looking-at-you/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200826-Looking-at-You.jpg Looking at You Most of the time it's nearly impossible to spot a bull moose when he's in the willows. Sometimes though? it's pretty easy! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/goodbyes/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200826-Goodbyes.jpg Goodbyes It's been a year since I've seen my favorite Moose. He had always been my favorite, and friendliest, but he's also the one I know the most, by far. I first saw him in 2011, and I think he was around 14 years old last year. I spent countless hours with him, especially over the past few years. So much so the forest seems empty now. I had definitely stopped looking for moose and always went looking for him. He came into summer of 2019 healing from some type of injury that left him very thin, limping, with a damaged ear, and possibly blind in one eye. When I saw him that year, I didn't even recognize him. Despite that he got through summer, got fat, very surprisingly made it through the winter. In 2020 he still had the same ailments, but had seemed to rebound some. I saw him many times that summer, and his age was showing. Finally, August 26th was the best encounter I'd had ever had with him, it was also the final. I saw him before sunrise, parked myself near the path/direction he usually takes, and waited. Over the next hour he came closer and closer. My zoom became too much, and I just watched him. I'd never been that close to a moose. He looked at me maybe twice the entire time. That's one of the reasons I liked him. Once he trusted you, he'd forget you were there, and just do normal moose stuff. Once the sun finally came over a hill, and it started to get warm he continued on into the trees just like I'd seen him do so many times before, pausing only for a second in between the shadows. Now summer is almost over and he's still not been seen, so unfortunately it looks like this last winter was too long. I can't say I expected to see him again, but I had hoped. I'm definitely going to miss him, but I'm so grateful for the many hours spent with him throughout these past summers. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-moose-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200901-Morning-Moose.jpg Morning Moose I was completely in his world surrounded by the forest and rays of light from the rising sun. It's hard not to just stand in awe when in the presence of these animals or moments like this. This probably was the best encounter I've ever had with one of my favorite moose and a reminder that I really haven't been spending enough time in the woods this year Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/not-ready-for-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200909-Not-Ready-For-Snow.jpg Not Ready For Snow It's about time to say goodbye to the Mountain Bluebirds for the winter. They are by far my favorite bird so I wanted to make sure to spend some time with them before they migrate on to lower altitudes this winter, and that I did! The morning after the snow I noticed the telltale neon blue flash of one as I was driving by a meadow so I pulled over and walked out into the snow where there was a flock of about 20 flying around, or just looking disgruntled from the snow. At first they scattered, but thankfully, I was dressed like them in my brand new, bright blue fleece so they came back quickly and resumed their morning activities! They were in constant motion moving from perch to perch swooping down on whatever insect they could. They were just so much fun to watch, so that's what I did for about 30 minutes even though I was already late opening my gallery (sorry, not sorry). They flew and landed just feet from me. The first time I've met semi cooperative birds, even though they still only stayed perched for seconds and flew off if approached/moved. It was so much fun, but when my hands began to get numb from cold, and I got unreasonably muddy after they moved from the meadow to the roadside, I decided to leave them. In retrospect, it was a bad decision as I was making some friends, and I'd definitely would like to tag along with them on their migration this year and skip the -20 temps, snow, isolation, and cabin fever they deftly avoid, but which I usually charge straight into like the light brigade of old! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/transformation/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200910-Transformation.jpg Transformation It snowed about 8 inches one night so I did what I always do, wake before sunrise and go look for animals! I got a little distracted by the scenery and didn't get to where I wanted to be until about 8am. Right when my friends happened to pop out of the woods with news that they had seen the moose I had come to see. They said he was moving towards the forest, but if I hurried I might be able to see him before he vanished into the woods. So off into the snow I hurried! I found them maybe 30 minutes after they left him, but I was greeted to a vastly different moose than they had left! His antlers were bloody, and the velvet was being shed fast! When they had left him he was still in full velvet. Now he was play jousting with a friend (whose velvet had been shed already), and you could tell he was in some discomfort! He never would commit fully to the jousting as I think his antlers were still sensitive, having the skin there. He was doing his best removing that though, because in between rounds he raked his antlers through every bush in sight trying desperately to get that velvet off! Unfortunately, though the moose moved into the open meadow, and just behind a rise so I could no longer see them. ⁣ ⁣ Making a new plan that didn't involve walking around open meadows with an unseen agitated bull moose, I went back, found my human friends, and we hiked in again this time on the left side of the field. That's where we saw them jousting again! The one who had shed his velvet seemed cool and was just doing normal moose stuff (eating/nothing) while the other guy was even more annoyed by his antlers now. He was making progress removing the velvet though! He would thrash his head around, rake the bushes, and at one point lifted his head up and grabbed the skin with his mouth, and ate it!⁣ ⁣ After nearly 30 minutes, he did that thing moose do when they want to go somewhere, but someone else is occupying the ground they want. They stare at you until you get the mes Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/time-to-leave/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201025--Time-to-Leave.jpg Time to Leave A mountain bluebird in the first snow of the year Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-confidence/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201228-Winter-Confidence.jpg Winter Confidence This is a bull elk confidently striding into the new year he knows nothing or would care nothing about, because it doesn't change anything in his life. He'll be just fine with whatever comes. Snow, below zero temperatures, pandemic, losing a dream opportunity , etc. He's got what it takes to get through. Might've projected my feelings onto him a bit. He was probably just heading into the woods to see what his friends were up to, which is also what I'm doing today/this year. Hope you all have a great year, and get outside and enjoy the place! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-kings/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201228-Winter-Kings.jpg Winter Kings Bull Elk pause for a moment in an open meadow on a winter day. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-dash/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201231-Winter-Dash.jpg Winter Dash I was lucky enough to spot this guy peeking out of the snow. Ermines are pretty rare here and his is the first one I've ever seen, but hopefully it won't be the last Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellow-and-blue/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200909-Yellow-and-Blue.jpg Yellow and Blue A Colorado Mountain Bluebird perched in an aspen tree surrounded by the golden leaves of autumn. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/resilience-in-the-scar/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20131010-Resilience-in-the-Scar.jpg Resilience in the Scar A lone buck stands among the scorched scar of the Papoose Fire Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-snow-elk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130321-Spring-Snow-Elk.jpg Spring Snow Elk A herd of Elk seeking refuge and forage among frozen cottonwoods during a spring snowstorm Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yearling-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130422-Yearling-Spring.jpg Yearling Spring A yearling moose calf in a brief but intense spring snowstorm Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lingering-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20130321-Lingering-Winter.jpg Lingering Winter A heavy spring snow coats the meadows, dusting a herd of elk as they navigate the transition between seasons. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nellie-creek/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190515-Nellie-Creek.jpg Nellie Creek A new take on an old favorite waterfall of mine that's been made nearly unrecognizable by the spring runoff. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-ripples/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190502-Spring-Ripples-.jpg Spring Ripples Spring sunset by the Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/before-the-avalance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180831-Before-the-Avalance.jpg Before the Avalance Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/avalance-damage/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190624-Avalance-Damage.jpg Avalance Damage this entire grove was destroyed by a massive amount of March snow, and the avalanche that followed. The giant rock that was basically in the middle of the road didn't seem to have moved, but there's no longer a single aspen left standing in the immediate area Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-of-2019-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190315-Snow-of-2019.jpg Snow of 2019 The milegage sign for Lake City and Creede nearly covered by the snows of the winter of 2019 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heartbreak-truck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180831-Heartbreak-Truck.jpg Heartbreak Truck Follow only four miles of some of the roughest road in the San Juan Mountains, and it will lead you to a valley at around 10.500 ft that's surrounded on both sides by several imposing yet unnamed 13ers. Along this road is this old sad Studebaker truck from the 1940s that couldn't make it back home sometime in the early 1950s and whose axles now lie in the creek. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/way-to-the-mountains/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180830-Way-to-the-Mountains.jpg Way to the Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/carson-ghosts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180830-Carson-Ghosts-2.jpg Carson Ghosts Carson was a town located at just under 12,000ft right on the Continental Divide. It lasted for about 20 years and at its peak the population was around 500 with camps on either side of the divide. It eventually succumbed to winter and the altitude. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/prismatic-flow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180503-Prismatic-Flow.jpg Prismatic Flow An abstract of the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstones-grand/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180428-Yellowstones-Grand.jpg Yellowstone's Grand The Yellowstone River flowing freely through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-thaw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180428-The-Thaw.jpg The Thaw Yellowstone Falls after a long winter Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/prismatic-lines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180503-Prismatic-Lines.jpg Prismatic Lines Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/jesus-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200511-Jesus-Moose.jpg Jesus Moose The sunset lights up what storm clouds remain after they left a dusting of snow on the higher elevations and the smell of rain at lower elevations, where the aspens have begun their springtime transformation to turn the brown mountainsides green, while the only sounds are that of a moose splashing around in the water. Spring is a wonderful time in the mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/splendid-isolation/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190212-Splendid-Isolation.jpg Splendid Isolation I always thought this cliff would be an ideal spot to see some Bighorn Sheep, but in my years here there's never been anything up there. Last week though checking these high and lonely cliffs payed off with this lone Ewe who was just standing up there watching the sunset and surveying the valley 1000ft below Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/new-lamb/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190422-New-Lamb.jpg New Lamb A new lamb among the herds of Desert Bighorn Sheep IN THE Bookcliffs Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/waterline/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190916-Waterline.jpg Waterline A young moose in a pond in the Colorado Mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moonset-on-engineer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181013-Moonset-on-Engineer.jpg Moonset on Engineer Quarter moonset on Enginer Pass after one of the first snows in October Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompah-grey/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181012-Uncompah-grey.jpg Uncompah-grey An October storm clears to reveal Uncompahgre Peak, and Wetterhorn Peak covered in snow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181012-Uncompahgre-Snow.jpg Uncompahgre Snow Uncompahgre Peak during a snowstorm with low clouds on Slumgullion Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ghost-trees/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180905-Ghost-Trees.jpg Ghost Trees Beetle Kill pines standing as their ghosts surround one rainy September day on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/haunted-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180905-Haunted-Rain.jpg Haunted Rain Beetle Kill pines standing as their ghosts surround one rainy September day on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/forest-spirits/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180830-Forest-Spirits-2.jpg Forest Spirits Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-ghosts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180830-Mountain-Ghosts.jpg Mountain Ghosts The ghost town of Carson and the ghosts of a forest of dead trees that now surrounds it. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-way/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180830-Mountain-Way.jpg Mountain Way Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heartbreak-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180831-Heartbreak-3.jpg Heartbreak Follow only four miles of some of the roughest road in the San Juan Mountains, and it will lead you to a valley at around 10.500 ft that's surrounded on both sides by several imposing yet unnamed 13ers. Along this road is this old sad Studebaker truck from the 1940s that couldn't make it back home sometime in the early 1950s Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heartbreak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180831-Heartbreak-2.jpg Heartbreak Follow only four miles of some of the roughest road in the San Juan Mountains, and it will lead you to a valley at around 10.500 ft that's surrounded on both sides by several imposing yet unnamed 13ers. Along this road is this old sad Studebaker truck from the 1940s that couldn't make it back home sometime in the early 1950s and whose axles now lie in the creek. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/threat-of-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191020-Threat-of-Snow.jpg Threat of Snow Cold weather days on Engineer Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ancient-song/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180323-Ancient-Song.jpg Ancient Song A lightning bolt rips through the sky as thousands of Sandhill Cranes congregate and call out overcoming the echo of thunder and spring rain that was to come. All that combined for a incredible evening in a blind along the Platte River in Nebraska as the cranes paused to roost on the final leg of their northern migration Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ghost-in-the-grey/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180318-Ghost-In-the-Grey.jpg Ghost In the Grey The rarest and tallest bird in North America, the Whooping Crane stands amongst some Sandhill Cranes on a patch of prairie near the Platte River in central Nebraska. There are only 300ish of these birds in the wild and each year a few pass through on their way north to summer grounds in Canada Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/platte-flyover/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180315-Platte-Flyover.jpg Platte Flyover Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/crane-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180311-Crane-Colors.jpg Crane Colors Sandhill Cranes above the Platte River Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sandhill-sky/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180225-Sandhill-Sky.jpg Sandhill Sky Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/harlan-ice/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180127-Harlan-Ice.jpg Harlan Ice Harlan County, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/icy-mosaic/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180127-Icy-Mosaic-.jpg Icy Mosaic Harlan County, Nebraska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/valley-of-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180920-Valley-of-Gold.jpg Valley of Gold An incredible aspen filled valley and the last light on T Mountain near along the Alpine Loop Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-lined/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180920-Golden-Lined.jpg Golden Lined Autumn in Colorado; where every nondescript dirt road becomes a must travel. Engineer Pass on the Alpine Loop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-rains/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180919-Autumn-Rains.jpg Autumn Rains Autumn Rain storm on Cinnamon Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/la-garita-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180918-La-Garita-Sunset.jpg La Garita Sunset Sunset looking towards Baldy Cinco and the La Garita Range. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gardner-ridge-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Gardner-Ridge-Sunset-.jpg Gardner Ridge Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/where-the-mountain-fell/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Where-the-Mountain-Fell.jpg Where the Mountain Fell This is the Slumgullion Earthflow. Home of the yellow soil that gave name to the pass as it reminded early miner's of the stew. There was a massive landslide here 700 years ago that dammed the Lake Fork of the Gunnison river and created the second largest lake in Colorado. It's still moving, albeit slowly, to this day as evidenced by trees that grow in sideways that you can see if you look closely in the lower left. The Slide extends from that mountain to about four miles down the valley where it came up against another mountain. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-slide-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Slumgullion-Slide.jpg Slumgullion Slide The Slumgullion Earthflow is a four-mile river of moving soil that's still slowly creeping down the mountain today after a massive landslide 800 years ago changed the valley forever. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-slide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Slumgullion-Slide-2.jpg Slumgullion Slide The Slumgullion Earthflow is a four-mile river of moving soil that's still slowly creeping down the mountain today after a massive landslide 800 years ago changed the valley forever. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-fall-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180909-Slumgullion-Fall.jpg Slumgullion Fall Slumgullion Pass just starting its autumn transition Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/century-of-sunsets/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Century-of-Sunsets-2.jpg Century of Sunsets An old rancher's cabin in the Colorado Mountains near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cinnamon-storm-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180919-Cinnamon-Storm.jpg Cinnamon Storm Cinnamon Pass on a moody autumn day in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190917-Sunshine-Snow.jpg Sunshine Snow Sunshine Peak broke free of the clouds for a few moments this morning to reveal it had been covered in a blanket of snow during the night. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-engineer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190921-Autumn-Engineer.jpg Autumn Engineer Still can't believe this sunset happened or the reason I was there to witness it! I was sitting in my gallery not quite fully asleep, but not really awake either after a morning hike, and the busiest Saturday in two months when a couple came in looking for a photographer for a wedding that was to take place in 2 hours. That's something I have no experience in, and I was definitely happy for it to stay that way. While moose don't particularly care how their photos turn out, people do, and I find that way too stressful so I've always avoided it. . Considering their original photographer was in a car accident, and couldn't make it to Lake City, it was a parent with an iPhone or me. That seemed less than ideal for them, so I reluctantly agreed! With my shoes still soaked from a trip through a creek a few hours earlier, I headed up the pass. The wedding went great with minimal stress, and as good as a first experience as I think possible! Then after the ceremony, the clouds started to light up and the most incredible light began to fill the valley and skies above Engineer Pass! The unbelievable pinkish and orange hues only intensified, and thankfully, the couple didn't mind as my natural state as a landscape photographer returned, and my focus returned to the mountains and the newly changed autumn tundra! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/split-seasons/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190923-Split-Seasons.jpg Split Seasons Two aspen groves, two moods. One shouting fall, the other holding onto summer Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-fall-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190926-Handies-Fall-Sunrise.jpg Handies Fall Sunrise Early morning light illuminates Handies Peak as it towers above Grizzly Creek Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-uncompahgre-and-wetterhorn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190927-Red-Uncompahgre-and-Wetterhorn.jpg Red, Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Autumn Sunset in the San Juans with Red Mountain, Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peaks Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-ghosts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190930-Autumn-Ghosts.jpg Autumn Ghosts Walking alone through the aspens at their peak color is really quite special. Well, actually I wasn't completely alone as I followed a newly formed moose family in here, but they activated their superpowers, and went completely silent and disappeared somehwere I could not find. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/look-up/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191001-Look-Up.jpg Look Up Looking up into the bluebird Colorado autumn sky through a canopy of golden aspens in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-and-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191001-Blue-and-Gold.jpg Blue and Gold I'm glad none of these aspens decided to fall over as I was hiking around here looking for the perfect groves during the wind storm that took a lot of the leaves off just as they reached peak color Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/late-september-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191004-Late-September-Snow.jpg Late September Snow A late September snow storms coats Uncomaphgre and Wetterhorn Peaks in a dusting of snow as the rising suns light struggles to break through the remaining storm clouds Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powdered-sugar-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191004-Powdered-Sugar-Panorama.jpg Powdered Sugar Panorama Winds up at this spot had to be 50mph sustained with gusts even higher. Then there's me at 12,900ft, smiling, freezing, stubbornly just wearing a flannel, because it's only early October, and I know it's only going to get colder from here. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/napoleonic-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191010-Napoleonic-Sunset.jpg Napoleonic Sunset I've always wondered why this mine was named after Napoleon when the only similarity the area shares with him is the remoteness of his end on St. Helena. Unless of course, that's it, and the original mine owner had the same sense of humor as I do. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powdered-sugar/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191004-Powdered-Sugar.jpg Powdered Sugar Winds up at this spot had to be 50mph sustained with gusts even higher. Then there's me at 12,900ft, smiling, freezing, stubbornly just wearing a flannel, because it's only early October, and I know it's only going to get colder from here. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/upper-rio-grande/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180923-Upper-Rio-Grande.jpg Upper Rio Grande Autumn sunset in the Upper Rio Grande valley Upper Rio Grande https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-pyramid/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180923-Autumn-Pyramid.jpg Autumn Pyramid The Rio Grande Pyramid on a September Day. Upper Rio Grande https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/colorful-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Colorful-Creede.jpg Colorful Creede Nelson Mountain in Creede with its best fall colors. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pyramid-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180910-Pyramid-Autumn.jpg Pyramid Autumn The the Rio Grande Pyramid, Brown Lakes and one of the best sunsets I've seen this year! Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/goldsliver-thread/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180910-Gold-Sliver-Thread-.jpg Gold/Sliver Thread Bristol Head rises above Colorado 149 and infinite aspen forests Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/maze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180910-Maze.jpg Maze Upper Rio Grande https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heart-lake/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180910-Heart-Lake.jpg Heart Lake Upper Rio Grande https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heart-lake-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180910-Heart-Lake-Panorama.jpg Heart Lake Panorama Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/burn-scar/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180909-Burn-Scar.jpg Burn Scar Five years ago the Papoose fire (part of the West Fork Complex) burnt tens of thousands of acres west of Creede. Now where the fire ravaged, three foot high aspens cover the forest floor! Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/last-chance-mine-in-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Last-Chance-Mine-in-Autumn.jpg Last Chance Mine in Autumn Ruins of the Last Chance Mine near Creede. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-palette/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Autumn-Palette.jpg Autumn Palette I don't think I've ever seen so much variety in autumn color here in Colorado! This is an entire mountainside near Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beautiful-mountain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190623-Beautiful-Mountain.jpg Beautiful Mountain Beautiful Mountain west of Creede on a beautiful day. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/regrowth/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190727-Regrowth.jpg Regrowth Green lines the forest floor above burnt and blackend trees a couple of years after a wildflower. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fog-bow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190802-Fog-bow.jpg Fog bow Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190802-Aspen-Sunrise.jpg Aspen Sunrise Sunrise in an Aspen grove one foggy summer morning Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-in-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190802-Summer-in-Creede.jpg Summer in Creede Summer day in the small mountain town of Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/treasure-falls-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190811-Treasure-Falls.jpg Treasure Falls Treasure Falls on a raniy day near Pagosa Springs Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/walking-with-the-wind/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190805-Walking-With-The-Wind.jpg Walking With The Wind A photo from an all too short hike (8 miles) on a section of the Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles) as it passes through a large expanse of tundra at over 12,000 ft on Snow Mesa. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dune-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210308-Dune-Storm.jpg Dune Storm A grey and snow threatening sky over the Great Sand Dunes in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. San Luis Valley, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/west-elk-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180924-West-Elk-Fire.jpg West Elk Fire Finally had the chance to leave Lake City and it was definitely worth it, as I caught this incredible sunset over Beckwith Mountain on Kebler Pass outside of Crested Butte. Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/kebler-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180924-Kebler-Rainbow.jpg Kebler Rainbow Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rainbow-and-cottonwoods/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180924-Rainbow-and-Cottonwoods.jpg Rainbow and Cottonwoods The iconic cottonwoods and a very low rainbow Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/monument-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190420-Monument-Sunset.jpg Monument Sunset This is always my first stop when I visit Grand Junction, and luckily I made it just in time to catch this vibrant sunset Grand Junction, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powderhorn-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190728-Powderhorn-Twilight.jpg Powderhorn Twilight Small specks of orange in Indian Paintbrush cover the ground as twilight arrives with San Luis Peak and Stewart Peak 23 miles in the distance. Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lean-into-the-night/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190825-Lean-into-the-Night.jpg Lean into the Night A tree near Powderhorn and the Milky Way Powderhorn, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-hideaway/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190929-Aspen-Hideaway.jpg Aspen Hideaway An old cabin rests quietly next to an aspen grove in the mountains near Gunnison, Colorado Gunnison, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fiery-aspen/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190929-Fiery-Aspen.jpg Fiery Aspen A very vibrant aspen tree near Gunnison, Colorado Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-great-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190929-The-Great-Divide.jpg The Great Divide Spent the afternoon with seemingly every other person in Colorado, so I changed my plans and drove somewhere else. Higher up into the mountains. I ended up here to watch the sunset with only a random thru hiker who was about 2,800 miles into his journey on the Continental Divide Trail Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/christhmas-dunes/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191225-Christhmas-Dunes.jpg Christhmas Dunes On Christmas Day I decided to take an impromptu trip to the Sand Dunes on the hopes I'd have them mostly to myself. I mostly did, and I heard more coyotes yapping than people. I climbed a few random dunes, and was planning a few more before the wind kicked up and blew me to New Mexico. Here's the view from the top of one of the dunes just as the sun hit the sand for the first time that morning, and the clouds from the night's snow storm began to lift, revealing the fresh blanket of snow on the mountains. San Luis Valley, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sea-of-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190929-Sea-of-Gold.jpg Sea of Gold Golden aspen forests near Crested Butte, Colorado Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fall-in-lake-city-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181010-Fall-in-Lake-City.jpg Fall in Lake City Lake City's first of snow of the changing season. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rainbows-over-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180724-Rainbows-over-Lake-City.jpg Rainbows over Lake City Woke up to Rainbows over the mountaiin town of Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180529-Summer-Lake-City.jpg Summer Lake City Vertical photo of the town of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-in-the-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190112-Lake-City-in-the-Winter.jpg Lake City in the Winter Lake City covered in a fresh blanket of snow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-of-2019/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190315-Snow-of-2019-2.jpg Snow of 2019 The milegage sign for Lake City and Creede nearly covered by the snows of the winter of 2019 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190607-Summer-in-Lake-City.jpg Summer in Lake City Summer in Lake City in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-awakes-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190607-Spring-Awakes-Lake-City.jpg Spring Awakes Lake City Sunset looking down into the beautiful Lake Fork Valley that nesltes Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/panoramic-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190902-Panoramic-Lake-City.jpg Panoramic Lake City From above, Lake City feels like a secret tucked into the mountains, because that's exactly what it is! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190902-Lake-City-Summer.jpg Lake City Summer All the snow has finally melted off Red Mountain above Lake City! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fall-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191004-Fall-in-Lake-City.jpg Fall in Lake City A vibrant display of color in the sky and mountains as autumn consumes the valley Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-snow-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191028-First-Snow-in-Lake-City.jpg First Snow in Lake City A scene from a hallmark movie unfolds as a car drives towards the mountain town of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191028-Winter-in-Lake-City.jpg Winter in Lake City Lake City sits quietly between the frozen San Juan peaks Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-keep/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210228-Winters-Keep.jpg Winter's Keep Sunset light on the iconic amphitheater mountains above the mountain town of Ouray, Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sneffels-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210301-Sneffels-Light.jpg Sneffels Light Mt Sneffels rugged face greets winter's first light. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210619-Blue-Storm.jpg Blue Storm Blue Lake in the San Juan Mountains as the echoes of thunder started to sound and echo off the mountainsides. I took that as my que to leave. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bloom-and-thunder/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210619-Bloom-and-Thunder.jpg Bloom and Thunder The sky turns blue as a late afternon thunderstorm passes out of the Dallas Divde. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-thaw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210621-Thaw.jpg Summer Thaw Lake Como glows under the summer sun, nestled among Silverton's rugged peaks Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-tub/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210925-San-Juan-Tub.jpg San Juan Tub A hot springs hidden in the San Juan Mountains Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fallorado/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210927-Fallorado.jpg Fallorado Definition- following every single road or trail that has aspens during Colorado's fall. This is Red Mountain Pass/Million Dollar Highway just outside of Ouray. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-cabin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211005-Autumn-Cabin.jpg Autumn Cabin I first saw this old cabin back in June, and immediately knew I'd have to visit when the aspens changed. Luckily I was able to time my trip perfectly and visit it at peak fall color. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-snow-on-wilson/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211006-First-Snow-on-Wilson.jpg First Snow on Wilson Wilson Peak rises dramatically over Colorado's San Juan Mountains, and on a fall morning before sunrise, its snow-dusted slopes create a striking Telluride high-country scene. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wilson-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211006-Wilson-Colors.jpg Wilson Colors Will Wilson show itself? That was the question yesterday morning near Telluride. I had another shot in mind, but when I got my first glimpse of where Wilson should be there were just clouds. I changed my plans and just parked in a pullout on the highway and just waited. As the dawn grew closer the clouds abated, and you could see the fresh snow that capped the peaks. Another few minutes later Wilson Peak was hit by the alpenglow creating just about everything you could want in a fall photo of a Colorado Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curves/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211006-Curves.jpg Curves Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-high-road/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-The-High-Road.jpg The High Road Wilson Peak towers above Sunshine Mesa and the valley below on an Autumn morning. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/telluride-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-Telluride-Fire.jpg Telluride Fire Driving along a mountain road above Telluride on a crisp October fall morning, the sunrise ignites the sky with vivid oranges, pinks, and purples, above the rugged San Juan Mountains, and Wilson Group. This sunrise was one of the most spectaular I have seen in the San Juan Mountains Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/western-lines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-Western-Lines.jpg Western Lines A zigzag wood fence stretches across the high-country landscape near Telluride. Its repeating angles creating a rhythmic pattern that dissects mountain meadows. Built in a traditional style, these fences were designed to stand without nails, following the contours of the land with both function and beauty. (as a fence goes) Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-harmony/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-High-Country-Harmony.jpg High Country Harmony Dark forests, to meadows and glowing golden aspens, to rugged snow capped peaks and a light filtered sky with buidling clouds all came together perfectly on this October morning near Telluirde Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunlit-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-Sunlit-Falls-2.jpg Sunlit Falls Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tricolor-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211007-Tricolor-Twilight.jpg Tricolor Twilight At twilight, Wilson Peak rises above a forest of tricolored aspens, their gold, red, and green leaves glowing in the coming light as alpenglow hits Wilson Peak across the valley. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-is-coming/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181006-Winter-is-Coming-2.jpg Winter is Coming Wilson Peak in shadow as a storm moves in near Telluride. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-storm-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181006-Autumn-Storm.jpg Autumn Storm Wilson Peak, the "Coors Light Mountain," is perhaps the most famous peak in Colorado, but it truly comes alive when the seasons collide like on this October day near Telluride. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/owl-creek-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181005-Owl-Creek-Sunset.jpg Owl Creek Sunset Ridgway, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mears-peak-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181005-Mears-Peak-Sunset.jpg Mears Peak Sunset Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dawn-on-the-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181005-Dawn-on-the-Divide.jpg Dawn on the Divide First Light of a an autumn day begins to illumnate the iconic landscape of The Dallas Divide near Telluride, Colorado. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/home-range/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181004-Home-Range.jpg Home Range Cows graze in the meadows below the imposing Mt. Sneffels. Ridgway, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181004-Blue-Divide.jpg Blue Divide Dallas Divide at Twilight Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dallas-divide-at-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181004-Dallas-Divide-at-Sunset.jpg Dallas Divide at Sunset Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-sneffels/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181004-Golden-Sneffels.jpg Golden Sneffels Mt Sneffels on a fall day. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180826-High-Country-Autumn.jpg High Country Autumn Lake Como and an autumn storm Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hurricane-winds-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180826-Hurricane-Winds.jpg Hurricane Winds There's a reason they call it Hurricane Pass. The wind up on this ridge is relentless, especially when a storm is moving in! Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hurricane-winds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180826-Hurricane-Winds-2.jpg Hurricane Winds There's a reason they call it Hurricane Pass. The wind up on this ridge above Lake Como and the road to Animas Forks is relentless, especially when a storm is moving in like on this late summer day. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hermits-hovel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180826-Hermits-Hovel.jpg Hermit's Hovel Found this old hermit's cabin just as the clouds started to drop another storm into the mountains around Animas Forks Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-mountain-pines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180723-Red-Mountain-Pines.jpg Red Mountain Pines The illuminated slopes of Red Mountain near Ouray contrast with the dark shadowy forest. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-hotel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180826-High-Country-Hotel.jpg High Country Hotel Animas Forks was once a bustling mining town, and this boarding house was the center of life for the miners who lived here. Today, it's one of the most iconic ruins on the Alpine Loop, a skeleton of the silver and gold boom that built and scarred the San Juan Mountains. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ruins-of-idarado/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180722-Ruins-of-Idarado.jpg Ruins of Idarado Dramatic sunset light on the old Idarado mine buildings on the Million Dollar Highway near Ouray. It's hard to wrap your head around the fact that miners used to travel miles underground from here just to get to the other side of the mountain range near Telluride Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshines-view-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200801-Sunshines-View.jpg Sunshine's View The summit of Sunshine Peak offers views of the high-elevation San Juan Mountains. From here you can see the 14ers Redcloud, Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, Handies, and of course the summit of Sunshine Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-first-dusting/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180903-Winters-First-Dusting.jpg Winter's First Dusting Caught the first winter storm clearing out just in time for sunset with Uncompahgre Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cottonwood-creek/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180817-Cottonwood-Creek.jpg Cottonwood Creek One of the many cascades of Cottonwood Creek in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-in-the-wall-falls-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180813-Face-in-the-Wall-Falls.jpg Face in the Wall Falls Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-mountian-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180803-Red-Mountian-Sunset.jpg Red Mountian Sunset Sunsets from the summit are always better. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/twilight-basin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180719-Twilight-Basin.jpg Twilight Basin Moonlight in American Basin. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180630-Lake-Fork-Stars.jpg Lake Fork Stars The Milky Way core and Jupiter rising over the Lake Fork River. The surrounding lands of Hinsdale County remain the least densely populated county in Colorado, which minimizes manmade light and allows for some truly dark skies. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/whitmore-calm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180624-Whitmore-Calm.jpg Whitmore Calm Whitmore Falls, located just past the historic site of Capitol City on Engineer Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/evening-hymn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180611-Evening-Hymn.jpg Evening Hymn Golden light in the forest near Cataract Creek Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180713-American-Morning-2.jpg American Morning American Basin photographed during the morning light. Situated in the San Juan Mountains, this area is a critical drainage point for the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. At 11,000+ feet, the tundra is extremely delicate; a single footstep can kill plants that took years to grow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180708-American-Summer.jpg American Summer American Basin in Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-monsoon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180713-American-Monsoon.jpg American Monsoon Monsoon rains help the flowers grow along the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-alpine-road/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180528-The-Alpine-Road.jpg The Alpine Road Sunset on the Alpine Loop on Engineer Pass. This high-altitude 4WD road traverses the rugged terrain of the San Juan Mountains, following historic mining routes that served silver and gold mines in the areas around Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray. Look close and spot one of the many waterfalls along the way! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-and-american/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180603-Handies-and-American.jpg Handies and American Handies Peak rising above American Basin along the Alpine Loop on a summer day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180806-Slumgullion-Sunset-2.jpg Slumgullion Sunset Even though thousands of trees died to the pine beetle for this view it's still my favorite place and it's hard to imagine a more peaceful place to watch the sunset than up here. I even had a bull moose who surprised me grazing a few hundred yards away to complete the scene. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heavenly-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180812-Heavenly-Light.jpg Heavenly Light The rugged slopes of Darley Mountain along Engineer Pass illuminated by a sharp break in the storm. Named for George Darley, the pioneer Presbyterian minister who founded the oldest protestant church on the Western Slope, the peak stands as a tribute to the man who traversed these dangerous passes on snowshoes to reach isolated mining towns. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-in-the-wall-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190504-Face-in-the-Wall-Falls.jpg Face in the Wall Falls A hidden waterfall in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-inlet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190606-Lake-Inlet.jpg Lake Inlet Lake Fork River and Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summers-turn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190609-Summers-Turn.jpg Summer's Turn Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rainbow-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190609-Rainbow-Falls.jpg Rainbow Falls Catching a rainbow at North Clear Creek Falls is all about the strength of the spray and the angle of the sun. I had to wait for the morning light to hit just right against the heavy mist of spring run off to reveal the rainbow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rainbow-mist/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190609-Rainbow-Mist.jpg Rainbow Mist A rainbow in the strong mist of North Clear Creek Falls Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/reflected-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190611-Reflected-Sunset.jpg Reflected Sunset Reflected Slumgullion Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/floods-of-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190615-The-Runoff.jpg Floods of Spring With lots of snow comes lots of water as the higher elevations melt! Here is the scene on the river right now where the might of the water is outmatched by three trees! The sound and amount of water moving through is just incredible to witness. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blazing-into-the-night/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190620-Blazing-into-the-Night.jpg Blazing into the Night I was doing about the only thing I do these days, which is sitting and waiting for a moose to move out of the brush when I noticed this lone aspen burning brightly with backlit sunlight. I waited, and about 15 minutes it looked like I'd hoped it look as the aspen was the only thing tall enough to receive the last rays of light leaving everything else in shadow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/greening-up/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190624-Greening-Up.jpg Greening Up A dirt road leads deeper into the aspen forests around Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/veil-of-secrets/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190709-Veil-of-Secrets.jpg Veil of Secrets Nobody else around, no sounds but those of nature, just a hidden waterfall in its own seemingly perpetual twilight, even hours before sunset will make this spot a new favorite of mine. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-on-the-tundra/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190711-Spring-on-the-Tundra.jpg Spring on the Tundra The end of a Summer day on the tundra as evening light illuminates Uncompaghre Peak and Wetterhorn Peak along the Alpine Loop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-flow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190720-Alpine-Flow.jpg Alpine Flow Whitmore Falls cascades out of rugged cliffs, its water flowing in a silky flow down the rushing Henson Creek Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-rush/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190720-San-Juan-Rush.jpg San Juan Rush Whitmore Falls drops out of a mountain slot canyon into a beautful rushing creek along the Alpine Loop Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-flow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190720-San-Juan-Flow.jpg San Juan Flow Whitmore Falls drops out of a mountain slot canyon into a beautful rushing Henson creek Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-reverie/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190722-Summer-Reverie.jpg Summer Reverie A serene and warm sunset casts its magic over the peaceful waters of Lake San Cristobal, the lake of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-barn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190802-Summer-Barn.jpg Summer Barn A summer view of the iconic barn and its reflection pond near Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190810-Slumgullion-Blues.jpg Slumgullion Blues Legions of Beetle Kill stand silent in the morning rain on Slumgullion Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190812-American-Dawn.jpg American Dawn Morning light bathes the rugged landscape of American Basin as wildflowers line the banks of the Lake Fork River Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/waking-san-juans/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190812-Waking-San-Juans.jpg Waking San Juans The rough 4WD road to American Basin is a small price to pay for this kind of alpine beauty. Standing next to carpets of columbines at the base of this natural amphitheater ringed by aaglowing American Peak, I realized how lucky we are to have places like this and the importance of protecting them. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tundra-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190812-Tundra-Twilight.jpg Tundra Twilight Pink alpenglow hit the Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peak as a storm builds in the distance. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cataract/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190814-Cataract.jpg Cataract Cataract Falls in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cataract-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190814-Cataract-Falls.jpg Cataract Falls Cataract Falls near Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/crystal-lake/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190817-Crystal-Lake-.jpg Crystal Lake Crystal Peak stands tall above the mountain that shares it name. This lake sits almost 3,000 feet and 4 miles above Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hidden-history/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190818-Hidden-History.jpg Hidden History The remants of an old mining operation and dam in the Colorado mountains along the Alpine Loop Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190819-Engineer-Stars.jpg Engineer Stars Engineer Pass on a moonlit summer night. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lunch-mountain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190822-Lunch-Mountain.jpg Lunch Mountain Uncompahgre Peak as viewed from Lunch Mountain, an unnamed bump in the middle of the San Juan's where I had lunch one day with this view of Uncompahgre Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sloan-lake-mirror/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-Sloan-Lake-Mirror.jpg Sloan Lake Mirror Tucked high in the San Juan Mountains, Sloan Lake is the ultimate alpine reward on the way to the Handies Peak summit. The crystal-clear water mirrors the rugged American peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-peak-trail/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-Handies-Peak-Trail.jpg Handies Peak Trail Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beautiful-day/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-Beautiful-Day-.jpg Beautiful Day A perfect day in the San Juan's. Even snowed a little a couple hours earlier coming down from Handies Peak, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-and-sloan/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-Handies-and-Sloan.jpg Handies and Sloan Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190825-Night-in-Lake-City.jpg Night in Lake City Dark skies are one of the things that make Lake City so special. Some locals are currently working to get an official dark sky certification for our skies which I think will be great, and it's also something you can impact and help out with by being mindful and turning your lights out! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190828-Uncompahgre-Sunrise.jpg Uncompahgre Sunrise Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/thompson-lake/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190902-Thompson-Lake.jpg Thompson Lake A short trail from town leads to the hidden pond just miles from the hustle and bustle of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-storm-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190905-San-Juan-Storm.jpg San Juan Storm A storm moves in over the San Juan Mountains and Uncompaghre Peak. This was from the summit of Crystal Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/green-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190906-Green-Falls.jpg Green Falls South Clear Creek Falls in the Colorado Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190913-Uncompahgre-Stars.jpg Uncompahgre Stars I started my first Uncompahgre climb at 6:11 am, but the second I was done all I wanted to do was go back up! So for the full moon Friday night, I started the hike at 6:13 pm! Although the summit wasn't the goal this time, the destination was a ridge to get a view of the moon lighting up Uncompahgre as it rose in the east! I reached my destination just as the sun began to set and the sky turned a truly incredible purple. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Slowly the light faded, the darkness, and my doubts about standing on a high ridge miles from the road/help surrounded me. Then the faint glow in the east became stronger and stronger until the moon slowly rose! In minutes the entire valley and Uncompahgre were bathed in the light of the full moon and headlamps were no longer needed! Thankfully, the wind stayed mercifully mild keeping the cold in moderation so it was an enjoyable stay on this ridge during this hour long exposure. ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After that the wind kicked up and the cold was no longer moderate, so I hiked back the way I had come, only to be greeted with several pair of reflected green eyes along the way. They were most likely deer/coyotes, but considering mountain lions had been on my mind since I began the hike 6 hours earlier I was convinced otherwise. Whatever it was didn't pay half the attention to me as I did it, so I made it home without being mauled, and my desire to climb again and again remained intact! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/only-up/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190926-Only-Up.jpg Only Up The trail up Redcloud Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-peak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190926-Redcloud-Peak.jpg Redcloud Peak Redcloud Peak viewed from the saddle at 13,100 ft Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshines-view/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200801-Sunshines-View-2.jpg Sunshine's View The summit of Sunshine Peak offers views of the high-elevation San Juan Mountains. From here you can see the 14ers Redcloud, Uncompahgre, Wetterhorn, Handies, and of course the summit of Sunshine Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-ridges/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191010-Redcloud-Ridges.jpg Redcloud Ridges Afternoon Light on the ridges of Redcloud Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-match/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190127-The-Match.jpg The Match Last light fades in the Beetle Killed forests Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/christmas-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181223-Christmas-Glow.jpg Christmas Glow Sunrise on Christmas Eve one year. This was one of the failed attempts at capturing the full moon setting behind Uncompahgre Peak. If not for those dark and looming storm clouds it would've been above Wetterhorn Peak here. As it was, the mountains glowed a brilliant gold agasint the dark clouds for a couple minutes before the snow began. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stars-fall-over-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181214-Stars-Fall-over-Lake-City.jpg Stars Fall over Lake City Last night was the Geminid meteor shower and I left my camera going from about 6:30pm until my battery died just before 1am in the 9F weather. Unfortunately, I had already fallen asleep so I couldn't change it out. In total I caught 15 meteors and saw 3 more while messing the camera. This photo is a composite of 16 photos. 15 for the meteors, and one with no cars/planes/clouds for the base photo. Also most of the meteors where after moonset but since the 3 brightest ones fell while it was still up so I used a photo from around 8pm as the main photo. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/last-rays/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181208-Last-Rays.jpg Last Rays Sunset light on an unnamed 13er near the ghost town of Sherman. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/clear-creek-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181206-Clear-Creek-Snow.jpg Clear Creek Snow A December snow storm at one of the classic Colorado waterfalls. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/civil-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181205-Civil-Twilight.jpg Civil Twilight Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-light-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181205-Winter-Light.jpg Winter Light Sunset over Lake San Cristobal near Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/icy-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181205-Icy-Sunset.jpg Icy Sunset Sunset over the ice of Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-gate/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181204-The-Gate-2.jpg The Gate Colorado 149 passes through the Gate Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-takes-hold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181127-Winter-Takes-Hold.jpg Winter Takes Hold The cold of winter freezes North Clear Creek Falls. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frigid-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190113-Frigid-Sunrise.jpg Frigid Sunrise A cold start to the day in Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190121-Winter-Twilight.jpg Winter Twilight The Full Wolf Moon setting behind the peaks of Uncompahgre, Matterhorn, and Wetterhorn during the last moments of twilight. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-moonset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190121-Winter-Moonset.jpg Winter Moonset The Full Moon setting behind the peaks of Uncompahgre, Matterhorn, and Wetterhorn on a windy winer morning. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wolf-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190121-Wolf-Moon.jpg Wolf Moon The Full Wolf Moon setting behind the peaks of Uncompahgre, Matterhorn, and Wetterhorn. I've been planning this photo for years, but it's never quite worked out due to snow, clouds, being out of town, or mainly the fact this opportunity only comes around about three days a year. It all finally came together yesterday morning though. There was a predicted 47% cloud cover and snow later on, in which Uncompahgre is usually obscured very early on, but I woke up, and saw stars through the window, and was out the door into a cold and very windy dawn. Once I arrived to the aptly named point, this was the view I was rewarded with. For the next 30 minutes I watched the moon creep down towards the mountains as the sun rose behind me all the while trying (and failing) to not lose feeling in my hands. All was worth it, though, as I think I came away with a new favorite photo of the peaks glowing in the light as the moon dipped below the horizon. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-moon-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190121-Uncompahgre-Moon-2.jpg Uncompahgre Moon Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190202-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Winter Sunrise A view of Uncompahgre Peak I've seen thousands of times, but still will always stop to watch the sunrise/set from up here. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/passing-through-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190202-Passing-Through.jpg Passing Through I spotted these (what I presume to be) bobcat tracks passing those two young pines just as the morning sun hit them making the scene look like something from the sand dunes. I loved the scene instantly, and knew I had to come back when there wouldn't be shadows and the snow would look more like snow. So, for the first time that afternoon, I headed back up Slumgullion hoping I didn't see whatever was making these tracks and they hadn't been back to ruin the scene with more tracks. Thankfully though, the tracks were just as I had left them, and as soon as the sun went behind the mountains, I took the photo I had envisioned hours earlier. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/passing-through/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190202-Passing-Through-2.jpg Passing Through I spotted these (what I presume to be) bobcat tracks passing those two young pines just as the morning sun hit them making the scene look like something from the sand dunes. I loved the scene instantly, and knew I had to come back when there wouldn't be shadows and the snow would look more like snow. So, for the first time that afternoon, I headed back up Slumgullion hoping I didn't see whatever was making these tracks and they hadn't been back to ruin the scene with more tracks. Thankfully though, the tracks were just as I had left them, and as soon as the sun went behind the mountains, I took the photo I had envisioned hours earlier. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/life-and-afterlife/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190304-Life-and-Afterlife.jpg Life and Afterlife Two trees stand by side in the barren winter landscape. One lives, one stands as a skeleton. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-slide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190322-Snow-Slide.jpg Snow Slide Winter sunset and the fallen face of Mesa Secco and the Slumgullion Earthflow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190322-Slumgullion-Panorama.jpg Slumgullion Panorama Winter sunset and the fallen face of Mesa Secco and the Slumgullion Earthflow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-snow-joy/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191020-First-Snow-Joy.jpg First Snow Joy Not sure why it makes me so happy to see these first snows of the year because along with that blanket of beautiful snow on the mountains will follow true Winter, and all that it entails. Darkness, severe isolation, cold, a ton more snow, and what I'm sure is to be a glorious case of cabin fever. Nevertheless, It snowed, twice now, and I am happy because of it. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-closure/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191020-Winter-Closure.jpg Winter Closure Engineer Pass leads into the frozen mountains and is closed for another winter. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-rays/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191021-Sunshine-Rays.jpg Sunshine Rays Sunshine Peak in the Sunshine Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dolly-varden/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191023-Dolly-Varden.jpg Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Peak on a cold October Day Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/unnamed-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191102-Unnamed-Alpenglow.jpg Unnamed Alpenglow 18 minutes before sunrise, 6 degrees below zero, and one of my favorite 13ers glowing in the predawn light. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-whitmore/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191103-Frozen-Whitmore.jpg Frozen Whitmore One of the great things about living where I take most of my photos is the ability to revisit the same location to see the changes that occur throughout the seasons. This waterfall along Engineer Pass is not often seen in the winter! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stick-season/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191103-Stick-Season.jpg Stick Season Stick season is the quiet time when the Colorado high country has muted tones, as the last aspen leaves have fallen and bare white tree trunks line the rivers and trails Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rio-grande-passage/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191106-Rio-Grande-Passage.jpg Rio Grande Passage Before this, the sky was almost all grey and dull. I almost called it a day, but decided just to sit and wait, mainly to avoid heading home. About twenty minutes in some light broke through the clouds, and I knew I had made the right decision to stay out, but I was in the wrong spot. After a quick relocation to another nearby spot, this was the scene. The entire western sky had exploded in color over the Rio Grande Pyramid and the rest of the Weminuche on the distant horizon. The color burned bright and last a long time, leaving the clouds purple well into twilight. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/windswept/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191220-Windswept.jpg Windswept A winter view from 71 mountain Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-solitude/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191226-Winter-Solitude.jpg Winter Solitude A lone tree and snow covered meadows in Pagosa Springs Pagosa Springs, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fenceline/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191226-Fenceline.jpg Fenceline A buried fence and lone tree in southern Hinsdale County Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/road-to-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191228-Road-to-Lake-City.jpg Road to Lake City Colorado Hughway 149 leading through the Lake Fork Valley on a winter night. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fire-and-ice/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191228-Fire-and-Ice.jpg Fire and Ice Sunset along the Lake Fork River near Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunrise-sundog/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191229-Sunrise-Sundog.jpg Sunrise Sundog Probably the coldest photo I've ever taken! I was amazed as I reached the top of Slumgullion Pass, and saw this incredible sundog appearing in the eastern sky. I've seen sundogs several times before, but never this pronounced and vivid. ⠀ ⠀ I immediately found a spot to park and looked for something other than the road to put in front of the sky. Options on that front are rather slim on Slumgullion these days with the forest dying out and being cut down, but these few young living trees being nearly covered in snow and their shadows seemed like a good option. ⠀ ⠀ Problem, they were quite a ways off the road. It was -12F, with more wind than I'd prefer, and turns out the snow was waist deep, but I still made it! Was it worth it? Of course it was, what else can one do at 7 am on a morning that cold? ⠀ Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sundog/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191229-Slumgullion-Sundog.jpg Slumgullion Sundog I was amazed as I reached the top of Slumgullion Pass, and saw this incredible sundog appearing in the eastern sky. I've seen sundogs several times before, but never this pronounced and vivid. ⠀ Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200126-Morning-Shadows.jpg Morning Shadows Morning shadows in my frozen aspen forest near Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ute-sky/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191228-Ute-Sky.jpg Ute Sky Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/twin-grizzly-cubs/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180505-Twin-Grizzly-Cubs.jpg Twin Grizzly Cubs Two Grizzly Bear cubs walking through the forests of Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/friend-shaped/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180504-Friend-Shaped.jpg Friend Shaped Portrait of a younger grizzly Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180504-Mountain-Blues.jpg Mountain Blues Mountain Bluebird Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tricksters-eyes/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180503-Tricksters-Eyes.jpg Trickster's Eyes A coyote on the banks of the Yellowstone River. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/coyote-stare/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180505-Coyote-Stare.jpg Coyote Stare Portrait of a coyote in Yellowstone Park, Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bison-and-hawk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180501-Bison-and-Hawk.jpg Bison and Hawk A Bison grazes through a snowstorm as a hawk watches it all Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bison-weather/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180430-Bison-Weather.jpg Bison Weather A bison during a spring whiteout. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/treeline-wolf/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180426-Treeline-Wolf.jpg Treeline Wolf I had stopped to watch some swans in the Firehole River, and about 5 minutes later this wolf stopped and sat for a minute as his friends caught up Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baby-bison/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180427-Baby-Bison-2.jpg Baby Bison A bison mother and maybe an hour old calf on the banks of the Gibbon River and the steaming Beryl Springs. When I happened upon them, the baby bison was trying out walking and had just managed standing as Mom rested and cleaned it. When I left, the baby was figuring out how great napping is as mom stood watch Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-steps/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180427-First-Steps.jpg First Steps Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mother-grizzly/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180505-Mother-Grizzly.jpg Mother Grizzly Mother Grizzly along the Madison River in Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunlit-wolves/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180426-Sunlit-Wolves-2.jpg Sunlit Wolves I had stopped to watch some swans in the Firehole River, and about 5 minutes later this wolf and his friend walked by. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frost-giant/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180501-Frost-Giant.jpg Frost Giant Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wild-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180505-Wild-Forest-2.jpg Wild Forest A mom and cub Grizzly make thier way through the Yellowstone forests Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-coyote/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180505-Yellowstone-Coyote.jpg Yellowstone Coyote Portrait of a coyote in Yellowstone Park, Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bobcat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20181206-Bobcat.jpg Bobcat A bobcat on a Colorado mountainside Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-coyote/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180920-Mountain-Coyote.jpg Mountain Coyote The nicest looking coyote I've ever seen. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-watcher/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180919-The-Watcher.jpg The Watcher Ever get the feeling you're being watched? I was taking photos of what some aspens in the rain on Cinnamon Pass when I turned around to find her staring at me Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mom-and-calf-moose-at-twilight-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180917-Mom-and-Calf-Moose-at-Twilight.jpg Mom and Calf Moose at Twilight A Quiet Encounter Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mom-and-calf-moose-at-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Mom-and-Calf-Moose-at-Twilight.jpg Mom and Calf Moose at Twilight Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-gathering/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Moose-Gathering.jpg Moose Gathering I was watching a cow moose graze by this pond for a bit just willing her to get in the water. I'd never seen a moose in this pond before, but I knew it'd be a great photo. Finally, she did! And I watched her for 15 minutes taking photos, as happy as I am capable of being. Then I heard the crunching of branches and out of those aspens appeared another cow plus calf and a big bull! They proceeded to hop in the pond and pose as the sun lit up the clouds over the La Garita mountains creating just about the most perfect scene I could ever imagine. They stayed for a long time into the twilight allowing me to take a few hundred photos before they were muscled out of the pond by some thirsty cows. A perfect fall night and a new favorite photo set of mine! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-gathering-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180916-Moose-Gathering-Panorama.jpg Moose Gathering Panorama I was watching a cow moose graze by this pond for a bit just willing her to get in the water. I'd never seen a moose in this pond before, but I knew it'd be a great photo. Finally, she did! And I watched her for 15 minutes taking photos, as happy as I am capable of being. Then I heard the crunching of branches and out of those aspens appeared another cow plus calf and a big bull! They proceeded to hop in the pond and pose as the sun lit up the clouds over the La Garita mountains creating just about the most perfect scene I could ever imagine. They stayed for a long time into the twilight allowing me to take a few hundred photos before they were muscled out of the pond by some thirsty cows. A perfect fall night and a new favorite photo set of mine! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quiet-giant/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180821-Quiet-Giant-2.jpg Quiet Giant One of my favorite bull moose in the rain. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quiet-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180821-Quiet-Gaze.jpg Quiet Gaze One of my favorite bull moose in the twilight. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-bear/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180722-Lake-Bear.jpg Lake Bear Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-eagle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180713-Cristobal-Eagle.jpg Cristobal Eagle A Bald Eagle perched above Lake San Cristobal Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/little-bighorn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180708-Little-Bighorn-2.jpg Little Bighorn Met a baby Bighorn Sheep the other day Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/greeting-the-sun/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20180713-Greeting-the-Sun..jpg Greeting the Sun. I was watching this eagle look out over the Lake and while doing so the sun came up over the mountains bathing him in warm light. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/in-the-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190209-In-the-Snow.jpg In the Snow This is the same bull moose I've posted for the last few weeks because I can usually find him, even through the trees! Despite looking I haven't seen him in the past week. I did see a few moose where he should have been but they were to far off for me to id and I'm guessing he might have finally shed his antlers. I couldn't really tell, but one of the other bull moose regulars shed his a couple weeks ago Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-stalking-lion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190213-The-Stalking-Lion.jpg The Stalking Lion I got up at 6 AM and went to look for critters as I try to do every few days. Usually, I just see the moose and elk regulars, but yesterday I saw them plus bighorns, coyotes, a golden eagle, and the grand finale, a mountain lion! I've lived here and have been hoping to see one for over 8 years now, and it finally happened due to pure luck! I had stopped because I saw my three coyote friends crossing the river. Once they disappeared, I turned around to get back in my car and saw a golden eagle with maybe 20 magpies/crows competing over an elk carcass about 100 ft away up the hillside barely visible from the road. I watched them for maybe 45 minutes, and when the golden eagle took off I assumed the party was over. He circled a few times and the crows joined him in circling before following the river north. Then the magpies all made a noise and took off in unison, and this mountain lion walked into the light out from behind the trees. The entire scene unfolded so beautifully and perfect. The lion was fixated on the carcass, and I almost think he had no idea I was there. The first time he looked at me and heard the shutter it almost looked shocked and retreated behind a tree. Then it looked back into the trees and made several kind of whistling noises before slowly walking off in that direction. It was all over in about 2 minutes. I waited over an hour hoping it/possibly they would reappear, but the magpies and crows returned in time, and the world once again was filled with their squawks and calls Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gaze-of-a-ghost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190213-Gaze-of-a-Ghost.jpg Gaze of a Ghost I had hoped the mountain lion would be there. It made sense for it to be there, but when I got there I didn't see anything. That was to be expected, of course, because what are the chances you would see a mountain lion twice? Even if it should be/has been there. I turned around so I could pull off the road, and set up my camera for the wait. I had about an hour of light left so there was plenty of time, but the second I put the camera out the window its face peeked out from behind a rise to look at me. I started taking photos and shaking with adrenaline again. I feared I would scare it off again, but after a brief staring contest and full buffer on my D500 it carried on with its meal. The snow was now coming down pretty good and the wind and magpies/crows/eagle had all gone leaving just the mountain lion and me in silence. This is definitely one of the most incredible scenes I've ever witnessed. Not only did I never think I'd get to experience something like this, I never even let myself imagine this perfect of a scenario. After about 15 minutes watching it got spooked, and it was now obvious he was uncomfortable with my presence as he tried to drag the elk away. When that failed, he hid under the tree again. I knew those were my signs that it was time to go, as the first rule of wildlife photography is to never cause stress to the animal. I took a quick final few photos, and looking back as I drove off, I saw him head back to the elk in peace. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ghost-cat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190213-Ghost-Cat.jpg Ghost Cat Snow falling, the mountain lion, and me getting to photograph it all. Years later and I'm still in disbelief I was able to witness it! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/edge-of-the-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190304-Edge-of-the-Forest.jpg Edge of the Forest Even when going out the morning after fresh snow it's not often I actually get to see who's been making all the tracks I see. This time though, I spotted some tracks, slowed down, and found this coyote at the end of them! He was bounding through the snow that went up past his chest, but once he figured out I wasn't a threat he slowed down, and was able to walk on top of the snow again. He took this last glance back at me before heading through the aspens to find a place to sit just at the edge of the forest Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sign-of-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190406-Sign-of-Spring.jpg Sign of Spring Spring in the mountains often looks a lot like winter. These mountain bluebirds are the first sign of the changing seasons and return of spring. Even when they're perched on a fence post surrounded by a sea of white snow. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/springs-messenger/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190406-Springs-Messenger-.jpg Spring's Messenger A Mountain Bluebird out enjoying the spring weather along snow filled meadows of spring Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-elk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190410-Snow-Elk.jpg Snow Elk A bull Elk probably not enjoying the snowy Spring weather like I was. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beaver-swim/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190501-Beaver-Swim.jpg Beaver Swim A beaver swims through the still waters of a lake. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yearling/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190504-Yearling.jpg Yearling A year old Moose calf crossing a river. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-bluebird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190511-Golden-Bluebird.jpg Golden Bluebird A Mountain Bluebird in the warm evening light up on Spring Creek Pass. Usually these guys don't like being near people, but he was kind, and only flew away after I got my photo (and all muddy) Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/matriarch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190512-Matriarchs-Gaze.jpg Matriarch Portrait of one my favorite moose moms a few days before she gave birth to twin calves. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190520-Snow-Moose.jpg Snow Moose A bull moose crosses the road in a strong spring snow storm in the San Juan Mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/green-diet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190603-Green-Diet.jpg Green Diet A moose drinks from an algae colored pond. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/learning-to-walk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190612-Learning-to-Walk.jpg Learning to Walk A very young moose calf learning to walk and follow in Mom's hoof prints. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/marmot-portrait/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190612-Marmot-Portrait.jpg Marmot Portrait A Marmot peeks out of the rocks Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-calf-and-mom/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190620-Moose-Calf-and-Mom.jpg Moose Calf and Mom Curious Moose Calf stands close to Mom Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/naptime-in-the-willows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190622-Naptime-in-the-Willows.jpg Naptime in the Willows Moose twins settling down for the night after getting soaked in an afternoon storm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-twins/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190622-Moose-Twins.jpg Moose Twins Moose twins in the rain. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/on-guard-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190622-On-Guard.jpg On Guard Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bear-portrait/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190624-Bear-Portrait.jpg Bear Portrait Portrait of a young Black Bear I had the pleasure of photographing recently. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-heron/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190701-Night-Heron.jpg Night Heron These nesting Night Herons have become nearly impossible to see since he leaves grew in, but there's one branch where they like to sit and look over their home! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190708-Summer-Moose.jpg Summer Moose Bull Moose in the forest with his entourage of mosquito friends. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190710-Morning-Glow.jpg Morning Glow Light and Shadow in the early morning. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-ghost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190715-High-Country-Ghost.jpg High Country Ghost I've always wanted to photograph Mountain Goats, and I finally got the opportunity to visit them on Mt. Blue Sky! Once I was up there, the weather certainly didn't cooperate. Before I was enveloped by clouds, I spotted this regal goat paying no attention to the wind, rain, and thunder of a summer storm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/through-the-clouds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190715-Through-the-Clouds.jpg Through the Clouds A mountain goat on Mt. Blue Sky during a rain storm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-goat-kid/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190715-Mountain-Goat-Kid.jpg Mountain Goat Kid Summertime on the tundra! Lots of wildflowers, thunderstorms, and new little Mountain Goats running around learning what life is like at 14,000ft!! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-mirror/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190730-Moose-Mirror.jpg Moose Mirror Two big bull moose stare at each other. Iv've long suspected they are related from their actions together, but seeing them side by side proved it in my mind Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-clearing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190810-The-Clearing.jpg The Clearing A torrential downpour isn't the best time to look for moose as they'll usually hunker down somewhere inconspicuous, and that's exactly what happened here. This time, though, I was able to spot just the last quarter of his antler with him laying hidden completely in the brush. I waited for the rain to ease and then walked out to a safe distance. After a few minutes of me sitting in the brush, the rain ceased, and he rose! He was in a meandering mood and didn't really do anything interesting, barely staying visible, but being there was enough so I was happy to sit and watch. Then the sky lit up in a most brilliant pink/purple, and he stepped out into a clearing filled with wildflowers! The color in the sky went as quick as it came, and he was back in the willows, invisible once more. That left me in the decreasing light, wet, with the rumble of thunder both behind and in front of me now, but elated. It was time to go before the lightning on the horizon came and the light had completely gone, so I packed my camera and portable lightning rod away to head back home. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-pool-party/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190812-High-Country-Pool-Party.jpg High Country Pool Party A bachelor group of Mule deer cross a small pond on the tundra of the San Juan Mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/willow-wanderer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190820-Willow-Wanderer.jpg Willow Wanderer A big bull moose in the willows he calls home. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/glowing-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190820-Glowing-Moose.jpg Glowing Moose It's awe inspiring to be standing in complete silence surrounded by the world waking up and watching the sun slowly make its way down across the meadow to reach me. Then maybe a minute later the bull moose's antlers Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bright-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190820-Bright-Morning.jpg Bright Morning A perfect peaceful summer morning in Colorado shattered by a moose calf who got the zoomies. This little calf went from zero to sixty instantly running laps around and through the pond splashing her mom pretty good and interrupting breakfast! This continued on for 15 or so minutes before the calf strayed a little too far and mom got out of the pond to chase her down. After that, mom got back in the pond and the calf, presumably now in time out disappeared into the trees. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-buddy/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190823-Alpine-Buddy.jpg Alpine Buddy Just a chubby marmot living its best high-country life in American Basin Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/marmots-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190828-Marmots-Home.jpg Marmot's Home From the summit, Uncompahgre Peak offers sweeping views of valleys, ridges, and endless blue summer sky. Thats probably why this marmot chose it as their home. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grove-guardian/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190902-Grove-Guardian.jpg Grove Guardian A silent bull moose stands in an aspen grove one summer day. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ready-for-the-rut/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20190903-Ready-for-the-Rut.jpg Ready for the Rut He took a month vacation from the area, but my favorite moose to photograph has returned! He's...shall we say a bit more rotund than last I saw him! Now if only I could convince him and his friends to go back to wherever he went for the next few weeks... . Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/coyote-love/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191102-Coyote-Love.jpg Coyote Love I spotted this guy sitting alone at the edge of the willows scoping out the frozen meadow before him. Unexpectedly he was soon joined by his girlfriend, they gave each other a quick kiss before deciding below zero was no time to hunt. They curled up next to each other, and went back to sleep in the frozen meadow Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/town-buck-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191208-Town-Buck-3.jpg Town Buck Met this buck on the way to the post office the other day. He posed nicely with a dark cabin behind him Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/town-buck-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191208-Town-Buck-4.jpg Town Buck Met this guy on the way to the post office the other day. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-wonderland/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191209-Winter-Wonderland.jpg Winter Wonderland -7F, and foot plus of fresh snow was no issue for this cow moose. Slight issue for me, but once I saw her grazing perfectly in her element of a frozen quiet meadow, I didn't mind so much my frozen hands or the sketchy driving to get to this spot. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/kings-of-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20191220-Kings-of-Winter.jpg Kings of Winter Watching these 2 giants hangout at 12,000ft above tree line on the Continental Divide in the middle of winter has been one of my favorite wildlife experiences so far. The only other things around were the sunshine, wind and 4 other moose! You just can't have a better winter day. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frosty/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200102-Frosty.jpg Frosty Portrait of a Cow Moose one frosty winter morning. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-ram/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200101-Snow-Ram.jpg Snow Ram Bighorn Sheep Ram in the Snow Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200723-Lake-City-Nights.jpg Lake City Nights The Milky Way rises in the Dark Skies over Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/redcloud-hiker/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200801-Redcloud-Hiker.jpg Redcloud Hiker The final switchbacks to gain the summit of Redcloud Peak in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/star-party/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200812-Star-Party.jpg Star Party Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dark-skies-of-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200812-Dark-Skies-Of-Lake-City.jpg Dark Skies Of Lake City A few months ago I had the idea to turn some street lights off in Lake City to be able to photograph the Milky Way from downtown. A few months after that, I mentioned it to someone who was willing to actually act and go to town meetings to ask the town if they would turn the lights off for a night. They agreed and were enthusiastic back in the Spring! We planned a star party for the Perseid Meteor shower and hoped for clear skies.⁣ ⁣ We got clear skies! Unfortunately, the star party was a bit muted/informal/unadvertised due to the virus and not being able to have a lot of people there, but more came than I expected, and they were treated to, even downtown, some of the darkest skies left in the United States! Phillip Virden gave a great talk about the stars, importance of dark skies, and set the telescope up on Jupiter and Saturn, while several meteors shot through the star filled sky!⁣ ⁣ After everyone else went home, I set out to get the shot I imagined, but unfortunately, we had forgotten to add a few street lights to the list, and their lights still shone out into the night. With the naked eye the view was great, but through the camera's lens, the street lights on the opposite streets were overpowering. With a little improvising and trial/error in camera placement, plus a jacket draped over the atm light (another light we hadn't noticed) I was able to get the photo!⁣ ⁣ Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/meteors-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200812-Meteors-in-Lake-City.jpg Meteors in Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-daybreak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210703-San-Juan-Daybreak.jpg San Juan Daybreak The sun finally gains enough elevation to bath this high country basin in light. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-light-and-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211106-First-Light-and-Shadows.jpg First Light and Shadows The first light hits the trees on the mountains above Lake San Cristobal which will hold the shadows for another hour or two Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-secrets/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211106-High-Country-Secrets.jpg High Country Secrets From a plane, I spied this moose family weaving through a dense maze of willows, their dark bodies punctuating the harsh and labyrinth below, as we passed above at 13,000 ft in the frozen still air Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/long-winter-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200128-Long-Winter-Nights.jpg Long Winter Nights Recently, I had the chance to spend the night at the Jon Wilson Yurt perched high above Lake San Cristobal. I arrived midday in time to snowshoe around and explore the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the clouds started to move in and cover the incredible blue of the sky with an unappreciated grey. I was worried the photo I had envisioned wouldn't be possible, but right at 5pm the clouds got my message that they weren't welcome. They disappeared rather quickly leaving a completely cloudless sky at twilight and a great view for the stars that began to appear. ⠀ ⠀ I ventured into the fading blue light of twilight and set up my camera in front of the yurt. After that, I waited for the dark of night to come. Venus, of course was the first light in the sky as it followed the path of the sun and began to set in the western sky over Sunshine Peak. When true dark arrived, I was joined by more stars than I've ever seen before! Sure in the summer the Milky Way can be seen, but nothing can beat the clear and crisp winter sky with Orion overhead! This also happened to be the night of the New Moon, which means no moon. So when I set my camera to begin taking photos continually, the night was completely dark with absolutely no lights except for my small fire and the starlight. I then retreated into the yurt and its welcoming warmth to escape the surprisingly moderate, but still 14F cold.⠀ ⠀ I let my camera brave the elements. Look closely in the photo, and you can see me having dinner with my new quilt wrapped around me while I listened to an audiobook. I was warm inside the yurt and only occasionally peaked outside to make sure Bigfoot hadn't taken this opportunity to learn photography by running off with my camera. After about 180 exposures of 25 seconds each, I decided that was enough and brought my camera in and went to sleep.⠀ In the morning I awoke to the first light of the day spilling over the San Juans and hitting all the familiar peaks. Clouds had roll Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/windy-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200209-Windy-Moon.jpg Windy Moon Thirty minutes before dawn, and there's a storm brewing. In this photo you can see the clouds building, already beginning to hide Sunshine and Wetterhorn, with Uncompahgre, and all the other peaks soon to follow as the clouds move east. What you can't see is the constant wind blowing the storm in and moving it closer and closer. Then by 8 am this view is gone. It's all gone grey and quiet as the world is enveloped in the snow, but for now the view is about perfect and the moonlight glistens in the snow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-moon-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200209-Snow-Moon.jpg Snow Moon The Snow Moon sets over the San Juan Mountains as another snow storm moves in on the horizon. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200209-Snow-Moon-2.jpg Snow Moon The Snow Moon sets over the San Juan Mountains as another snow storm moves in on the horizon. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stars-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200408-Stars-Fall.jpg Stars Fall Star trails over a Lake City illuminated by the light of April's Pink Moon.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I couldn't get to my planned spot for the full moon, but the front porch wasn't a bad backup option! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gales-of-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210206-Gales-of-Spring.jpg Gales of Spring A firey sunset and Uncompahgre Peak with gusting winds blowing the snow around. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-and-sky/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210222-Snow-and-Sky.jpg Snow and Sky I noticed these high clouds from my apartment window, and 10 minutes later I was standing knee deep in snow looking out over this view and one of the best sunsets I've seen this winter over Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-clearing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210517-Spring-Clearing.jpg Spring Clearing Spring arrives slowly on Engineer Pass. Along Hinsdale County Road 20, snowplows from County Road and Bridge carve a narrow path, reopening one of the highest and famous jeep routes in the San Juan Mountains. Winter still holds on here, even as the world begins to warm with each passing day. The Alpine Loop https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-whiteout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210522-American-Whiteout.jpg American Whiteout This was the first time I'd seen American Basin as it was snowing! A storm had brought 6+ inches of new snow over the past day so that made getting here a little more fun/terrifying! I came right at sunset, just as another storm was blowing in to obscure the peaks. May 22 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stick-season-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211103-Stick-Season-Sunset.jpg Stick Season Sunset The November sky turned into brilliant shades of pink, and orange minutes after the sun had set while the cold stick season air carried a quiet cold. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200522-San-Juan-Nights.jpg San Juan Nights It's been way too long since I've spent a night under the stars, but I definitely picked a good spot here! The perfect dark and cloudless new moon night gave me a view of one of Lake City's best features, the night sky! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/powderhorn-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200707-Powderhorn-Nights.jpg Powderhorn Nights A forest at just under 11,000 ft, where I hiked up to a pair of alpine lakes which is where I set up camp. That night the stars where probably the brightest I'd ever seen. Lake City was the nearest town but surrounded by the cirque of mountains there was no light pollution in any direction. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200722-Silver-Skies.jpg Silver Skies Coment Neowise in the dark skies of the Silver Thread Byway. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-comet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200722-Cristobal-Coment.jpg Cristobal Comet Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mirrored-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200722-Mirrored-Stars.jpg Mirrored Stars It had rained pretty much all week with 100% cloud cover, but one night it looked like it was starting to clear around sunset. I grabbed my camera and went looking for the comet. After photographing that for awhile, I was driving home when I noticed the stillness of the lake! Immediately the thoughts of bed and sleep vanished, and I was walking down the road in complete darkness. After picking a spot, I scrambled down to the shoreline, in the process frightening a deer who just happened to be sleeping by the bush I wanted to be photographing near. After we both scared each other, and once we figured out we weren't a bear or mountain lion. She went back to sleep, and I got my camera set up. After the first few test shots for focus, I was just completely awestruck by the stillness of the water and the brightness of the stars. I know I'm spoiled by Lake City's dark skies, but to see the stars effectively doubled was something else. Jupiter and Saturn were just as bright in the water as they were in the sky. Overhead the clouds continually formed and dissipated, but they kept their action to the mountainsides while above me was 100% clear, and there was absolutely no wind. Conditions which I had never seen before. I stood there taking photos for about thirty minutes and just admiring the scene as it was, but then the clouds began forming overhead and sweeping in from the west, and where stars were, now was just black. Where the universe was reflected now, gentle waves lapped at the shore as the wind picked up. On the way home the rain began again, and I was thankful to have a dry bed waiting, but on the other hand the deer has this view anytime she wants! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/long-trail-nights/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200816-Long-Trail-Nights.jpg Long Trail Nights A marker for the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200623-Slumgullion-Skies.jpg Slumgullion Skies Dark Skies of Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/691/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200702--2.jpg American Moon July's nearly Full Moon rises above the mountain east of Lake City where an American flag flies on the summit. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sunrise-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200711-Slumgullion-Sunrise.jpg Slumgullion Sunrise Coment Neowise in the sunrise light of a new day on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-comet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200720-Lake-City-Comet.jpg Lake City Comet Comet Neowise in the dark skies above Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-thread/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200723-Silver-Thread.jpg Silver Thread The Milky Way rises in the Dark Skies over Lake City and the Silver Thread Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-end/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210521-Winters-End-.jpg Winter's End The mountain town of Lake City reawkes in May after a long winter. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cinnamon-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210625-Cinnamon-Storm.jpg Cinnamon Storm Summer storm on Cinnamon Pass and the Alpine Loop in the Colorado High Country. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210702-Wetterhorn-Twilight.jpg Wetterhorn Twilight I was photographing another mountain which also had some pretty spectacular light when I noticed Wetterhorn in the background. It instantly stole my attention away from the other mountain/whole reason I had hiked miles out to spend a night above tree line. Even from miles away and just peeking out from behind several other ridges it grabbed my full attention! The last rays of light reaching the high tundra were so warm, vivid, and perfect. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-mountain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210703-Engineer-Mountain.jpg Engineer Mountain The mountain for which Engineer Pass received its name on a still summer morning at sunrise. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quiet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200630-Quiet-2.jpg Quiet Kayaking on Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/682/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200702--3.jpg American Moon July's nearly Full Moon rises above the mountain east of Lake City where an American flag flies on the summit. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-road/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210922-Golden-Road.jpg Golden Road I spend so much time driving these roads to photo spots, but the roads themselves usually are just as beautiful Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210923-Autumn-Dawn.jpg Autumn Dawn I drove up to this point the night before and camped at this spot in order to be here for the 6:30 wake up. Didn't see another person for the entire 15 hours I was up there! Didn't really see anything other than the Dusky Grouse that didn't want to share this spot with me and gave me a fright! I sat on the hillside for about an hour as the first light hit Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peaks. Finally the sun came to warm me up, but my favorite photo was the first one I took before the sun rose. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-and-wetterhorn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210923-Uncompahgre-and-Wetterhorn.jpg Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Nothing beats that crisp fall air and a sky so blue it almost looks painted. Just me and two of my favorite giant peaks on a fall day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-reverie-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210924-Autumn-Reverie.jpg Autumn Reverie This sunset at Lake San Cristobal was pretty much prefect! I had plans to go somewhere else for a photo I've thought about for years, but on the way I got a little distracted. I stopped and took a few photos of golden hour and drove on. Halfway there I changed my mind and went back to the lake, I scrambled down to the bank and waited. I'm glad I did! Look close and you see moose who watched sunset with me on the opposite bank Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-reverie/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210924-Autumn-Reverie-2.jpg Autumn Reverie This sunset at Lake San Cristobal was pretty much prefect! I had plans to go somewhere else for a photo I've thought about for years, but on the way I got a little distracted. I stopped and took a few photos of golden hour and drove on. Halfway there I changed my mind and went back to the lake, I scrambled down to the bank and waited. I'm glad I did! Look close and you see moose who watched sunset with me on the opposite bank Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-light-and-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210928-First-Light-and-Snow.jpg First Light and Snow The first light of morning strikes Uncompahgre Peak, turning the rugged and newly snow covered slopes magenta for a moment. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunlit-summit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210928-Sunlit-Summit.jpg Sunlit Summit Uncompahgre Peak glows in the soft morning light Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/best-friends/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210816-Best-Friends.jpg Best Friends One of my favorite things about bull moose is the fact they seem to have best friends. The last time I saw the floppy earred guy in front was last year, and he was with the moose behind him. I've seen them together multiple times now throughout the years. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/king-of-the-tetons/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211021-King-of-the-Tetons.jpg King of the Tetons Standing at the edge of the treeline, I watched a massive bull moose move through the tall sage grasses of Grand Teton National Park. His antlers were lit by the setting sun as the day faded. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-sentinel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211021-Teton-Sentinel.jpg Teton Sentinel Experiencing wildlife sightings like this Bull Moose in the Tetons make the landscapes feel alive in a very personal and joyous way. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/call-of-the-elk-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211022-Call-of-the-Elk.jpg Call of the Elk This elk's bugle shattered the quiet of the Teton valley, blending with the blue haze of the distant mountains and the warm glow of the golden meadows. Moments like make the high country feel so alive. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ousel-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210727-Ousel-Falls.jpg Ousel Falls Water tumbles over rocky ledges at Ousel Falls, surrounded by the forested slopes of Big Sky, Montana Big Sky, Montana https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210729-Yellowstone-Falls.jpg Yellowstone Falls Twilight at Yellowstone Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hayden-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210729-Hayden-Sunrise.jpg Hayden Sunrise A line of Canada geese move through the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone Park one summer morning. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210729-Yellowstone-Rainbow.jpg Yellowstone Rainbow A brilliant rainbow stretches across the mist of Yellowstone Falls, where rushing water meets the deep canyon below. Sunlight, spray, and the roar of the falls combine to create a fleeting, magical moment in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. This was my gentle reminder to focus more on landscapes of Yellowstone one day instead of just spending time with the wildlife. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/house-on-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210301-House-on-Fire.jpg House on Fire https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ophir-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210602-Ophir-Light.jpg Ophir Light Light on the mountains above Ophir, Colorado Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/turquoise-dreams/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210602-Turquoise-Dreams-.jpg Turquoise Dreams I couldn't believe how blue or still the water of this pond was. I think I took my top three favorite photos of last year here in the span of about 20 minutes. Then of course I forgot about them, and never posted them until now. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gods-rays/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210602-Gods-Rays.jpg God's Rays This is one of those sunsets where everything just came together perfectly! I started the day with a three hour drive to meet a friend. Then we took another 2 hour 8 mile drive up and down a mountain pass. After which she suggested we hike to this lake! Always a yes from me even though the light was terrible, and the clouds were not cooperating at all. We walked through the forest anyway, seeing an alarming amount of bear scat. Once at the lake, we waited for sunset. It did not look promising. Then the clouds broke and found a gap. The pond was incredibly still and the air completely silent creating a perfect mirror for a beautiful scene. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mirrored-vibrance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210602-Mirrored-Vibrance.jpg Mirrored Vibrance Once at the lake, I waited for sunset. It did not look promising. Then the alpenglow appeared, and that all began to change. The one cloud in the sky was moving towards the direction I was doing my best to will it in, and everything came together for a few minutes! Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210603-Morning-Reflections-2.jpg Morning Reflections The quiet morning light touches the mountains and forests near Ophir, Colorado, while still waters reflect it all with perfect clarity Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-dance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210603-Spring-Dance.jpg Spring Dance Is there anything better than a spring morning doing absolutely nothing in an Aspen forest but listening to the wind rustling the leaves? Other than doing the exact same thing, but third week in September of course. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-showers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210603-Spring-Showers.jpg Spring Showers A rain storm and the freshly green aspens and fields above Sunshine Mountain near Telluride Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210603-Sunshine-Sunset.jpg Sunshine Sunset A truly incredile and golden oragne sunset on Sunshine Mesa near Telluride in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-storm-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210603-Sunshine-Storm-Sunset.jpg Sunshine Storm Sunset Last week I took a quick 4 day impulse trip to visit the Western San Juans and Telluride! On the second night there was a storm that blew through right at sunset. Huge wind gusts, lightning, and then this. The sky and mountains just exploded in color. This is Sunshine Mountain catching the last light as the storm dissipates around it. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/telluride-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210604-Telluride-Spring.jpg Telluride Spring Sunset from the top of the gondola overlooking town, Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridal-veil-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210605-Bridal-Veil-Falls.jpg Bridal Veil Falls Morning rainbow on a June day at Bridal Veil Falls Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/as-the-eagle-flies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210929-As-the-Eagle-Flies.jpg As the Eagle Flies A Golden Eagle soars high above the San Juan Mountains on a dramatic fall day on the Dallas Divide. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-refuge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210625-High-Country-Refuge.jpg High Country Refuge A small cabin beside a waterfall along the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-luis-herd/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200224-San-Luis-Herd.jpg San Luis Herd Horses roam the San Luis Valley at sunset Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/crestone-peak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200224-Crestone-Peak.jpg Crestone Peak Last Light on Crestone Peak Crestone, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/crestone-golds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200224-Crestone-Golds.jpg Crestone Golds Golden light on Crestone Peak Crestone, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/whiteout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210105-Whiteout.jpg Whiteout I usually don't drive 160 miles round trip to Crested Butte for pizza, but sometimes cabin fever gets the best of me. When that happens, I make sure to bring the camera just in case there's something to take a photo of along the way. This was the case on a trip one winter. I was headed home, but I didn't want to go home so I took a random left and went down the road until it ended, which is where I found this barn. It had been snowing all day, but the snow, along with the wind had really picked up since leaving town, and it was a slightly worrying whiteout. The barn (not to mention the road) was almost completely obscured at times, which I thought was interesting. So the pizza trip became a photo trip just like I had planned all along. Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bishops-castle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210511-Bishops-Castle.jpg Bishop's Castle Lost in cloud and cold, Bishop Castle rises Rye, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/crystal-mill-in-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210609-Crystal-Mill-in-Spring.jpg Crystal Mill in Spring I finally made it out to this iconic Crystal Mill near Marble, Colorado just as the aspens greened up and the spring run off was at its peak! The road was definitely a little sketchy, but that just meant I had the place to myself as everyone was still walking up the road as I explored/decompressed/dreaded the drive back! Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-bells/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210611-Summer-Bells.jpg Summer Bells This week's midweek impulse trip took me to 3 nights around Aspen for some of Colorado's most photographed scenes! This was morning at the Maroon Bells where I somehow had the shoreline completely to myself. As the alpenglow hit the Maroon Bells jagged peaks I stood there and hoped the light wind wouldn't start again blowing again down onto the alpine lake, which was was mirroring perfectly in the calm spring waters below. It didn't and the sunlit peaks, lush green slopes, and a glassy reflection captured the iconic beauty of this classic Colorado high-country landscape. Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hazy-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210615-Hazy-Sunrise.jpg Hazy Sunrise Sunrise from the summit of Quandary Peak looking out over a smokey landscape towards Grays, and Torrey Peaks (I think, I don't know the front range well!) Breckinridge, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dark-range/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210709-Dark-Range.jpg Dark Range A breath of light hits Lone Eagle Peak during a stormy afternoon day. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lone-eagle-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210709-Lone-Eagle-Sunset.jpg Lone Eagle Sunset I first saw a photo of this mountain around 2009 when my brand new Nikon d90 was on full auto roaming around abandoned asylums with me somewhere in the woods of Massachusetts. Instantly, I fell in love and wanted to go there. Problem(s). It's an 8 mile (one way) hike in. Also I lived 2000 miles from it. This wasn't an attainable goal for this fat city kid who had gone on maybe one hike in his entire life, to say the least. So it got filed away under the maybe I'll do that someday to do list. Years passed and those old Kirkbride buildings were abandoned again with my move back to Colorado. The d90 was replaced, and I learned to use a camera. Most importantly I grew to love nature and the mountains. Still the hike wasn't attainable for this fat mountain man so, while not forgotten, it was forgotten about. A few more years passed. Some stuff happened, and after another long needed move to Colorado, I got my act together! Started hiking, and then backpacking! All of a sudden this was attainable, well kinda. Didn't get a permit for that summer. No problem, I made a friend who happened to have a permit for early September. I somehow managed to get the invite. It was happening! We planned and packed for the trip, and then...called it off the day before. It ended up snowing a foot. Good decision? I guess. Turns out there was a better option! My friend managed to get a last minute permit, and we spent 2 nights at this lake last week! Dream come true. Anyway, this is a whole lot of words to say this a photo of Lone Eagle Peak with a touch of alpenglow, and a moody sky that made good on its threat to rain just as the sun set Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-golden-corridor/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211001-The-Golden-Corridor.jpg The Golden Corridor A hallway of golden aspens stretch toward a single pine, guiding the eye through the high-country fern filled forest near Crested Butte, Colorado. The autumn leaves glow softly in the light, and the quiet stillness made the scene feel almost sacred. Standing here, I felt both surrounded and led, as if nature had designed a perfect path, as it has a way of doing. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/overtaken/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211002-Overtaken.jpg Overtaken Marble, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/above-the-bells/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211004-Above-the-Bells.jpg Above the Bells The Maroon Bells, including Maroon Peak, are some of the most iconic mountains in Colorado's Elk Mountain Range, and seeing them from the air offered a breathtaking new perspective. From a plane at about 15,000, the peaks rise sharply above forests and rugged valleys. Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beckwith-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211009-Beckwith-Blues.jpg Beckwith Blues Taken during a October blue hour on Kebler Pass, I loved the contrast of the golden leaves glowing faintly in the fading light against the blues of the sky and looming Beckwith Mountian. Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-at-the-crystal-mill/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211002-Autumn-at-the-Crystal-Mill-.jpg Autumn at the Crystal Mill The Crystal Mill, stands above the Crystal River near Marble, Colorado, as one of the most photographed historic structures in the state. Built in 1892, the mill once powered mining operations in the rugged Elk Mountains. Surrounded by steep cliffs, rushing water, and golden aspens leaves on this ideal fall day. Marble, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ulay-dam/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-Ulay-Dam.jpg Ulay Dam The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc district located along the Alpine Loop began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. This is the dam that held back Henson Creek until a flood in the 1920s broke it. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-sleeping-mining-town/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-The-Sleeping-Mining-Town.jpg The Sleeping Mining Town The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc mining district is located along the Alpine Loop and began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/remains-of-the-boom/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-Remains-of-the-Boom.jpg Remains of the Boom The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc district located along the Alpine Loop began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mining-stillness/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-Mining-Stillness.jpg Mining Stillness The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc district located along the Alpine Loop began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snowbound/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-Snowbound.jpg Snowbound The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc district located along the Alpine Loop began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yankee-girl/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210305-Yankee-Girl.jpg Yankee Girl The Yankee Girl Mine on Red Mountain Pass and the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray. I snowshoed up the old road to get here, post holing waist deep a few times. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/historic-frame/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210927-Historic-Frame.jpg Historic Frame Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-at-the-mine/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210212-Winter-at-the-Mine.jpg Winter at the Mine The ghost town of Henson at the site of the Ute Ulay mines outside of Lake City. The histoirc district located along the Alpine Loop began in the lates 1870s and was in operation until the 1950s. This was taken one winter day during a snowstorm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-puffin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210902-Golden-Puffin.jpg Golden Puffin Somehow I didn't know Alaska had puffins. I found out shortly after landing, and seeing some quickly became priority number one. I found some less than 24 hours later! Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/best-angle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210902-Best-Angle.jpg Best Angle Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/puffin-in-the-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210902-Puffin-in-the-Rain.jpg Puffin in the Rain A close portrait of a puffin resting in the light rain Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/out-to-sea/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210903-Out-to-Sea.jpg Out to Sea A gull follows a fishing boat out to sea near Seward Alaska. Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-green-eagle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210903-Blue-Green-Eagle-2.jpg Blue Green Eagle A Bald Eagle feasts on a salmon in an Alaskan stresm. Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bald-eagle-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210903-Bald-Eagle-Rain.jpg Bald Eagle Rain A Bald Eagle feasts on a pink salmon in the tidewater plains near Seward Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tongass/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210903-Tongass.jpg Tongass A boardwalk path in the Tongass National Forest near Seward, Alaska. Seward, Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaskan-dream/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210904-Alaskan-Dream.jpg Alaskan Dream A lone cabin on a lake in the Alaska wilderness surrounded by the colors of fall. Every print purchase goes towards this, so thank you! Alaksa https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-jam/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210904-Moose-Jam.jpg Moose Jam A classic Moose jam in Denali National Park Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/denali-mist/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Denali-Mist.jpg Denali Mist Early morning fog rises in Denali, and if you look closely there's a moose that I didn't even see when I took this photo! Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rain-on-a-bull-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Rain-on-a-Bull-Moose.jpg Rain on a Bull Moose Rain drenches the coat of a bull moose Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaska-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Alaska-Rain.jpg Alaska Rain A cow moose quietly grazes through falling rain in Denali Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winding-through-denali/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Winding-through-Denali.jpg Winding through Denali The Park road in Denali National Park Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Autumn-Moose.jpg Autumn Moose An Alaskan Cow moose in the autumn brush. Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/he-sees-you/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-He-Sees-You.jpg He Sees You Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bull-moose-in-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Bull-Moose-in-Autumn.jpg Bull Moose in Autumn A solitary bull moose stands heavy with antlers above a burnt orange Alaskan landscape Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/courting/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Courting.jpg Courting A bull moose follows a cow moose through the boreal landscape together, their scale hidden by grasses, and bushes. A fleeting moment of connection in the Alaskan wild. Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-in-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210905-Moose-in-Fall.jpg Moose in Fall This was one of my favorite moose sightings in Denali! I stood in the rain for over an hour waiting for this guy to get up! When he finally did, he just walked straight away and never looked back. Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-first-salvo/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210906-Winters-First-Salvo.jpg Winter's First Salvo Towards the end of the trip I was treated to the first blast of winter air from the north. It dropped ten degrees and rain turned into snow just a few hundred feet above my campsite. Here is the scene the morning after the the clouds began to life Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaskan-light-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210906-Alaskan-Light.jpg Alaskan Light I saw the sun for about 30 minutes one morning. That was the only time I saw it in my entire 9 day trip. This is just as it broke through the fog! Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaskan-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210906-Alaskan-Fall.jpg Alaskan Fall A cow moose in the brush of Denali National Park Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/empire-of-tundra/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210906-Empire-of-Tundra.jpg Empire of Tundra A giant Alaskan bull moose stands in a dry creek bed backdroped by endless wilderness and others who wish to dethrone him. Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/denali-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210906-Denali-Moose.jpg Denali Moose Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/denali-appears/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210907-Denali-Appears.jpg Denali Appears It rained and was overcast everyday of the trip, but one morning in Denali National Park was mostly clear, and the mountain revealed itself right at sunrise! I took a break from constant moose searching to just stare at it until it covered by the clouds again Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaska-bull-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210907-Alaska-Bull-Moose.jpg Alaska Bull Moose It will come as no surprise to anyone that I spent most of my time in Alaska photographing and looking for moose! Here's the biggest guy I saw. I saw him the previous night chasing cows, but far off. The next morning he came a lot closer and ended up crossing the road just yards from where I was parked! I'm still in awe of them and can't wait to get back up there Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/incoming/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210907-Incoming.jpg Incoming A massive Alaska bull moose stands in its natural habitat, showcasing the power and scale of North America's largest land mammal while deciding to walk right towards me. I moved the second after this photo to a much safer distance as he eased closer. Alaska https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/endless-ice/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210908-Endless-Ice.jpg Endless Ice Cool tones and sweeping ice formations reveal the scale and stillness of the Alaska landscape Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rivers-of-ice/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210908-Rivers-of-Ice.jpg Rivers of Ice On my last day in Alaska I took a flight over the Ruth Gorge and Glacier in Denali National Park. It's definitely the most beautiful place I've ever seen! Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alakan-drama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210908-Alakan-Drama.jpg Alakan Drama On my last day in Alaska I took a flight over the Ruth Gorge and Glacier in Denali National Park. It's definitely the most beautiful place I've ever seen! Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/glacial-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210908-Glacial-Light.jpg Glacial Light Mountains line the valley floor being actively carved by the Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alaskan-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210908-Alaskan-Light.jpg Alaskan Light Late morning aerial photograph of Denali National Park's Ruth Glacier Gorge Denali National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spotted/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210104-Spotted.jpg Spotted Bighorn Sheep on a rocky cliff Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/proud/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-Proud.jpg Proud A ferocious baby mountain lion guarding it's mom's kill. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/learning-to-hunt/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-Learning-to-Hunt-2.jpg Learning to Hunt After the mother Lion and one of the cubs had gone back to rest in the trees, this cub stayed to eat some more and guard the kill. I watched him do this for the next 3 hours! After breakfast, he just sat contemplating the world for a bit, and the magpies grew bold. They were really timid at first and beyond skittish--not landing or flying away at movement, as he guarded the kill with a ferocious passion. After a while, he developed a game to play with them. He would retreat off the kill maybe 20 yards, then let the magpies come in, and then he'd stalk them. He would take careful, slow steps back, and then a quick run and baby pounce at them as they flew off. I watched him do this probably 20 times. At one point, he called out to the trees for reinforcements from mom and the other cub, but they didn't come, so it was up to him. I'm pretty sure he wasn't trying to catch them (or he was just wildly unsuccessful) but rather just playing with them, and took great joy in letting them come close only to scare them off and make them caw out in fear. It was really entertaining either way. As time went on, it was obvious he was overwhelmed and outnumbered so he gave up and accepted their cawing presence. He'd stare at them, lazily swat at one occasionally, but for the most part, they shared the elk as he lay there with them swarming. Finally, he walked away from the kill, took a quick look and a few steps back to scare the magpies again, but ended up finally following his family into the trees. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-guard/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-The-Guard.jpg The Guard A ferocious baby mountain lion guarding it's mom's kill. After I saw the lions in the field, it took some careful repositioning to find a spot where I could see them and also not bother them. After I found that spot, the Mom had already finished breakfast and had headed off somewhere. Slightly concerned, not knowing just exactly where she was, I stood there watching one cub on the elk, while the other was surveying everything from another stand of trees. It eventually crossed the meadow and joined where I assumed/hoped/believed mom was. This was the only time I saw them together and, unfortunately, wasn't able to get any good photos. The other cub stayed and ate on the elk for some time. After it had eaten its fill and grew sleepy, it just sat half asleep on the kill. As it's activity lessened the scavengers grew bolder and bolder. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-mocking-magpie/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-The-Mocking-Magpie.jpg The Mocking Magpie After the mother Lion and one of the cubs had gone back to rest in the trees, this cub stayed to eat some more and guard the kill. I watched him do this for the next 3 hours! After breakfast, he just sat contemplating the world for a bit, and the magpies grew bold. They were really timid at first and beyond skittish--not landing or flying away at movement, as he guarded the kill with a ferocious passion. After a while, he developed a game to play with them. He would retreat off the kill maybe 20 yards, then let the magpies come in, and then he'd stalk them. He would take careful, slow steps back, and then a quick run and baby pounce at them as they flew off. I watched him do this probably 20 times. At one point, he called out to the trees for reinforcements from mom and the other cub, but they didn't come, so it was up to him. I'm pretty sure he wasn't trying to catch them (or he was just wildly unsuccessful) but rather just playing with them, and took great joy in letting them come close only to scare them off and make them caw out in fear. It was really entertaining either way. As time went on, it was obvious he was overwhelmed and outnumbered so he gave up and accepted their cawing presence. He'd stare at them, lazily swat at one occasionally, but for the most part, they shared the elk as he lay there with them swarming. Finally, he walked away from the kill, took a quick look and a few steps back to scare the magpies again, but ended up finally following his family into the trees. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/afternoon-mountain-lion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-Afternoon-Mountain-Lion.jpg Golden Lion I was lucky enough to see this mother mountain lion several times over the last few days! If you're wondering how I knew it was a mom, that's because she had two kittens following her around! (More on them later though) The lion had killed an elk on someone's property (who lives way outside of town) and a friend sent me the photo, and the phone number of the people whose yard it was. After a 9:30 pm phone call, I had invited myself over the next morning, where I promptly arrived well before sunrise. The owners met me and showed me the lions! It was still too dark for photos, but I saw the lion and her cubs out in the field as the snow fell in what pre-dawn light there was! It was a beautiful scene I wish I could've captured. I spent the next four hours standing out in the 19 degree temperatures watching them, (specifically one cub guarding the kill from magpies, but more on all that later as well) After a midday break of no activity, the mother lion came back to the kill. Unfortunately, the cubs weren't following along this time, but were stashed in the trees somewhere. This is when I got the best view of her and took this photo. She ate on the elk as the shadows grew, and most of the meadow fell into shadow. Then she slowly sauntered back into the trees where she could watch the kill and make sure no scavengers came by. (More on that later as well!) This was only the second mountain lion encounter I've had in so many years of living in their territory. I can't say what a truly incredible experience it was to see them in the wild (completely unbaited), and for the most part unconcerned/uninfluenced by my presence. They truly are awe inspiring animals, and I hope I can see them again. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sneak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210119-Sneak.jpg Sneak A sneaky coyote trying to steal from a mountain lion. He failed. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snowface/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210205-Snowface.jpg Snowface During a recent storm I went out to look for moose as I pretty much always do. I found (or was found by!) this girl while walking in the forest. I've seen her here for the past few years, and she's become one of my favorites because she always seems to be curious Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/untouchable/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210519-Untouchable.jpg Untouchable The porcupine with its sharp quills isn't something that can be touched, even though the face says otherwise. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/goodbye-kiss/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210525-Goodbye-Kiss.jpg Goodbye Kiss It was that time of year when mother Moose separate from last year's calves. Usually this is in preparation for the arrival of a new calf! While a few of the cow moose I know have already sent the calves away, these two were still hanging around each other. I got lucky and caught them sharing a quick nosebump while feeding in the pond as the light of the setting sun is reflected off the mountains into the water two nights ago. This was one of the last moments they shared before they went their separate ways, I saw this same year old bull this morning, alone, and I heard yesterday that a cow was seen with a newborn in this same spot! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quandary-goat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210615-Quandary-Goat.jpg Quandary Goat A mountain goat on the slopes of Quandary Peak Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/flower-bears/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210618-Flower-Bears-2.jpg Flower Bears The second I saw this field of flowers I wished to see an animal walk through it. I didn't care what animal, just anything. That pretty much never happens so I contented myself to photograph the landscape as the sunset lit up Mt. Sneffels miles away. After all that was the reason I was at the location anyway. Then 10 minutes later my dream came true! A black bear walked across the field and headed straight for the flowers in front of me! I starred in disbelief though my binoculars as I hurriedly changed from my wide angle lens to the telephoto, and forgot all about the landscape! But wait there's more! She had 2 cubs with her!! I didn't see them at first because the flowers were so high, but occasionally they would pop out for a second and then disappear again. (Notice the flower with fur and ears behind the mom!) The sun lit the clouds up, and Sneffels with alpenglow like I had hoped, but I was busy watching the mom eat flowers while the cubs played around behind her climbing fallen aspens and attacking the flowers for the last thirty or so minutes of light Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-meadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210618-Summer-Meadows.jpg Summer Meadows The second I saw this field of flowers I wished to see an animal walk through it. I didn't care what animal, just anything. That pretty much never happens so I contented myself to photograph the landscape as the sunset lit up Mt. Sneffels miles away. After all that was the reason I was at the location anyway. Then 10 minutes later my dream came true! A black bear walked across the field and headed straight for the flowers in front of me! I starred in disbelief though my Swarovski binoculars as I hurriedly changed from my wide angle lens to the telephoto, and forgot all about the landscape! But wait there's more! She had 2 cubs with her!! I didn't see them at first because the flowers were so high, but occasionally they would pop out for a second and then disappear again. (Notice the flower with fur and ears behind the mom!) The sun lit the clouds up, and Sneffels with alpenglow like I had hoped, but I was busy watching the mom eat flowers while the cubs played around behind her climbing fallen aspens and attacking the flowers for the last thirty or so minutes of light Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grande-winter-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200225-Grande-Winter-Light.jpg Grande Winter Light Beautiful Mountain, beautiful valley, beautiful 7 degree weather in Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Creede.jpg Creede "The last great place (to drink or fight!)" on a quiet summer day Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grande-summer-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200607-Grande-Summer-Light.jpg Grande Summer Light Sunset along the Rio Grande as is meanders its way through the valley near Creede. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-in-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200815-Night-in-Creede.jpg Night in Creede "It's day all day in daytime and there is no night in Creede" Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunniside-stars-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200815-Sunniside-Stars.jpg Sunniside Stars Sunnyside Chapel illuminated in the dark night skies of Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunniside-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200815-Sunniside-Stars-2.jpg Sunniside Stars Sunnyside Chapel illuminated in the dark night skies of Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/commodore-night/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200815-Commodore-Night.jpg Commodore Night Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rio-grande-stars/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200816-Rio-Grande-Stars.jpg Rio Grande Stars Milky Way over the Rio Grande River Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-river/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200816-Silver-River.jpg Silver River Milky Way over the Rio Grande River Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fire-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200803-Fire-Falls.jpg Fire Falls I sat in my car for thirty minutes and nearly gave up on this sunset, but finally decided that of course I had nothing better to do than sit there and wait. It rained some, all the tourists went home, rained some more, and I finally left my car to scramble down the canyon as the sky began its show. The clouds lit up in colors that even I don't believe were real, but the last rays of light through the rain and the perfect conditions created a more perfect sunset than I could ever dream up Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-mountain-valley/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210109-Red-Mountain-Valley.jpg Red Mountain Valley Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/old-time-hockey/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210117-Old-Time-Hockey.jpg Old Time Hockey Pond hockey against the famous cliffs and canyons of Creede, Colorado Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-commodore/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210125-The-Commodore-.jpg The Commodore The Commodore Mine, standing through another tough Creede winter Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-in-time/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210125-Frozen-In-Time.jpg Frozen In Time The Commodore Mine standing tough through another mountain winter Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/prayers-answered/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210126-Prayers-Answered.jpg Prayers Answered A stunning sunset over the Sunnyside Chapel in Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grande-valley-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210126-Grande-Valley-Sunset.jpg Grande Valley Sunset Sunset looking out over the Rio Grande Valley Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/treasure-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210127-Treasure-Falls.jpg Treasure Falls Treasure Falls near Pagosa Springs in winter. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-in-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210202-Winter-in-Creede.jpg Winter in Creede A colorful sunset over the small mountain town of Creede Colorado from the Up and Over. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/creede-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210202-Creede-Glow.jpg Creede Glow Winter twilight in the town of Creede, Colorado Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/old-time-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210309-Old-Time-Creede-2.jpg Old Time Creede A few years ago I was an extra for one the David Yarrow photo shoots over in Creede. He's been doing some work in the San Juans recently, and his choice to use Creede as a location couldn't be more ideal! The place is just pure history on every corner. The day started at 3 am, and I really didn't think the wake up call could be justified for anything other than a summit somewhere, but I was wrong and ended up having a great time. The first shoot was at the Commodore Mine. It was a fun and completely new experience to be in front of the camera for once. No good photos of this. It was just an honor to meet David and his crew, see them at work, and be a (very) small part of it. A few hours after that ended, I stumbled across him in an empty Sunnyside Bar where he bought me a drink and talked photography. After which he invited me to stick around for the sunset photo shoot he was doing on Main Street with Cara Delevingne and Brooks Nader. The idea was Bonnie and Clyde with Creede's iconic mountains behind. If you'd like to purchase a print, you'll have to go find his though! Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beautiful-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210625-Beautful-Sunset.jpg Beautiful Sunset The sun dips lower in the sky near Creede, Colorado, casting warm golden light across the round peak of Beautiful/Red Mountain Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-thread-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210930-Silver-Thread-Colors.jpg Silver Thread Colors The fog transforms this landscape, making the road feel mysterious and alive. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-haven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20211106-High-Country-Haven.jpg High Country Haven Flying over Creede, a town nestled in the San Juan Mountains framed by steep forested slopes and the rising peaks of San Luis and the La Garitas Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-grande/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220104-Frozen-Grande.jpg Frozen Grande A frozen Rio Grande River at sunset in winter Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/559/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201030-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/558/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260304--2.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/557/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20201009-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/556/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20200926-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/555/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210414-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/554/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210523-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/553/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231008-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/552/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250221-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/551/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230729-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/550/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240425-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/549/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230417-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/548/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220805-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/545/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250521-.jpg https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/543/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251206-.jpg Christmas https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/542/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270102--2.jpg Winter https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/541/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251023-.jpg Deer https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boardwalk-sunrise-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/store-sunset.jpg Sunrise A quiet summer morning begins with a burst of vibrant color in the sky while the shops of Lake City's Silver Street sleep. https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/539/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250626--2.jpg Sunset https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-rainow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Silver-Rainow.jpg Rainbow https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/537/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250614-.jpg gallery https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/536/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250605--2.jpg inside https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/535/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250624-.jpg me https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/534/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250930--copy.jpg Fall https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/533/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251111--2.jpg Aurora https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/532/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250610-.jpg Summer https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/night-climber/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221227-Night-Climber.jpg Night Climber Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-solstice-2025/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250621-San-Juan-Solstice-2025.jpg San Juan Solstice 2025 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beetle-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220809-Beetle-Moon.jpg Beetle Moon Moonrise on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/middle-creek/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220809-Middle-Creek.jpg Middle Creek Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-mountain-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220924-Red-Mountain-Fall.jpg Red Mountain Fall Beautiful sunset and Beautiful Mountain in Creede Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-sunlight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220828-Summer-Sunlight.jpg Summer Sunlight Summer afternoon in an aspen grove. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/light-and-shadow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220916-Light-and-Shadow.jpg Light and Shadow Aspen trunks in the sunshine early one fall day near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-stand/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220916-Aspen-Stand.jpg Aspen Stand The white trunks of this beautiful aspen grove somewhere in Colorado stood out to me against the golden leaves.There's nothing quite listening the wind blow through scenes like this. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/falls-waterfall-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220925-Falls-Waterfall.jpg Fall's Waterfall While this waterfall is beautifiul at all times I feel like it waits every year for the aspens that frame it to truly come alive. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/falls-waterfall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220925-Falls-Waterfall-2.jpg Fall's Waterfall A waterfall framed by brilliant golden aspens in the Colorado mountians. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumns-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220927-Autumns-Light.jpg Autumn's Light Autumn is an especally beautiful time at Lake San Cristobal, not just because the aspens come alive with color, but because the sun lines up so well on its journey south to light up the mountains of the Divde. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moody-uncompahgre/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220730-Moody-Uncompahgre-.jpg Moody Uncompahgre A stormy summer day and Uncompahgre Peak about to be envoloped by it all. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/surrounding-spirits/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220816-Surrounding-Spirits.jpg Surrounding Spirits Foggy, rainy, and cold weather spirits surround the beetle kill trees on Slumgullion Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/old-time-memories/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220926-Old-Time-Memories.jpg Old Time Memories Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mountain-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221209-Mountain-Home.jpg Mountain Home A mining cabin in the mountains near Leadville. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/window-to-the-past/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221209-Window-to-the-Past.jpg Window to the Past Looking through the window of the ruins of an old mining cabin to another whose roof is still standing and their imposing and harsh winter location in Mayflower Gulch near Leadville. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/capitol-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221015-Capitol-Glow.jpg Capitol Glow The 14er, Capitol Peak near Aspen glows in evening alpenglow above a sea of yellow aspens Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/a-capitiol-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221016-A-Capitiol-Sunset.jpg A Capitiol Sunset The 14er, Capitol Peak near Aspen on a colorful autumn evening Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stick-season-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221017-Stick-Season-Colors.jpg Stick Season Colors Stick season sunset in Crested Butte https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/capitol-peak-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221015-Capitol-Peak-Autumn-3.jpg Capitol Peak Autumn Capitol Peak on a clear autumn sunset Aspen, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-blue-and-golds-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220818-Slumgullion-Blue-and-Golds.jpg Slumgullion Blue and Golds Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/last-grasp/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220330-Last-Grasp-.jpg Last Grasp The last rays of winter light and Uncompahgre Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridal-veil-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20210605-Bridal-Veil-Rainbow.jpg Bridal Veil Rainbow Bridal Veil Fall's mist caught the sun early one morning for a small rainbow to appear in the box canyon above Telluride. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-summers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220516-Ouray-Summers.jpg Ouray Summers Sunset in Ouray, Colorado with Mt Abrams towering over the valley and town Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-cascade/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220517-Ouray-Cascade.jpg Ouray Cascade Standing in a freezing creek at 7am will sure wake you up quick, especially if that's Cascade Creek in Ouray, Colorado on a May morning. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beaver-pond-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220802-Beaver-Pond-Sunrise.jpg Beaver Pond Sunrise Nature's little engineers built me a fine reflecting pool for this colorful start to the day near Silverton. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/island-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220802-Island-Shadows.jpg Island Shadows I could've sat here all day and watched the light amplify the color of the lake, but that shadow on the mountains was made by clouds bringing lightning so I hurried on my way. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/molas-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220804-Molas-Sunrise.jpg Molas Sunrise I arrived at the lake 20 minutes before this, and my hopes weren't high as I sat cold under a sky that looked almost completely overcast. About 15 minutes later the clouds started to glow slightly and then a few minutes later it looked like this. Maybe the best sunrise I've ever seen, and one of the views that made me fall in love with Colorado so many years ago. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220804-San-Juan-Storm.jpg San Juan Storm One of those famous summer monsoon storms moving through the mountains near Silverton, Colorado Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ice-lake-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220805-Ice-Lake-Reflections.jpg Ice Lake Reflections A perfect summer day at the high Ice Lakes Basin in Silverton, Colorado. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silky-san-juan-falls/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220805-Silky-San-Juan-Falls.jpg Silky San Juan Falls A waterfall hidden in the San Juan Mountains surrounded by lush greens, atypical for the drier Colorado mountain climate. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpine-delight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220805-Alpine-Delight.jpg Alpine Delight Sunset light right at treeline in the San Juan Mountains near Ouray looking down on Corkscrew Pass Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silverton-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220805-Silverton-Sunset.jpg Silverton Sunset A rainbow over Kendall Mountain and the small mountian town of Silverton, Colorado in the majestic San Juan Mountains. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221002-Ouray-Rainbow.jpg Ouray Rainbow Rainbow over the town of Ouray on an October Day Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/million-dollar-fixer-upper/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221002-Million-Dollar-Fixer-Upper.jpg Million Dollar Fixer Upper An old cabin on a mining claim off the Million Dollar Highway with million dollar veiws of Autumn, and every other season in the San Juan Mountains. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/idarado-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Idarado-Snow.jpg Idarado Snow The first snow blankets the ground at the old Idarado mining camp on Red Mountain Pass Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/idarado-fall-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Idarado-Fall-Snow.jpg Idarado Fall Snow The first snow blankets the ground at the old Idarado mining camp on Red Mountain Pass Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/million-dollar-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Million-Dollar-Autumn.jpg Million Dollar Autumn Autumn views on the Million Dollar Highway Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/duck-your-reflection/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Duck-Your-Reflection.jpg Duck Your Reflection I much enjoyed listening to the other photographers complain about this duck ruining "thier" perfect reflection at Crystal Lake one fall morning. Personally I loved watching him frolic, swim under water and live his best life. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumns-mirror/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221003-Autumns-Mirror.jpg Autumn's Mirror A perfect reflection at Crystal Lake on an autumn morning in the San Juan Mountains near Ouray, Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sneffels-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221004-Sneffels-Sunrise.jpg Sneffels Sunrise An orange light greets Mt. Sneffels on a fall morning. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-coat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221005-First-Coat.jpg First Coat The snow reaches down from the mountians towards the valley floor near Silverton Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-arrival-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221006-Winters-Arrival.jpg Winter's Arrival The first snow coats the peaks near Ophir, Colorado and this still alpine lake. Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ophir-colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221006-Ophir-Colors-2.jpg Ophir Colors Ophir Pass in the San Juan Mountains Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/telluride-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-Telluride-Twilight.jpg Telluride Twilight Colorado 145 heading into the mountians and hills of golden and orange aspens near Telluride. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumns-dance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-Autumns-Dance.jpg Autumn's Dance A unique stand of aspens in Colorado that were possibly deformed from frequent snow slides. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-dance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-Autumn-Dance.jpg Autumn Dance Some curvy aspens in Colorado Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-job-is-never-done/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-The-Job-Is-Never-Done.jpg The Job Is Never Done This old Gmc thought its useful life was over when it was abandoned in the aspens, but its second life has now begun. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/nature-reclaims/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-Nature-Reclaims.jpg Nature Reclaims An old Gmc trucked parked in an aspen grove Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/left-where-it-quit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221007-Left-Where-It-Quit.jpg Left Where It Quit An old Gmc trucked parked in an aspen grove on full dispaly for fall. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moonshine-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221008-Moonshine-Sunset.jpg Moonshine Sunset Moonshine (the horse) and Mt.Sneffels at Sunset on the Dallas Divide in Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/still-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221009-Still-Water-Trees.jpg Still Aspens An aspen grove relfected in a pond on Owl Creek Pass in Colorado. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wilson-peak-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221010-Wilson-Peak-Alpenglow.jpg Wilson Peak Alpenglow The photo is from a very special place in the San Juans. Watching the peaks light up in alpenglow while an elk bugled far off was my favorite moment behind a camera that year. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/shadow-light-and-water/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221010-Shadow-Light-and-Water.jpg Shadow, Light and Water The first rays of light penetrate the aspen forest to illumniate the grove. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/colorado-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221010-Colorado-Gold.jpg Colorado Gold The photo is from a very special place in the San Juans. I shot sunrise here a few autumn morning, and watching the peaks light up in alpenglow while an elk bugled far off was my favorite moment behind a camera that year. This photo is from two hours after that that scene unfolded as I still sat glued to the spot just watching. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/remants-of-the-past/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221010-Remants-of-the-Past.jpg Remants of the Past A horse aborglyph about 12 feet high on an aspen in a Colorado forest marking an old drovers trail. (this is decades old, don't go making new ones!) Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cimmaron-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221011-Cimmaron-Sunset.jpg Cimmaron Sunset The iconic Courthouse Rock and the rest of the Cimmaron Range on Owl Creek Pass. Ouray, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-afternoon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221009-Autumn-Afternoon-2.jpg Autumn Afternoon Silverton, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/courthouse-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221011-Courthouse-Sunset.jpg Courthouse Sunset The iconic Courthouse Rock and an autumn sunset Ridgway, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-whiteout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220306-Winter-Whiteout.jpg Winter Whiteout The old and rustic barn near Lake City in a winter snowstorm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220330-Uncompahgre-Storm.jpg Uncompahgre Storm A grey snow filled winter day and Uncompahgre Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-san-cristiobal-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220521-Spring-San-Cristiobal-Snow.jpg Spring San Cristiobal Snow A late snow storm blankets the mountains and open water of Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-curves/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220521-Engineer-Curves.jpg Engineer Curves Hinsdale County Road 20 winds its way up Henson Creek Canyon and Treasure Hill after a late spring snow storm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/whitmore-whiteout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220521-Whitmore-Whiteout.jpg Whitmore Whiteout Whitmore Falls along Engineer Pass on a snowy spring day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-freezes/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221128-Cristobal-Freezes.jpg Cristobal Freezes Newly formed ice sheets cover Lake San Cristobal during a vibrant November sunset. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sawtooth-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221216-Sawtooth-Sunrise.jpg Sawtooth Sunrise Uncompahgre and friends on a cold, clear, winter morning in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/quiet-valley/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221225-Quiet-Valley.jpg Quiet Valley Sunset on Colorado 149 as it passes the frigid valley between Slumgullion and Spring Creek Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pillar-of-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221229-Pillar-of-Light.jpg Pillar of Light A pillar of light on a very cold winter morning on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-below-the-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20221228-Winter-Below-the-Divide.jpg Winter Below the Divide Winter secures its grip on the Lake Fork Valley as one winter storm clears while another is imminent. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-calm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250626-Summer-Gold.jpg Summer Calm Golden hour at Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220524-Lake-Fork-Blues.jpg Lake Fork Blues Twilight on the Lake Fork River Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-cristobal-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220603-San-Cristobal-Summer.jpg San Cristobal Summer Lake San Cristobal on a summer day from a high vantage point in the San Juam Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/where-the-earth-fell/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220609-Where-the-Earth-Fell.jpg Where the Earth Fell The top of the Slumgullion Earthflow and Mesa Secco where 800 years ago a massive landslide traveled 6 miles down the mountains to block the Lake Fork River. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-on-uncompahgre/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220619-Sunshine-on-Uncompahgre.jpg Sunshine on Uncompahgre The skies of this June night were pretty incredible! This was just as the light show was getting started. I ended up sitting and watching the clouds and rain showers move over the mountains until the sun had set and the light was gone. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/light-on-the-lake/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220628-Light-on-the-Lake.jpg Light on the Lake The sky ignites over Lake San Cristobal in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City. This is the second largest natural lake in Colorado, formed by a massive landslide 800 years ago, and from this high of a vantage point I'm only capturing about half of it! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-home-stretch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220628-The-Home-Stretch.jpg The Home Stretch Colorado Highway 149 leads down Slumgullion Pass near the town of Lake City with Uncompahgre Peak above. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/4th-of-july/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220703-4th-of-July-.jpg 4th of July Fireworks in Lake City for the 4th of July. 2022 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fireworks-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220703-Fireworks-in-Lake-City.jpg Fireworks in Lake City Foruth of July celebrations ring out through Lake City and neighboring mountains. 2022 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-in-american-basin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220718-Summer-in-American-Basin.jpg Summer in American Basin The idealyic basin along Cinnamon Pass and some summer flowers at sunrise. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/handies-peak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220718-Handies-Peak.jpg Handies Peak A sign/trace left behind on Handies Peak, denoting the peaks height and its made up name. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/burroughs-park/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220721-Burroughs-Park.jpg Burroughs Park What once was a bustling mining town is now a bustling trailhead on some summer days. I stopped for a moment to catch the light hitting the mountains along Cinnamon Pass before walking up the trail myself. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-shores/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220721-San-Juan-Shores.jpg San Juan Shores The brilliant colors of a small unnamed tarn somewhere deep in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-awakening/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220724-Lake-City-Awakening-.jpg Lake City Awakening A sunrise so good it woke me up. I noticed the orange glow from my bed, took this photo a minute or two later from the driveway, and fell back asleep a minute or two after that. A good hard day's work done. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/misty-morning-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220726-Misty-Morning-in-Lake-City.jpg Misty Morning in Lake City A night's rain gives way to some low hanging clouds and a beautiful day to come in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rising-tide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220729-Rising-Tide.jpg Rising Tide Low lying clouds make the San Juan reminded me of a fjord. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beetle-kill-on-fire/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220812-Beetle-Kill-on-Fire-.jpg Beetle Kill on Fire The very first rays of light making Uncompahgre Peak glow and the legions of beetle killed spruce trees appear to have finally ingited in a brilliant fire. Thankfully this light lasted for minutes before the worlds natural colors showed themselves in the growing light. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/among-the-clouds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220816-Among-the-Clouds.jpg Among the Clouds Foggy, rainy, and cold weather on Slumgullion Pass. Name a better combination. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220816-Slumgullion-Alpenglow.jpg Slumgullion Alpenglow While Uncompahgre and friends dominate the skyline and most of my attention, the southern peaks of Red Mountain, Grassy Mountain, and some unnamed peak glow in nearly every sunrise. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-and-chipeta-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220818-Ouray-and-Chipeta.jpg Ouray and Chipeta The peaks Chipeta and Ouray some 60 miles away in the predawn light Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ouray-and-chipeta/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220818-Ouray-and-Chipeta-2.jpg Ouray and Chipeta The peaks Chipeta and Ouray some 60 miles away in the predawn light of Slumgullion Pass. These two neighboring peaks west of Salida were named after the famous Ute Chief, and his wife. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-lake-fork-slpendor/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220906-Summer-Lake-Fork-Slpendor.jpg Summer Lake Fork Slpendor Sunset on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River as it travels down the Lake Fork Valley and along Cinnamon Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/shelf-road-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220906-Shelf-Road-Sunset.jpg Shelf Road Sunset Sunset on the narrow and rough 4x4 shelf road of Cinnamon Pass on the Scenic Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway close to the town of Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-at-goose-island/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220916-Bridge-at-Goose-Island.jpg Bridge at Goose Island Sunset over the iconic (and now public!) Goose Island Bridge on Lake San Cristobal near Lake City. This sunset was my favorite kind. Deep pinks and purples held strong in the sky after the sun had set allowing the blues of twilight to begin to appear. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/tail-of-sweet-dreams/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220403-Tail-of-Sweet-Dreams.jpg Tail of Sweet Dreams A red fox sleeping in the snow Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mr-green-nose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220605-Mr-Green-Nose.jpg Mr Green Nose This floppy eared moose's new antlers were starting to grow out as he was enjoying the algae from a new open beaver pond. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-sip/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220606-Sunset-Sip.jpg Sunset Sip Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-charge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220606-Moose-Charge.jpg Moose Charge A very curious moose calf! I had spotted thIS guy and their mom about an hour earlier and was just sitting in my car waiting quietly and patiently for them to come out of the willows that were hiding them from view. Finally at sunset (as predicted!) they did! The twins got really playful and were running all around being cute and awkward. Then one of them got curious and came a lot closer to get a look at the car, of course the other followed. Mom yelled at him just after this photo though and they returned to her side. They are about a week old here! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baby-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220606-Baby-Moose.jpg Baby Moose A very curious moose calf! I had spotted these two and their mom about an hour earlier and was just sitting in my car waiting quietly and patiently for them to come out of the willows that were hiding them from view. Finally at sunset (as predicted!) they did! The twins got really playful and were running all around being cute and awkward . Then one of them got curious and came a lot closer to get a look at the car, of course the other followed. Mom yelled at him just after this photo though and they returned to her side. They are about a week old here! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rocky-kingdom/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220607-Rocky-Kingdom.jpg Rocky Kingdom A pika and its habitat Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/continental-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220607-Continental-Pika.jpg Continental Pika A pika on the Continental Divide Trail Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pikas-hideout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220607-Pikas-Hideout.jpg Pika's Hideout A curious pika looks out from his mountain compound. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/evening-in-the-mountains/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220607-Evening-in-the-Mountains.jpg Evening in the Mountains A perfect evening in the mountains with a moose friend to share it with. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/weasel-surprise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220619-Weasel-Surprise.jpg Weasel Surprise Seeing this Weasel was a surprise! I was looking for moose (no surprise there) when I noticed him peaking out from a rock pile Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/weasel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220619-Weasel.jpg Weasel A Weasel peeks out from a tree Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/intent-on-moving/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220716-Intent-on-Moving.jpg Intent on Moving One of the first things you should recognize if you want to be around moose is their behavior changes. If they are intensely staring at a place you're in its likely because they'd like to be there instead. In this case it was another bull moose that drew his ire so I was able to capture it. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-last-of-his-kind/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220716-The-Last-of-His-Kind.jpg The Last of His Kind Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rain-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220728-Rain-Moose.jpg Rain Moose A bull moose in the rain Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/swimming-in-the-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220728-Swimming-in-the-Rain.jpg Swimming in the Rain I was watching this guy for a while stand in the rain, before he took off across the pond. Guess he didn't mind the wet. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boys-of-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220729-Boys-of-Summer.jpg Boys of Summer Bull moose in a field of flowers Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/majestic-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220729-Majestic-Moose.jpg Majestic Moose A majestic moose only drooling a little bit Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-drink/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220731-Morning-Drink.jpg Morning Drink A bull moose in a pond Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220731-Morning-Moose.jpg Morning Moose A Bull Moose on a July day in the Colorado moutains near Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-the-light-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220811-Face-the-Light.jpg Face the Light A bull moose pauses from his breakfast to face the rising Colorado sun. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumns-tear/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220901-Autumns-Tear.jpg Autumn's Tear This bull moose is on the verge of shedding his velvet with a small part starting to come off. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-last-look/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20220901-The-Last-Look.jpg The Last Look A favorite moose of mine on.the last day I saw him. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-dream/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231030-Teton-Dream.jpg Teton Dream I woke up at my usual hour before sunrise to a snowy 5 degree morning. I summoned all the will I had left and crawled out of my 4Runner and began driving to go look for moose. About 5 miles later I realized the clouds were just low. It wasn't a snowstorm like the previous two days. Time for an audible. I turned around and drove back to my campsite, engaged 4wd and drove the road up the mountain. Near the top there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground, and it went right over my crocs when I stepped out of my car, and was greeted by with this view. The Tetons lit like beacons in the first rays of sunlight while towering over a sea of clouds as far as I could see. No one else around too. Perfect is the only way to describe this morning. After that I headed down and went to continue my original plan of looking for moose. I found some, we convened and it was then I realized I had made the decision to head south. I don't know exactly why. I really wanted to stay, but there was no arguing this felling so I called it good and left after almost 3 months of camping around in my 4Runner in Wyoming and Montana. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231030-Teton-Morning.jpg Teton Morning I woke up at my usual hour before sunrise to a snowy 5 degree morning. I summoned all the will I had left and crawled out of my 4Runner and began driving to go look for moose. About 5 miles later I realized the clouds were just low. It wasn't a snowstorm like the previous two days. Time for an audible. I turned around and drove back to my campsite, engaged 4wd and drove the road up the mountain. Near the top there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground, and it went right over my crocs when I stepped out of my car, and was greeted by with this view. The Tetons lit like beacons in the first rays of sunlight while towering over a sea of clouds as far as I could see. No one else around too. Perfect is the only way to describe this morning. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-blue-and-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231030-Teton-Blue-and-Gold.jpg Teton Blue and Gold I woke up at my usual hour before sunrise to a snowy 5 degree morning. I summoned all the will I had left and crawled out of my 4Runner and began driving to go look for moose. About 5 miles later I realized the clouds were just low. It wasn't a snowstorm like the previous two days. Time for an audible. I turned around and drove back to my campsite, engaged 4wd and drove the road up the mountain. Near the top there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground, and it went right over my crocs when I stepped out of my car, and was greeted by with this view. The Tetons lit like beacons in the first rays of sunlight while towering over a sea of clouds as far as I could see. No one else around too. Perfect is the only way to describe this morning. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/changing-season/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Changing-Season.jpg Changing Season First Snow in the Tetons at Mormon Row Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moody-oxbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230921-Moody-Oxbow.jpg Moody Oxbow A moody fall morning at Oxbow Bend along the Snake River. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230928-Teton-Autumn.jpg Teton Autumn A clear autumn sunrise over Elk Flats, highlighting the Tetons in fiery alpenglow while elk bugle in the meadows below. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pink-oxbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230929-Pink-Oxbow.jpg Pink Oxbow Autumn Sunrise at Oxbow Bend along the Snake River. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summers-end/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230828-Summers-End.jpg Summer's End Sunrise on the last day of August in the Tetons. Mt Moran was glowing in the morning light above a sea of clouds from a night of rain. This was a day you could fell Fall coming. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-inversion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230828-Teton-Inversion.jpg Teton Inversion Low clouds linger from a night of rain while the first light hits the Tetons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-moonset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230831-Teton-Moonset.jpg Teton Moonset August alpenglow hits the Tetons while the full moon descends towards the horizon Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/homestead-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230906-Homestead-Alpenglow.jpg Homestead Alpenglow Sunlight hits Mt Moran as the day begins at Mormon Row as a sea of inversion fog settles across the distant valley floor Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-trail/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230726-Teton-Trail.jpg Teton Trail A trail leads into the Tetons Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230727-Teton-Rainbow.jpg Teton Rainbow I was sitting in Lake City trying to plan a last minute trip somewhere just to get out. I couldn't get excited about anything in Colorado when a perfectly timed message from a friend asked if I wanted to come explore in the Tetons. The thought of seeing owls, wolves, grizzlies, and different mountains was the spark I needed. Car was packed within the hour, and I was headed north! I questioned my decision the entire way up there since I definitely can't afford all the gas and to be away from the gallery, but the second I saw the welcome to Wyoming sign, I knew I had made the right call. None of my concerns mattered. This is where I needed to be. Flash forward to the next morning, I woke up to lightning flashes all around my 4runner that I was sleeping in at 4am during a storm that wasn't in the forecast. After watching the lightning for an hour, I finally got out of bed. I thought for sure there was no hope of a good sunrise or anything but rain. I woke up and went anyway, because outside of sunrise and set I never have much going on. As I got to the spot, the eastern horizon was aglow and another storm was coming in. The mountains in the west had a faint glow, but I was sure the light would be blocked by clouds by the time the sun came up. It wasn't though. The glorious alpenglow hit the Tetons, and over the next 30 minutes the sky lit up in ways I couldn't even have imagined. This sky had it all. Pinks, blues, oranges, and golds. Everything was perfect, and then the rainbow appeared. It was an absolutely perfect and an unforgettable moment, and I was happy I was there to see it. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-magic/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230727-Teton-Magic.jpg Teton Magic I was sitting in Lake City trying to plan a last minute trip somewhere just to get out. I couldn't get excited about anything in Colorado when a perfectly timed message from a friend asked if I wanted to come explore in the Tetons. The thought of seeing owls, wolves, grizzlies, and different mountains was the spark I needed. Car was packed within the hour, and I was headed north! I questioned my decision the entire way up there since I definitely can't afford all the gas and to be away from the gallery, but the second I saw the welcome to Wyoming sign, I knew I had made the right call. None of my concerns mattered. This is where I needed to be. Flash forward to the next morning, I woke up to lightning flashes all around my 4runner that I was sleeping in at 4am during a storm that wasn't in the forecast. After watching the lightning for an hour, I finally got out of bed. I thought for sure there was no hope of a good sunrise or anything but rain. I woke up and went anyway, because outside of sunrise and set I never have much going on. As I got to the spot, the eastern horizon was aglow and another storm was coming in. The mountains in the west had a faint glow, but I was sure the light would be blocked by clouds by the time the sun came up. It wasn't though. The glorious alpenglow hit the Tetons, and over the next 30 minutes the sky lit up in ways I couldn't even have imagined. This sky had it all. Pinks, blues, oranges, and golds. Everything was perfect, and then the rainbow appeared. It was an absolutely perfect and an unforgettable moment, and I was happy I was there to see it. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pot-of-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230727-Pot-of-Gold.jpg Pot of Gold I was sitting in Lake City trying to plan a last minute trip somewhere just to get out. I couldn't get excited about anything in Colorado when a perfectly timed message from a friend asked if I wanted to come explore in the Tetons. The thought of seeing owls, wolves, grizzlies, and different mountains was the spark I needed. Car was packed within the hour, and I was headed north! I questioned my decision the entire way up there since I definitely can't afford all the gas and to be away from the gallery, but the second I saw the welcome to Wyoming sign, I knew I had made the right call. None of my concerns mattered. This is where I needed to be. Flash forward to the next morning, I woke up to lightning flashes all around my 4runner that I was sleeping in at 4am during a storm that wasn't in the forecast. After watching the lightning for an hour, I finally got out of bed. I thought for sure there was no hope of a good sunrise or anything but rain. I woke up and went anyway, because outside of sunrise and set I never have much going on. As I got to the spot, the eastern horizon was aglow and another storm was coming in. The mountains in the west had a faint glow, but I was sure the light would be blocked by clouds by the time the sun came up. It wasn't though. The glorious alpenglow hit the Tetons, and over the next 30 minutes the sky lit up in ways I couldn't even have imagined. This sky had it all. Pinks, blues, oranges, and golds. Everything was perfect, and then the rainbow appeared. It was an absolutely perfect and an unforgettable moment, and I was happy I was there to see it. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/signal-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230727-Signal-Sunset.jpg Signal Sunset Sunset from the top of Signal Mountain looking towards the Tetons. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230728-Teton-Sunrise.jpg Teton Sunrise First light of a summer day hits Grand Teton above Mormon Row in Wyoming. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mormon-row-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230728-Mormon-Row-Sunrise.jpg Mormon Row Sunrise First light of a summer day hits Grand Teton above Mormon Row in Wyoming. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/delta-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230729-Delta-Dawn.jpg Delta Dawn Getting here for sunrise required a 2:30am alarm and a couple hours of hiking in the dark and thinking about grizzy bears, but it was all worth it once the first rays of light hit the Grand Teton. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grand-reflection/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230729-Grand-Reflection.jpg Grand Reflection Sunrise light on the Grand Teton reflected in Delta Lake Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/delta-lake/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230729-Delta-Lake.jpg Delta Lake Delta Lake on a summer day Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/classic-tetons/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230730-Classic-Tetons.jpg Classic Tetons Moulton Barn at Sunrise on a summer day Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230730-Morning-light.jpg Morning light Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moulton-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230730-Moulton-Sunrise.jpg Moulton Sunrise Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pilot-and-index-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Pilot-and-Index-Glow.jpg Pilot and Index Glow Pilot and Index Peaks glow in the sunrise light Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beartooth-mirror-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Beartooth-Mirror.jpg Beartooth Mirror This pond might have the best reflections I've seen. Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pilot-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231006-Pilot-Light.jpg Pilot Light Pilot Peak rises above the clouds to greet the sun on a frigid autumn day Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pilot-and-index/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231006-Pilot-and-Index-2.jpg Pilot and Index Pilot and Index Peak rise above a sea of clouds at sunrise. Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pilot-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231008-Pilot-Moon.jpg Pilot Moon The crescent moon sets behind Pilot Peak. Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/vast-lamar/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Vast-Lamar.jpg Vast Lamar A pair of bison cross the open Lamar Valley during golden hour. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/river-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-River-Rainbow.jpg River Rainbow A rainbow at the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-grand-of-the-north/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-The-Grand-of-the-North.jpg The Grand of the North The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone seen from the brink of the lower falls. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beartooth-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Beartooth-Sunrise.jpg Beartooth Sunrise Beartooth Lake on a still summer morning in Wyoming. Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alpenglow-on-antler-peak/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Alpenglow-on-Antler-Peak.jpg Alpenglow on Antler Peak Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-aurora/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230323-Yellowstone-Aurora.jpg Yellowstone Aurora The Northern Lights made a surprise appearance in Yellowstone last night! For about 30 minutes we watched as they danced and simmered in the sky above Yellowstone and Gardiner. It was my first time seeing the Aurora and hopefully not the last. It was a truly an unbelievable sight. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230323-Yellowstone-Skies.jpg Yellowstone Skies The Northern Lights made a surprise appearance in Yellowstone last night! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/where-color-ends/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230326-Where-Color-Ends.jpg Where Color Ends Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winters-arrival/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231027-Winters-Arrival.jpg Winter's Arrival Grizzly (1063) in a November snowstorm in Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grizzly-and-the-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231027-Grizzly-and-the-Storm.jpg Grizzly and the Storm Grizzly (1063) in a blizzard. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/raven-portrait/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231028-Raven-Portrait.jpg Raven Portrait Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grey-ghost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Grey-Ghost.jpg Grey Ghost If you've ever wanted to see a Great Grey Owl in Yellowstone, and haven't been able to spot one I think this might be one of the reasons. If I hadn't seen this owl land here I never would've seen it with its perfect camouflage Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grey-and-blue/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231002-Grey-and-Blue.jpg Grey and Blue The Great Grey Ghost listens patiently in the twilight. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-weasel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230903-Curious-Weasel.jpg Curious Weasel One morning this guy joined me at my campsite in Teton National Forest for my morning coffee! Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-weasel-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230903-Curious-Weasel-2.jpg Curious Weasel #2 One morning this guy joined me at my campsite in Teton National Forest for my morning coffee! Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/weasel-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230905-Weasel-Home.jpg Weasel Home A Weasel peaks out of its tree stump home. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/weasel-stump/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230905-Weasel-Stump.jpg Weasel Stump Once, while looking for moose to photograph I found a weasel to photograph. Change is scary, but sometimes necessary! Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/duel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230907-Duel.jpg Duel? Two Bull Moose consider each other near the start of the rut in the Tetons. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-crossing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230907-Moose-Crossing.jpg Moose Crossing The moose known as Hoback crossing a creek one September right as he was shedding his velvet on a golden Teton Autumn day Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-raven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231028-Curious-Raven.jpg Curious Raven Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hoback/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230907-Hoback.jpg Hoback The moose known as Hoback one September sunset right as he was shedding his velvet on an Teton Autumn day Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/deep-thought/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230910-Deep-Thought.jpg Deep Thought But what does the fox think? Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rock-rabbit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Rock-Rabbit.jpg Rock Rabbit Did you know Pikas are related closely to rabbits? Note the ears! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-eep/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Pika-Eep.jpg Pika Eep A pika eeps on a sunny day in Yellowstone Park. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/forager/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Forager.jpg Forager Watching this Pika prepare for winter was one of my favorite animal sightings. He was grabbing plants bigger than he was so most of the time all I could see were leaves moving quickly through the rocks like he was purposefully hiding from the camera. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230912-Autumn-Pika.jpg Autumn Pika Watching this guy prepare for winter was one of my favorite animal sightings. He was grabbing plants bigger than he was so most of the time all I could see were leaves moving quickly through the rocks like he was purposefully hiding from the camera. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bluebird-fence-perch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230919-Bluebird-Fence-Perch.jpg Bluebird Fence Perch Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/yellowstone-nightfall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230919-Yellowstone-Nightfall.jpg Yellowstone Nightfall Elk graze along the waters of Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-perch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Fence-Perch.jpg Fence Perch Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/morning-hunt/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Morning-Hunt.jpg Morning Hunt A great grey owl on a meadow perch in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/great-grey-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Great-Grey-Gaze-2.jpg Great Grey Gaze Pretty much all I wanted to photograph this summer was Great Grey Owls! So much so I drove past bears/moose at multiple times just to go wander through forests alone looking for them. They are incredibly elusive, mostly silent, and have the best camouflage making them near impossible to see. Despite that, I had 5 sightings, and saw 7 different owls this autumn! Each sighting was really owlsome and left me wanting to spend more time with them in their forest kingdoms! Mostly I got to see a bunch of nothing while searching, but I was rewarded one dawn in Yellowstone when this owl I was watching hunt flew over and landed just a few yards from me. The photos from that morning are the favorite of my trip. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/watching/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Watching-.jpg Watching Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/great-grey-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230920-Great-Grey-Glow.jpg Great Grey Glow Great Grey Owl faces the morning light in the forest. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-home/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231003-Pika-Home.jpg Pika Home A pika peeks out of his home that he has stored with grass for the winter. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/caw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231003-Caw.jpg Caw A photo you can hear of a raven. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/raven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231003-Raven.jpg Raven Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fox-grass/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Fox-Grass-.jpg Fox Grass A young fox kit plays with grass. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-kit/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Curious-Kit.jpg Curious Kit A very cute fox kit in Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/smelling-the-flowers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230731-Smelling-the-Flowers.jpg Smelling the Flowers A young fox kit stops and takes in the flowers Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silent-sentinal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Silent-Sentinal.jpg Silent Sentinal A Great Grey Owl! I've really wanted to see one of these guys for a really long time now, and when a friend found that out, we went for a hike to one of his spots! About a mile in, there was a sudden flash of wings and this guy landed about 20 yards from us. He perched there for about 15 minutes scanning the ground for rodents as the first rays of sun made it into his forest home. It was a completely owlsome experience! I watched him hunt for awhile before we set off to find where the other hoots in the forest were coming from... Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mini-grey-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Mini-Grey-Gaze.jpg Mini Grey Gaze As I sat watching the Great Grey owl hunt I occasionally heard calls from the deeper in the forest! My friend said that was the babies calling to be fed so we wandered in. After another 10 minute walk there they were! They may have just been the cutest thing I've ever photographed. One was on a branch about 10 feet up, the other was about 40 ft up and kind of hidden in the trees. After another 30 minutes of sitting with them the dad swooped in to a chorus of hoots from them and nervous barks/calls from squirrels and other birds in the immediate area to feed them! Of course they all flew into some trees so thick I couldn't see them together, but it was fun to hear all the commotion! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baby-great-grey-owl/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Baby-Great-Grey-Owl.jpg Baby Great Grey Owl As I sat watching the Great Grey owl hunt I occasionally heard calls from the deeper in the forest! My friend said that was the babies calling to be fed so we wandered in. After another 10 minute walk there they were! They may have just been the cutest thing I've ever photographed. One was on a branch about 10 feet up, the other was about 40 ft up and kinda hidden in the trees. After another 30 minutes of sitting with them the dad swooped in to a chorus of hoots from them and nervous barks/calls from squirrels and other birds in the immediate area to feed them! Of course they all flew into some trees so thick I couldn't see them together, but it was fun to hear all the commotion! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/feed-me/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Feed-Me.jpg Feed Me As I sat watching the Great Grey owl hunt I occasionally heard calls from the deeper in the forest! My friend said that was the babies calling to be fed so we wandered in. After another 10 minute walk there they were! They may have just been the cutest thing I've ever photographed. One was on a branch about 10 feet up, the other was about 40 ft up and kinda hidden in the trees. After another 30 minutes of sitting with them the dad swooped in to a chorus of hoots from them and nervous barks/calls from squirrels and other birds in the immediate area to feed them! Of course they all flew into some trees so thick I couldn't see them together, but it was fun to hear all the commotion! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/testing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Testing.jpg Testing A Great Grey Owlet flaps his wings, but decides not to fly Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-the-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Face-the-Light.jpg Face the Light A Great Grey Owlet in the morning light Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/naptime-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Naptime.jpg Naptime Grizzly Bear mom and twin cubs rest in the burnt forests along Yellowstone Lake. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spirit-of-the-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Spirit-of-the-Forest.jpg Spirit of the Forest A male Great Grey Owl in the forests of Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/peak-a-cub/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Peak-A-Cub.jpg Peak A Cub Grizzly Bear cubs playing in the burnt forests along Yellowstone Lake. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/teton-moose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230801-Teton-Moose.jpg Teton Moose A cow moose grazes at Schwabacher Landing on a rainy Teton morning. Grand Teton National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/great-horned-owl-family/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230730-Great-Horned-Owl-Family-2.jpg Great Horned Owl Family Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/owlet/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230730-Owlet.jpg Owlet A young Great Horned owlet Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wolf-and-raven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Wolf-and-Raven.jpg Wolf and Raven Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/barren-land/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Barren-Land.jpg Barren Land A frozen barren lanscape except for two lone wolves. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fellow-traveler/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Fellow-Traveler.jpg Fellow Traveler I've spent the last week or so in Yellowstone National Park and it's been absolutely amazing. My second day here I saw 2 members of the Junction Butte Pack who were howling to find their friends in the desolate snow covered landscape. After about 30 minutes they wandered up this hill and were joined by another wolf! Later in the day the rest of the pack met them. I've had so many great experiences in Yellowstone over the years but I think this might be my favorite. Just to see and hear the wolves in a nearly empty Lamar Valley was just everything I'd hoped visiting in the winter would be. There's just something truly special about this land and the animals that inhabit them. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/voice-of-winter-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Voice-of-Winter-Panorama.jpg Voice of Winter Panorama This a member of the Junction Butte pack in the Lamar Valley who had been separated from the rest of the pack. It howled for a long time and we're answered by unseen wolves which was really cool to hear! Would've been cooler to see them reunited, but that happened after I had left! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/voice-of-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230319-Voice-of-Winter-2.jpg Voice of Winter This a member of the Junction Butte pack in the Lamar Valley who had been separated from the rest of the pack. It howled for a long time and we're answered by unseen wolves which was really cool to hear! Would've been cooler to see them reunited, but that happened after I had left! Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grin/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230320-Grin.jpg Grin Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-struggle/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230320-Winter-Struggle.jpg Winter Struggle Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lupine-creek/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230321-Lupine-Creek.jpg Lupine Creek The Lupine Creek pack is 9 wolves strong and when I found them (and all the wolf watchers) they were bedded down a hillside above the Yellowstone River. For about an hour they did almost nothing, then they ran off out of sight and I thought they were gone, but after another 20 or so minutes they came back, and grouped up on the hill and howled in unison. One of the coolest things I've ever seen and heard. I don't actually have photos of this so I think I was too busy just enjoying their presence. Afterwards 4 of the wolves ran down to the banks of the river where they either had a kill or were scavenging something. The 4 grabbed a piece of the something and took off back up the hillside playing with the bit of bone where they joined the other 5 wolves, where they eventually ran off again out of sight. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/song-dog/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230321-Song-Dog.jpg Song Dog The yips and howls of coyotes annocued the presence of this coyote in the Lamar Valley Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blink/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230322-Blink.jpg Blink Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bison-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230322-Bison-Winter.jpg Bison Winter Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/on-the-hunt/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230323-On-the-Hunt.jpg On the Hunt Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-hunt/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230323-The-Hunt.jpg The Hunt I was driving through the Lamar Valley in a snowstorm when all of a sudden I thought I saw one wolf at the treeline. I didn't want to get my hopes up too high that it was a wolf because I'd been fooled by some far off coyotes several times already, but another second later I saw the black one walking through the trees. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-sleep/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230324-Winter-Sleep.jpg Winter Sleep Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-mask/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230325-Winter-Mask.jpg Winter Mask Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-bearing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230325-Snow-Bearing.jpg Snow Bearing Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-long-season-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230325-The-Long-Season.jpg The Long Season A lone bison stands besides Soda Butte Creek in Yelllowstone National Park during the longest season and longest nights of the year. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/built-for-this/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230326-Built-for-This.jpg Built for This A sleepy and frost covered Bison on a winter morning. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-king/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230326-Snow-King.jpg Snow King Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rescue-creek-on-the-move/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230327-Rescue-Creek-on-the-Move.jpg Rescue Creek on the Move On my last morning in Yellowstone we spotted 7 members of the Rescue Creek Pack bedded down in a field surprising close-ish to the road! After waiting for around 20 minutes for the sun to rise in below zero temperatures the wolves woke up, stretched and began to travel. The alpha pair led the way for the other five who followed along. This is a composite of 7 images since the wolves were spread out over about a quarter mile. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bison-jam/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230327-Bison-Jam.jpg Bison Jam Sunset with some bison in the Lamar Valley Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/eye-of-the-bison/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230320--2.jpg Eye of the Bison Eye of the Bison Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-long-season/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230325-The-Long-Season-copy.jpg The Long Season A lone bison stands besides Soda Butte Creek in Yelllowstone National Park during the longest season and longest nights of the year. Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sprouts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231209-Slumgullion-Sprouts.jpg Slumgullion Sprouts Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-long-thaw/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240510-The-Long-Thaw.jpg The Long Thaw One of the final high country snow storm of the year in late May where the thaw takes a bit longer. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snow-dance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240512-Snow-Dance.jpg Snow Dance Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cold-creede/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240319-Cold-Creede.jpg Cold Creede A -17 morning in the Creede Valley Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/haunted-silence/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240320-Haunted-Silence.jpg Haunted Silence Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rugged-radiance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240321-.jpg Rugged Radiance The Uncompahgre Range on a winter morning in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pink-and-blue/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230707-Pink-and-Blue.jpg Pink and Blue A colorful start to a July day in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-moonrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230701-Slumgullion-Moonrise.jpg Slumgullion Moonrise Full Moonrise on Slumgullion Pass Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/welcome-back/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230305-Welcome-Back.jpg Welcome Back This was my welcome back and first sunset back home in the San Juan Mountains after two months in South America.The sun set without much color and then about 10 minutes after the sky turned this brilliant color and glowed until everthing was dark. Glad I waitied. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunshine-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230614-Sunshine-Spring.jpg Sunshine Spring Elk enjoying the last bit of the sunlight in the day on Sunshine Mesa near Telluride. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wilson-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230614-Wilson-Blues.jpg Wilson Blues Blue Hour and Wilson Group. Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gold-king/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230615-Gold-King.jpg Gold King Golden sunset light breaks through the storm clouds at Gold King Basin Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wilson-lupines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230616-Wilson-Lupines-2.jpg Wilson Lupines This was a particularly beautiful morning a couple of days ago. Hiked out to the flowers well before sunrise, and sat listening to so many birds wake with the blue light of dawn while a herd of 100+ elk on an opposite hillside began their chirping and calls with the light of the sun soon after. The flowers have been amazing so far this year and hopefully they will continue so throughout the summer as the higher elevations melt out Telluride, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-black-canyon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230814-The-Black-Canyon.jpg The Black Canyon Sunset light in the Black Canyon Black Canyon National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-painted-wall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230814-The-Painted-Wall.jpg The Painted Wall Sunset at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Black Canyon National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/eaat-river-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230712-Eaat-River-Sunset.jpg Eaat River Sunset A colorful sky over the East River near Crested Butte Crested Butte, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bookcliff-textures/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231225-Bookcliff-Textures.jpg Bookcliff Textures Grand Junction, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/dunes-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240101-Dunes-Sunrise.jpg Dunes Sunrise Sunrise on New Years Day in the Great San Dunes. San Luis Valley, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-cristobal-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230820-San-Cristobal-Sunset.jpg San Cristobal Sunset A warm summer sky lingers above Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-sunset-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230813-Wetterhorn-Sunset.jpg Wetterhorn Sunset The last light of the day on Wetterhorn Peak above a carpet of summer wildflowers Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/radiant-wetterhorn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230813-Radiant-Wetterhorn.jpg Radiant Wetterhorn Brilliant alpenglow on Wetterhorn Peak above a carpet of summer wildflowers. Taking this photo required a 10 mile hike, but with this light it definitely was worth it. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230813-Wetterhorn-Sunset-2.jpg Wetterhorn Sunset The last light of the day on Wetterhorn Peak above a carpet of summer wildflowers Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/coxcomb-flowers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230813-Coxcomb-Flowers.jpg Coxcomb Flowers A spectacular sunset looking out over a carpet of paintbrush towards Coxcomb Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230719-San-Juan-Sunrise.jpg San Juan Sunrise These are the best moments in landscape photography! I hiked out to spend the night here under storm clouds. Thankfully it didn't storm, but instead I awoke 10 minutes before the clouds started lighting up to the sound of so many pikas and birds calling out into the dawn. The tundra was a carpet of flowers and there's few spots where the mountains look this rugged and majestic so it was fun to spend so much time here. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230719-San-Juan-Sunset.jpg San Juan Sunset These are the best moments in landscape photography! I hiked out to spend the night here under storm clouds. Thankfully it didn't storm, but instead I awoke 10 minutes before the clouds started lighting up to the sound of so many pikas and birds calling out into the dawn. The tundra was a carpet of flowers and there's few spots where the mountains look this rugged and majestic so it was fun to spend so much time here. I spent the enitre day here and waited for the last light to start the hike home. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230703-Lake-City-Sunset.jpg Lake City Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230623-American-Spring.jpg American Spring American Basin in the Spring Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/shadow-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230604-Shadow-Storm.jpg Shadow Storm I've watched the sunset behind Uncompahgre hundreds of times, but this has to be the craziest sunset I've ever seen! It was raining on the peak 13 miles away, but when the set found a gap in the clouds the light show and shadow of Uncompahgre Peak appeared and lasted well into twilight. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/south-end-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230529-South-End-Sunset.jpg South End Sunset A spring sunset at the south end of Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/encroaching-cold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231211-Encroaching-Cold.jpg Encroaching Cold I took this photo when the ice had frozen all but the deepest and most open part of the lake Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-from-above/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231214-Lake-City-From-Above.jpg Lake City From Above A winter day in Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231218-Frozen-Dawn.jpg Frozen Dawn Lake San Cristobal on a cold Colorado morning. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231218-Winter-Light.jpg Winter Light Winter Light on Uncompahgre Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sunrise-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231220-Slumgullion-Sunrise.jpg Slumgullion Sunrise Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-great-stillness/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231228-The-Great-Stillness.jpg The Great Stillness Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cold-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240125-Cold-Moon.jpg Cold Moon The Full moon sets behind Uncompahgre Peak Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/may-snows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230511-May-Snows.jpg May Snows A late May snowstorm covers the landscape around the old Red Cloud Camp and Barn Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/open-water/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230511-Open-Water.jpg Open Water Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/when-the-sky-glows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230305-When-the-Sky-Glows.jpg When the Sky Glows This was my welcome back and first sunset back home in the San Juan Mountains after two months in South America.The sun set without much color and then about 10 minutes after the sky turned this brilliant color and glowed until everthing was dark. Glad I waitied. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/edge-of-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231210-Edge-of-Winter.jpg Edge of Winter Once Lake San Cristobal is covered in ice the world becomes quiet and you know winter's full breath is near. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stellar-spring/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240521-Stellar-Spring.jpg Stellar Spring Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stellar-jay/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240521-Stellar-Jay.jpg Stellar Jay Stellar Jay in an aspen tree Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-light-on-the-ram/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240522-First-Light-on-the-Ram.jpg First Light on the Ram A bighorn ram on the cliffs of the San Juan Mountains Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silent-snowy-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240316-Silent-Snowy-Morning.jpg Silent Snowy Morning A bull moose who has shed his antlers for the winter on a quiet, cold, morning after a storm. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/in-the-aspens/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240316-In-the-Aspens.jpg In the Aspens A bull moose who has shed his antlers for the winter in an aspen grove. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/stare-down/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240318-Stare-Down.jpg Stare Down A red fox in the snow. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frosty-curiosity/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240318-Frosty-Curiosity.jpg Frosty Curiosity Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fire-in-the-frost/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240319-Fire-in-the-Frost.jpg Fire in the Frost Wild gaze of a red fox Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-prowl/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240319-Aspen-Prowl.jpg Aspen Prowl A fox in the aspens Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cozy-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240320-Cozy-Fox.jpg Cozy Fox Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/art-of-the-pounce/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Art-of-the-Pounce.jpg Art of the Pounce Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-red/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-San-Juan-Red.jpg San Juan Red Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/christmas-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Christmas-Fox.jpg Christmas Fox Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-radar-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Red-Radar-3.jpg Red Radar #3 Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-radar/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Red-Radar-.jpg Red Radar Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-radar-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Red-Radar-2.jpg Red Radar #2 Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/unbroken-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240322-Unbroken-Gaze.jpg Unbroken Gaze Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summer-curiousity/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230715-Summer-Curiousity.jpg Summer Curiousity A young black bear in the flowers of a aspen grove. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-bugs-of-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230708-The-Bugs-of-Summer.jpg The Bugs of Summer A bull moose and his posse of mosquito friends on a warm summer afternoon in the mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/face-of-the-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230707-Face-of-the-Forest.jpg Face of the Forest Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alert-fox/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230707-Alert-Fox.jpg Alert Fox Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/happiness/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230703-Happiness.jpg Happiness The Mountain Bluebird of happiness perched on a tree bathed in morning light. Why is it called the Bluebird of Happiness? I think because they are the first reliable sign spring is coming at the higher elevations in the mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curiousity/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230611-Curiousity.jpg Curiousity A curious red fox suprised me one day when I was taking a sunset photo in the San Juan Montains Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/days-old/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230609-Days-Old.jpg Days Old A young week or so old moose calf follows its mom in the Colorado forests. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/shaky-legs/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230609-Shaky-Legs.jpg Shaky Legs A days old Moose Calf in the forests Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fox-dinner/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230609-Fox-Dinner.jpg Fox Dinner I was just sitting on a fallen tree watching the baby twin moose when this fox walked right past me with dinner! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/messenger/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230308-Messanger.jpg Messenger San Luis Valley, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/waiting-out-the-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230311-Waiting-out-the-Storm.jpg Waiting out the Storm A cow elk resting in a blizzard. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/call-of-the-elk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230311-Call-of-the-Elk.jpg Call of the Elk Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/observer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240521-Observer.jpg Observer Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/timber-relic/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20230918-Timber-Relic.jpg Timber Relic A rusted truck is slowly reclaimed by the forest Montana https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cold-storage/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240316-Cold-Storage.jpg Cold Storage Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/glacier-refections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231016-Glacier-Refections.jpg Glacier Refections Last year about this time I decided to head for Glacier National Park. I didn't really know much about it or have a plan as usual. Helpfully the park service closed going to the sun road 3 hours after I started driving north. This made planning much easier, and I hoped it'd also mean the park would have less people. That's exactly what it meant! This was sunset and sunrise on my first day at Lake McDonald Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/two-medicine-motion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231017-Two-Medicine-Motion.jpg Two Medicine Motion A turbulent start to the day at Two Medicine Lake. The winds were gusting and a storm threatened but first light found a way through it all to light the face of Sinopah Mountain. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/two-medicine-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231017-Two-Medicine-Glow.jpg Two Medicine Glow A turbulent start to the day at Two Medicine Lake. The winds were gusting and a storm threatened but first light found a way through it all to light the face of Sinopah Mountain. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sinopah-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231017-Sinopah-Light.jpg Sinopah Light 40 degrees, and a constant 30mph wind may not be ideal camping weather, but it's perfect for a dramatic sunrise at Two Medicine Lake. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/glaciers-gales/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231017-Glaciers-Gales.jpg Glacier's Gales Relentess winds were the theme of my time in Glacier. This day at St. Mary's Lake overlooking Wild Goose Island and an incoming storm however was truly spectacular as the gusts made just standing hard. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/swiftcurrent-pink/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231018-Swiftcurrent-Pink.jpg Swiftcurrent Pink A glowing pink sky to greet the day above Swiftcurrent Creek. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/josephine--colors/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231018-Josephine--Colors.jpg Josephine Colors Lake Josephine on a fall day. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grinnell-goat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231018-Grinnell-Goat.jpg Grinnell Goat A lone Mountain Goat among the immense rocky mountainsides near Grinnell Point. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/grinnell-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231018-Grinnell-Storm.jpg Grinnell Storm I didn't do much hiking in Glacier, mainly because the trails like the rest of the park were gloriously empty. This did present the problem of hiking alone in grizzly country. Quite the conundrum for a person like me. First day there no cars at the trailhead. Maybe tomorrow. Second day, 4 cars! Safety in numbers, let's go!! Only saw one group of 3 the entire time who told me that sign mentioning the mom and cubs at mile 3 was indeed accurate information. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/larch-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231019-Larch-Light.jpg Larch Light Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-larch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231020-The-Larch.jpg The Larch Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/larch-reflectios/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231020-Larch-Reflectios.jpg Larch Reflectios I arrived in West Glacier just in time for the peak autumn colors! This was quite the surprise to see the mountainsides covered in gold as I had never seen a larch tree before. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bowman-autumn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231021-Bowman-Autumn.jpg Bowman Autumn A mirrored autumn sunrise at Bowman Lake. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/glacier-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231021-Glacier-Gold.jpg Glacier Gold A cold autumn morning at Bowman Lake. The golden larch trees reflected in the lake while the sky started to glow was one of my favorite moments of my trip to Glacier. So much so I decided to spend a couple more nights camping up here to watch it happen a few times. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/kintla-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231021-Kintla-Gold.jpg Kintla Gold Golden larches along the shores of Kintla Lake and a storm brewing over Long Knife Peak. Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/larch-drive/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231024-Larch-Drive.jpg Larch Drive Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-forest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20231024-The-Forest.jpg The Forest Glacier National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/windy-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240610-Windy-Sunset.jpg Windy Sunset Sunset looking out over the San Juan Mountains from Windy Point Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-cat/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251026-Curious-Cat.jpg Curious Cat A black cat peaks through a white picket fence in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/king-of-the-hill/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240827-King-of-the-Hill.jpg King of the Hill A bear cub sits on a rock looking adorable in Colorado. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241003-Golden-Lake-City-.jpg Golden Lake City The remote mountain town of Lake City and its golden cottonwood and aspen liined streets seen from high above on a nearby mountain. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/seasons-in-motion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240917-Seasons-in-Motion.jpg Seasons in Motion South Clear Creek Falls on a day that couldn't decide if summer was still king or it was time to let go of the greens and turn orange and gold. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/entry/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Entry.jpg Entry Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/skate-shack/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20260122-Skate-Shack.jpg Skate Shack The skate shack at the pond skating rinks in Creede, Colorado Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-truck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270104-Winter-Truck.jpg Winter Truck An old but colorful trucks sits abandoned in a forest driveway. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-divide-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241016-The-Divide.jpg The Divide The Yellowstone River cuts through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beartooth-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241015-Beartooth-Sunset.jpg Beartooth Sunset Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beartooth-reflection/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241015-Beartooth-Reflection.jpg Beartooth Reflection Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/beartooth-mirror/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241014-Beartooth-Mirror.jpg Beartooth Mirror A still October morning in the Beartooth Mountains Beartooth Mountains https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/storage/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251025-Storage.jpg Storage An old jeep sits and waits. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silent-engine-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240811-Silent-Engine.jpg Silent Engine I stumbled upon this old International Harvester deep in the woods, where the forest has slowly begun to reclaim what was once a workhorse of some mine. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/november-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251105-November-Moon.jpg November Moon The full moon sets behind Uncompahgre Peak and Wetterhorn Peak in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heavenly-bridge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251111-Heavenly-Bridge.jpg Heavenly Bridge The aurora lights up the sky above the bridge on Lake San Cristobal in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-san-cristobal-aurora/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251111-Lake-San-Cristobal-Aurora-.jpg Lake San Cristobal Aurora Magenta Northern Lights on display at Lake San Cristobal in Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-to-heaven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251111-Bridge-to-Heaven.jpg Bridge to Heaven The aurora lights up the sky above the bridge on Lake San Cristobal in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/creek-abstract/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-Creek-Abstract.jpg Creek Abstract Clear creek water and colorful rocks in the Slumgullion Earthflow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/earth-lines/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251107-Earth-Lines.jpg Earth Lines Mysterious lines in a frozen stream running through the Slumgullion Earthflow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/algae-aspen-leaf/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-Algae-Aspen-Leaf.jpg Algae Aspen Leaf Abstract of green algae and a black withering Aspen leaf frozen in a small creek in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/vertical-ice-bird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-Vertical-Ice-Bird.jpg Vertical Ice Bird A cool ice formation that resembles a bird. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-ice-womb/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-The-Ice-Womb.jpg The Ice Womb An odd shape in the ice. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/ghost-town-mood/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250912-Ghost-Town-Mood.jpg Ghost Town Mood The weather's mood creating the perfect atmosphere at the ghost town of Carson in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-storm-on-the-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250912-Autumn-Storm-on-the-Divide.jpg Autumn Storm on the Divide An old run down mining bunkhouse decays at 11,000 in the defunct Carson Mining District. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-inversion/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250923-Autumn-Inversion.jpg Autumn Inversion An abstract of low clouds and the first rays of light hitting the aspen and spruce covered moutnainsides in the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-tunnel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250928-Autumn-Tunnel.jpg Autumn Tunnel Colorful aspens line Engineer Pass on the Alpine Loop near Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-half-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250928-San-Juan-Half-Moon.jpg San Juan Half Moon The moon sets behind a colorful display of autumn color and steep rocky slopes along the Alpine Loop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fall-waterfall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250928-Fall-Waterfall.jpg Fall Waterfall One of the most colorful dispalys of fall color I've seen in the Colorado mountains with an unnamed waterfall cascading down the mountainside along the Alpine Loop Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gravel-mountain-moonset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Gravel-Mountain-Moonset.jpg Gravel Mountain Moonset The moon sets behind an aptly named Gravel Mountian on the Alpine Loop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Wetterhorn-Alpenglow.jpg Wetterhorn Alpenglow I drove uo Engineer Pass in the rain hoping the weahter would clear, and for a few minutes Wetterhorn Peak glowed in the last seconds of light in the day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/oh-point-drama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Oh-Point-Drama.jpg Oh Point Drama I drove uo Engineer Pass in the rain hoping the weather would clear, and for a few minutes a break in the clouds to the west allowed some light to breaktrough the storm and cloud covered peaks of the San Juan Mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250930-Slumgullion-Fall.jpg Slumgullion Fall I woke up early for sunrise, but it was a dud with an overcast day. However the fall colors on Slumgullion Pass leading down into Lake City never are a disappoinment. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-road-to-gold/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-The-Road-to-Gold.jpg The Road to Gold An old mining road leads down into the glacial carved valley bursting with fall color Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-change-has-begun/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240919-The-Change-Has-Begun-2.jpg The Change Has Begun The aspen groves on Round Top were midway through turning gold when I captured the vibrant sunset overlooking the town of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/golden-hour-above-san-cristobal/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240921-Golden-Hour-above-San-Cristobal.jpg Golden Hour above San Cristobal The warm rays of of the autumn sun light up the peaks of the Continental Divde above Lake San Cristobal in September. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fortress-of-fall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240921-Fortress-of-Fall.jpg Fortress of Fall A grove of aspens hold on to their colorful leaves high in the Colorado mountains as a storms become colder and leave snow instead of rain. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/peniston/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240921-Penisto.jpg Peniston Fall colors in Peniston Park along Slumgullion Pass. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240922-Slumgullion-Sunrise.jpg Slumgullion Sunrise Sure, Uncompahgre may steal most of the autumn glory on Slumgullion Pass, but Red Mountain and friends don't disappoint either! This moring a vibrant pink was cast as the sun rose on the morning after a storm left the peaks white. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/slumgullion-blue-and-golds/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240922-Slumgullion-Blue-and-Golds.jpg Slumgullion Blue and Golds Slumgullion Pass winds its way down towards Lake City with a snow capped Red Mountain in the distance. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/red-mountain-way/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240922-Red-Mountain-Way.jpg Red Mountain Way Slumgullion Pass winds its way down towards Lake City with a snow capped Red Mountain in the distance. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-clash/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240922-The-Clash.jpg The Clash Seasons clash in the Colorado high country as the snowline can't quite blanket the colorful aspens in a layer of white like their bleak and wind blown neighbors at slightly higher elevation along the Continental Divide Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/vibrant-road/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240922-.jpg Vibrant Road This maybe one of the most impressive displays of fall color I've seen while driving down rainy roads in the Colorado mountains. Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aspen-chapel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240925-Aspen-Chapel.jpg Aspen Chapel Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-reflections-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240926-Cristobal-Reflections.jpg Cristobal Reflections Autumn Sunset at Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cristobal-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240926-Cristobal-Reflections-2.jpg Cristobal Reflections Autumn Sunset at Lake San Cristobal Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/where-september-lingers/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240926-Where-September-Lingers.jpg Where September Lingers The lingering but slowly dying vibrant light of a fading autumn sunset above Lake San Cristobal. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-calm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240926-Autumn-Calm.jpg Autumn Calm As the temperature dropped toward freezing on this fall night, the surface of Lake San Cristobal became exceptionally still, perfectly duplicating the blue twilight sky and the distant peaks. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240928-Autumn-Reflections.jpg Autumn Reflections This old rustic barn near Lake City has always been a favorite of mine. Finally one autumn morning I was able to capture the stillness of the ponds reflecting the barn in a near perfect natural mirror Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-at-vickers-ranch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240928-Sunset-At-Vickers-Ranch.jpg Sunset At Vicker's Ranch The golden mountain sides and light make a perfect backdrop for this historic barn at the Vicker's Ranch Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gold-hill-blues/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240928-Gold-Hill-Blues.jpg Gold Hill Blues While the miners came looking for gold buried deep in these hills I was able to find some quite easily on the mountain sides that surround Lake San Cristobal on this autumn evening. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/schools-out-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240929-Schools-Out.jpg School's Out This old school bus lies in an aspen grove near an abandoned mine. It was used as a bunkhouse in its second life after being hauled up the steep mining trail by a bulldozer. Now its rest is disturbed only by packrats and an occasional photographer Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/schools-out/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240929-Schools-Out-2.jpg School's Out Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/misty-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240928-Misty-Morning.jpg Misty Morning Cottonwoods and thier fall colors are on full display as they are reflected in a small pond north of Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silent-engine/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240929-Silent-Engine.jpg Silent Engine When I stumbled upon this old International Harvester deep in the woods one summer I instanly knew I'd come back for the fall colors. The vibrant blue and rusting cab creates a startling contrast against the oranges of the bushes that surround its resting place by the entrance to a mine. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/falls-first-foray/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240914-Falls-First-Foray.jpg Fall's First Foray Lake City's Iconic postage stamp aspen grove on Round Top herald the onset of autumn color and weather. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sunset-on-the-lake-trail/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240908-Sunset-on-The-Lake-Trail.jpg Sunset on The Lake Trail A vibrant summer sunset on the Peninsula Trail of Lake San Cristobal looking north. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summers-glorious-end/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240908-Summers-Glorious-End.jpg Summer's Glorious End The very last rays of warm alpenglow light hit the peaks of the Continental Divde above Lake San Cristobal, and the Goose Island Bridge as the sky ignites in a riot of vibrant color on a late summer day in September. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/engineer-storm-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Engineer-Storm-Shadows.jpg Engineer Storm Shadows Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peal are covered in shadow by an apporaching summer thunder storm as seen from just under 11,000 feet on the tundra. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/summers-waterfall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240821-Summers-Waterfall.jpg Summer's Waterfall While this waterfall is at its most brilliant and beautiful self in the autumn it doesn't look bad in any season framed by the aspens. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/overcast-uncompahgre/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240821-Overcast-Uncompahgre.jpg Overcast Uncompahgre Uncompahgre Peak as seen from the trail leading down into the basin as a rain storm looms on the horizon. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rock-and-tundra/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240821-Rock-and-Tundra.jpg Rock and Tundra Green Meadows give way to steep rocky slopes in the Uncompahgre Basin. Looking down on the landscape from a higher elevation is my favorite way to see the land's changes and variations. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240819-Bridge-Sunset.jpg Bridge Sunset Sunset at the Lake San Cristobal Bridge Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/goose-island-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240813-Goose-Island-Glow.jpg Goose Island Glow The last rays of warm light hit the peaks of the Continental Divde above Lake San Cristobal, and the Goose Island Bridge on a summer day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-to-twilight-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240801-Bridge-to-Twilight.jpg Bridge to Twilight As the sky transitions from deep orange to a cool blue, the Goose Island bridge spans over Colorado's second-largest natural lake, beginning my favorite time of day when the world quiets down and becomes still. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bridge-to-twilight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240801-Bridge-to-Twilight-2.jpg Bridge to Twilight As the sky transitions from deep orange to a cool blue, the Goose Island bridge spans a a path over Colorado's second-largest natural lake, beginning my favorite time of day when the world quiets down and becomes still. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-glow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240604-Uncompahgre-Glow.jpg Uncompahgre Glow The first rays of Alpenglow on Uncompahgre Peak's distant mountain face on a spring morning Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/distant-alpenglow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240603-Distant-Alpenglow.jpg Distant Alpenglow I watched from 13 miles across the valley as the first light of an early summer day ignited the distinct, sawtooth summits of the Uncompahgre, Mattherhorn and Wetterhorn Peaks. Even from this distance these imposing peaks dominate the San Juan Skyline and will always remain my favorite view. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/western-skies/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241013-Western-Skies.jpg Western Skies Wild Horses roam along the shore of a still lake with the Wind River Range in the background. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wind-river/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241012-Wind-River.jpg Wind River Wyoming https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wind-river-wild/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241012-Wind-River-Wild.jpg Wind River Wild Wild Horses at sunset in front of the Wind River Range. Wyoming https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wild-wind/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241012-Wild-WInd-.jpg Wild WInd Wild Horses of the Winds Wyoming https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moose-sniff/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250812-Moose-Sniff.jpg Moose Sniff A young moose calf on a summer morning. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rock-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Rock-Pika.jpg Rock Pika A pika sits on a rock in the mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-stare/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Pika-Stare.jpg Pika Stare A pika stares across a small meadow at his goal, a small group of green vegatation. Seconds later he quickly won his prize with a few bites. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-hole/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-Pika-Hole.jpg Pika Hole A Pika peeks out of his home hole in the rocks at 11,000 feet in the San Juan Mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hanging-out/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240907-Hnaging-Out-.jpg Hanging Out A Black Bear hangs on to a branch high up in a tree on a summer morning in Colorado near Lake City. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/treetop-cub/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240907-Treetop-Bear-Cub.jpg Treetop Cub A young Black Bear Cub peers out from the protection of the high branches of a tree. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/light-and-legend/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240827-Light-and-Legend.jpg Light and Legend Standing at the forest's edge, I caught this striking moment where the harsh sunlight carved this bear's features out of the surrounding shadow. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/double-trouble-in-the-timber/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240827-Double-Trouble-in-the-Timber.jpg Double Trouble A heart-melting standoff, with both both bear cubs seemingly debating whether I was a threat or just an interesting new part of the scenery. They choose the former, and ran off with mom soon after. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/what-does-the-pika-say/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-What-does-the-Pika-Say.jpg What does the Pika Say? EEEEEEEEP! Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cute-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Cute-Pika.jpg Cute Pika Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pika-perch/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Pika-Perch.jpg Pika Perch A pika sits and watches his rock pile high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/eeep/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Eeep.jpg Eeep A pika squeaks into the silence of the rocky valley we were in. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/winter-groceries/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Winter-Groceries-.jpg Winter Groceries A pika with a mouthful of grass it has gathered to store and get ready for the coming winter. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/chunk-the-happy-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Chunk-the-Happy-Pika.jpg Chunk the Happy Pika This is the winner of the first ever Fat Pika Week. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/noble-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Noble-Pika.jpg Noble Pika A pika suurveys his domain high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/mouthful/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240823-Mouthful.jpg Mouthful A pika with a mouthful of food its gathered to store and get ready for the winter. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/young-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240821-Young-Pika.jpg Young Pika Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/aghast-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240821-Aghast-Pika.jpg Aghast Pika Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bluebird-couple/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240814-Bluebird-Couple.jpg Bluebird Couple It's a beautiful sight to see these two navigating the Colorado wilderness as a team during the peak of summer. I caught them sharing a quiet moment of stillness before the afternoon winds picked up Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/safe-in-her-shadow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240612-Safe-in-Her-Shadow.jpg Safe in Her Shadow While the two-day-old calf stretches its long legs to investigate every new thing it sees and smells in the brush, mama moose remains a silent, immovable fortress of protection. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/blue-and-gold-bluebird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240603-Blue-and-Gold-Bluebird.jpg Blue and Gold Bluebird Soaking up the high-altitude spring sun to show off that signature Colorado neon blue. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/female-mountain-bluebird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240525-Female-Mountain-Bluebird.jpg Female Mountain Bluebird Draped in soft greys and delicate hints of sky-blue, the female mountain bluebird is a masterpiece of mountain camouflage. She may be less flashy than her mate, but she navigates the Colorado wilderness with unmatched grace Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/spring-bluebird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240524-Spring-Bluebird.jpg Spring Bluebird A splash of blue against the rugged Colorado Rockies. This mountain bluebird is perfectly at home in the thin air and golden light of Colorado's high peaks Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/bluebird/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240525-Bluebird.jpg Bluebird Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-uncompahgre-dawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250114-Frozen-Uncompahgre-Dawn.jpg Frozen Uncompahgre Dawn This moring was -12, but perfectly still and quiet with the twilight hinting at the coming sun with the vibrant sky and snow blanketed peaks of Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-morning/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251124-Frozen-Morning.jpg Frozen Morning A frozen and icy Gunnison Ave in Lake City after a snowstorm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-alpine-50/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250823-Lake-City-Alpine-50.jpg Lake City Alpine 50 The Alpine 50 race begins in downtown Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fourth-of-july-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240703-Fourth-of-July-in-Lake-City.jpg Fourth of July in Lake City Lake City's Boomtown days of the 1880s maybe be gone but not on the night of the 4th of July! This is my favorite mountain perch to overlook the town celebration from. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/high-country-celebration/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240703-High-Country-Celebration.jpg High Country Celebration The night sky over Lake City erupts in a brilliant display of color as the Fourth of July fireworks echo through the steep mountain walls of the San Juans. Far above the man-made sparks, the Milky Way river of light in some of the darkest skies in Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/october-boardwalk/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251026-October-Boardwalk-2.jpg October Boardwalk Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-rainbow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Silver-Rainbow.jpg Silver Rainbow Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-ice-wall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270112-Lake-City-Ice-Wall.jpg Lake City Ice Wall The Sun Sets behind the Lake City Ice climbing park and a frozen Henson Creek just a mile outside of the mountain town of Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-ice-wall/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270112-The-Ice-Wall.jpg The Ice Wall The Sun Sets at the Lake City Ice climbing park and a frozen Henson Creek. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-mountains-are-calling/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251203-The-Mountains-are-Calling.jpg The Mountains are Calling Then 5 local fourteeners of Hinsdale County. Wetterhorn Peak. uncompahgre Peak. Handies Peak. Sunshine Peak. Redcloud Peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270102-Silver-Snow.jpg Silver Snow Silver Street and Historic downtown Lake City in a fierce winter snow storm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-snow-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251123-Silver-Snow-2.jpg Silver Snow The shops of Silver Street in Lake City on a snowy day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-snowday/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251203-Lake-City-Snowday.jpg Lake City Snowday Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/219-silver/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251123-219-Silver-3.jpg 219 Silver My Gallery in the snow. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-sunset-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250823-Silver-Street-Sunset.jpg Silver Street Sunset Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hough-block-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250824-Hough-Block-Sunrise.jpg Hough Block Sunrise Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boardwalk-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250824-Boardwalk-Sunrise.jpg Boardwalk Sunrise A quiet summer morning begins with a burst of vibrant color in the sky while the shops of Lake City's Silver Street sleep. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-reflection-south/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250825-Silver-Street-Reflection-South.jpg Silver Street Reflection South A puddle reflects a colorful sunrise and the shops of downtown Lake City looking north. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-summer-4/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250818-Silver-Street-Summer-4.jpg Silver Street Summer #4 The shops of Silver Street in Lake City on a August day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/san-juan-soda-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250818-San-Juan-Soda-Sunset.jpg San Juan Soda Sunset Ice cream and a Lake City Sunset! Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-sunset/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250818-Silver-Street-Sunset.jpg Silver Street Sunset Sunset on Silver Street. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/4th-of-july-in-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250703--3.jpg 4th of July in Lake City Looking down on the 4th of July Celebrations in Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-summer-3/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250705-.jpg Silver Street Summer #3 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-summer-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250704--2.jpg Silver Street Summer #2 The shops of Silver Street in Lake City on a summer day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/92/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250703-.jpg US Flag flying over Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-fireworks/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250703--2.jpg Lake City Fireworks 4th of July Fireworks in Lake City with Crystal Peak towering above town. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-summer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250704-.jpg Silver Street Summer The shops of Silver Street in Lake City on a summer day. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/frozen-skeletons/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20241117-Frozen-Skeletons.jpg Frozen Skeletons Beetle killed tress covered by a thin blanket of snow and backlit by the rising sun on Spring Creek Pass on a frigid moring. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/envelop/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270104-Envelop-2.jpg Envelop Clouds surround and hug the valley floor in the San Juan Mountains near Lake City, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/henrys-truck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251119-Henrys-Truck.jpg Henry's Truck A town of character. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-twist/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251022-The-Twist.jpg The Twist Aspens Embrace Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/below-the-divide/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270104-Below-the-Divide.jpg Below the Divide Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gunnison-avenue-whiteout/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251123-Gunnison-Avenue-Whiteout.jpg Gunnison Avenue Whiteout Cottonwood lined Gunnison Ave in Lake City during a strong winter snowstorm. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/snowy-san-juan-soda/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251130-Snowy-San-Juan-Soda-.jpg Snowy San Juan Soda A morning snow blankts the San Juan Soda shop on Silver Street. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hinsdale-county-courthose/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251203-Hinsdale-County-Courthose.jpg Hinsdale County Courthose Snowday at the oldest Colorado Courthouse in Hinsdale County, built 1877 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/general-maintenance/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20261215-General-Maintenance-.jpg General Maintenance The Hinsdale County Museum and a historic truck. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-snow/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251203-Lake-Fork-Snow.jpg Lake Fork Snow The Lake Fork of the Gunnison meanders through Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baptist-church-of-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251123-Baptist-Church-of-Lake-City.jpg Baptist Church of Lake City A snowy day day at this historic downtown church. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/heath-house/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251124-Heath-House.jpg Heath House The historic Heath House on Gunnison Ave. in Lake City Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-troll/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250912-The-Troll.jpg The Troll The Lake City troll that turned to stone upon seeing light many hundreds of years ago when such creatures walked the earth in the San Juan Mountains Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20261213-Lake-City-Deer.jpg Lake City Deer A fawn waits for his mom to catch up on the Silver Street boardwalk. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cyrstal-lake-mason-lodge/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251124-Cyrstal-Lake-Mason-Lodge.jpg Cyrstal Lake Mason Lodge Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boos-saloon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20261211-Boos-Saloon.jpg Boo's Saloon Mom and fawn in front of a deer sized saloon Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/passing-by/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20261211-Passing-By.jpg Passing By Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/weathering-the-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251206-Weathering-the-Storm.jpg Weathering the Storm A mom and fawn travel down a snow blanketed Silver Street and past eh Crystal Lake Masonic Lodge in historic downtown Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/home-owner/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20261216-Home-Owner.jpg Home Owner A buck stands guard behind a white picket fence and a historic house. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-crossing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251118-Fence-Crossing.jpg Fence Crossing A deer passes through a hole in a white picket fence. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lil-courthouse-lil-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-Lil-Courthouse-Lil-Deer.jpg Lil Courthouse Lil Deer A fawn stands in front of the mini model of the Hinsdale County Courthouse in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/depression-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251118-Depression-Deer.jpg Depression Deer A buck with a boarded up building in downtown Lake City sparking memories of when Lake City was an actual ghost town in the 20's and 30's Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-jump-doe/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251207-Fence-Jump-Doe.jpg Fence Jump Doe A doe jumps a picket fence in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-jump-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251207-Fence-Jump-Buck.jpg Fence Jump Buck A buck jumps a picket fence in Lake City following a doe. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/henson-street/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/Henson-Street.jpg Henson Street Buck Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/boardwalk-doe/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251121-Boardwalk-Doe.jpg Boardwalk Doe A lone deer stand by the boardwalk of historic downtown Silver St in Lake, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/community-presbyterian-church-of-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251207-Community-Presbyterian-Church-of-Lake-City.jpg Community Presbyterian Church of Lake City A buck crosses the snowy streets by the historic Community Presbyterian Church of Lake City, Colorado. It was the First Protestant Church on the West Slope, built in 1876 Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/king-of-the-park/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-King-of-the-Park.jpg King of the Park A buck walks through the town park with the Hough Building in the background Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/drama-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-Drama-Deer.jpg Drama Deer A doe walks past the entrance to the Lake City Arts Hough Building. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-city-toys/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-Lake-City-Toys.jpg Lake City Toys A doe heads to the Lake City Toy shop. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-family/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-American-Family.jpg American Family A family of deer stands next to a small American flag at Bushwack Lodge Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-doe/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-American-Doe.jpg American Doe A deer walks past an American flag on the Lake City Boardwalk Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/love-is-in-the-air/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251109-Love-is-in-the-Air.jpg Love is in the Air A buck sniffs the air in front of the Lake City library. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/curious-deer/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251102-Curious-Deer.jpg Curious Deer A doe peeks past a fence in the alleyways of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/another-time/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251102-Another-Time.jpg Another Time A young buck stands in a vacant lot in front of a historic shed. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hinsdale-county-courthouse/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251027-Hinsdale-County-Courthouse.jpg Hinsdale County Courthouse A buck in Memorial Park in front of the oldest Courthouse in Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/on-guard/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251026-On-Guard.jpg On Guard A fawn stands in front of a cabin. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/town-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251026-Town-Buck.jpg Town Buck A buck crosses Silver Street in front of the historic downtown business district as a crow flies overhead in a bit of luck. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/american-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251026-American-Buck.jpg American Buck A buck stands in front of a house with a small American Flag in the window. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baptist-fawn/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251025-Baptist-Fawn.jpg Baptist Fawn A fawn crosses the street in Front of the First Baptist Church of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/gallery-and-gifts/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251024-Gallery-and-Gifts.jpg Gallery and Gifts A deer from my gallery window. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/naptime/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251023-Naptime.jpg Naptime A fawn sleeps in the Masonic lodge yard. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-world/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251023-Silver-World.jpg Silver World A mom and fawn with the Silver World Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/1776/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251022-1776.jpg 1776 A young deer with an American Flag. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/oh-well/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251022-Oh-Well.jpg Oh Well A deer walks into a bleak future for nature, and her kind. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/broken-family/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251022-Broken-Family.jpg Broken Family A doe guards her fawn in front of a shed with a dead head of a buck. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/oh-hi/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251022-Oh-Hi.jpg Oh Hi A buck suprises another releaxing buck. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/lake-fork-conservancy/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251021-Lake-Fork-Conservancy-.jpg Lake Fork Conservancy Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/hough-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251021-Hough-Shadows.jpg Hough Shadows Afternoon shadows on the Hough Building in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-alley-way/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251021-The-Alley-Way-2.jpg The Alley Way A mother guides her twin fawns down a back alley in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/picket-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Picket-Buck.jpg Picket Buck A young buck framed by a white fence. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/no-dogs/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-No-Dogs.jpg No Dogs Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alley-tough-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Alley-Tough-2-.jpg Alley Tough #2 A buck walks down his alley in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/brick-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Brick-Buck.jpg Brick Buck Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/pride/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Pride-2.jpg Pride A buck stands proud after a victory in the picket line fenced dueling grounds of Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/picket-doe/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251017-Picket-Doe.jpg Picket Doe Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cuddle-bucks/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Cuddle-Bucks.jpg Cuddle Bucks Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/still-standing/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Still-Standing.jpg Still Standing Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/neighbors-quarrel/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Neighbors-Quarrel-.jpg Neighbor's Quarrel Bucks spar during the rut in a yard. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/neighbors-quarrel--2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251015-Neighbors-Quarrel--2.jpg Neighbor's Quarrel #2 Bucks spar during the rut in a yard. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alley-tough/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251014-Alley-Tough.jpg Alley Tough A buck guards a back alley of Lake City, Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/at-rest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251011-At-Rest.jpg At Rest Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/rest/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251011-Rest.jpg Rest Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/cabin-light/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Cabin-Light.jpg Cabin Light Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/alley-brawler/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Alley-Brawler.jpg Alley Brawler Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fight/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251020-Fight-2.jpg Fight Bucks fight it out in the picket line dueling grounds of downtown Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/wetterhorn-shadows/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929-.jpg Wetterhorn Shadows Wetterhorn Peak, 14,015 ft is covered in deep shadow as autumn rain storms pass through the mountains. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-little-tree/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251105-.jpg The Little Tree A young tree grows in Volcanic ash rock formations of the Wheeler Geologic Area Creede, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/delicate-raven/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250215-.jpg Delicate Raven A raven at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park Arches National Park https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-moon/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270103--3.jpg Uncompahgre Moon The Full Wolf Moon of January sets behind 14er Uncompahgre Peak on a cold winter morning as the first light of the day hits the peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/uncompahgre-moon-panorama/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20270103-.jpg Uncompahgre Moon The Full Wolf Moon of January sets behind 14er Uncompahgre Peak on a cold winter morning as the first light of the day hits the peak. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-st-in-winter/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251208-.jpg Silver St in Winter The historic Silver Street business district in Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-sunrise/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250825--2.jpg Silver Street Sunrise A puddle reflects a colorful sunrise and the shops of downtown Lake City looking south. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/silver-street-reflections/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250827--2.jpg Silver Street Reflections A puddle reflects a perfect quiet summer morning and the shops of downtown Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/sanctuary-in-the-trees/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251126-.jpg Sanctuary in the Trees A unique view of the historic Communtiy Presbyterian Church of Lake City that was founded by George Darley in 1876. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/town-of-lake-city-2/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251021-.jpg Town of Lake City A local resident deer passes a closed town hall. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-frame/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251118-.jpg Fence Frame A fawn peeks trough a broken picket fence. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/town-of-lake-city/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251120-.jpg Town of Lake City Some locals outside town hall ready to file complaints about fence height regulations. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/baptist-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251118--2.jpg Baptist Buck A buck crosses Third Street in front of the historic Baptist Church in Lake City. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/the-buck-stops-here/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251012-.jpg The Buck Stops Here A buck is dissapointed as San Juan Soda had just closed when he arrived so he choose to snack on their flowers instead. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/fence-framed-buck/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251021--2.jpg Fence Framed Buck A buck and a buck sized gap in the Silver St. gardens fence Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-rain/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20251011--2.jpg Autumn Rain A rainy autumn day in the small and remote mountain town of Lake City, Colorado. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/autumn-storm/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250923--2.jpg Autumn Storm Uncompahgre Peak blanketed in its first coat of snow on an autumn morning. Lake City, Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/first-year-alone/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240528-.jpg First Year Alone Not quite a baby, not yet a full grown moose, this yearling cow is navigating her first solo summer in the San Juan Mountains. She had just seperated from her Mom a few days earlier so you can still see the curious youth in its face as it lfuture in the Colorado wilderness of willows (and the rising sun) Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/moms-gaze/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20240608-.jpg Mom's Gaze A cow moose and her leggy, two day old curious baby. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/photo/puffy-pika/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/images/xl/20250929--2.jpg Puffy Pika A cute pika ready for winter lving on the rocky talus slopes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Colorado https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/news/ https://www.michaelunderwoodphotography.com/contact/