See a larger version here.
This is not the view from our property, but it’s a short stroll away. We own land near a little town of 800 souls in southwestern Colorado. We’ve come here in the fall for many years to look at our own dirt and piñons and soak up what God hath wrought by his own hand. Yes, actually, I’m still an agnostic, but that's a bit harder to maintain when you’re that much closer to the sun, moon and stars.
So lets move away for the space and time it takes you to read this—to look at a few pictures that we’ll now share—from all the gnashing of teeth and wailing and railing against all the powers that be and recent international decisions made. There is a time for discussing the Nobel Peace Prize, but not now for a few precious moments. Come along.
The shot above is from the edge of a precipice. Our place is up on Loghill Mesa. The little slow-paced sleepy town of Ridgway, off to the left in the photo, is more than a 1,000 feet further down. It takes a day or so to acclimate to the altitude here. There’s less oxygen at 8,000 feet above sea level—one needs to drink a bit more water and take it slow for a day to get the body used to seeing the sky from a new vantage point.
At the center of the photo, roughly between the two roads going off into the distance, is a “fourteener.” Mount Sneffels, with the tiniest of rock promontories at its very tip, comes in at 14,150 ft (4,312 m). You might think it’s a silly name for a majestic peak, but it has some history. Mount Sneffels was named after the volcano Snæfell, which is located on the tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in Iceland. That mountain and its glacier, Snæfellsjökull, which caps the crater like a convex lens, were featured in the Jules Verne novel A Journey to the Center of the Earth. It is located in the northern part of the San Juan Mountains in Ouray County about 5 miles west of the box canyon picturesque town of Ouray. (The locals pronounce Ouray as yur-RAY.)
Off to the right of the image just out of view and at the base of the mesa is the former home of Dennis Weaver where he raised llamas on his Sunridge Ranch and spent the last quarter of his life contemplating beauty and participating in the small town life.
(Many of you that know me know that I'm seriously challenged in a fear of heights—so please be appreciative of the weak-kneed sacrifice I made on your behalf to get this close to my own personal plummeting.)
We have friends here, small world as it is. The bride’s college roommate lives nearby. And we once had some friends join us from Dallas for our fall vacation in the mountains. We found out in a roundabout way that our friend went to her senior prom with another resident of Loghill Mesa. And every time we come, we make more friends. It seems more and more like home, though it will be a few years before we can make it so. We first have to get our three kids, now all in college at the same time (!) out of school and on their own. We hope to get here.
Ok, enough talking (writing). Let's get to some images.
Mule deer. See a larger shot here.
The deer up here in Loghill Mesa aren't exactly tame, but I think they've figured out they're in a safe zone. No hunting is allowed, even in the midst of the October elk hunting season here in southwestern Colorado. So they tend to wander about even during the day looking for tasty morsels. The locals, when they venture out into the surrounding mountains during hunting season, tend to dress their dogs in bright day-glo vests to help the hunters realize it's a pet and not a prize.
Above is our property. We have about 300 feet fronting this little road and about 2 acres deep. The view beyond is to the Cimarrons, made famous by the movie True Grit, as some of the scenes were shot at the base of this short range just east of the greater San Juans. Precipice Peak is near the center and then to the left is Courthouse, Coxcomb and Chimney. The gorgeous thing about the Cimarrons is the alpine glow we get just before sunset as the range faces west in all its roseate glory.
Not quite alpine glow, but close:
Now take a walk with me and let's take a macro look at what's on the property:
One of the corner markers on our two acre lot
Someone built a fire ring on our place—I don't know who
Elk scat
Bear scat
Lichen
A snow melt runoff wash
A deer run
A baby yucca
A baby juniper
A baby piñon
Baby spanish moss
Morning dew on a dried aspen leaf
On Sunday, we went west over the Dallas Divide, a ridge separating Ridgway/Ouray and Telluride, to visit OS friend High Lonesome. It was a beautiful morning, as you can see from the two shots below. HL is as lovely a person as we imagined her to be.
Just look at that sky!
We'll end with a couple of shots. One on the way to Sneffels, the other of the venerable mountain itself. This was on a back road to the base for a picnic day trip. You can see why we love this beautiful place.
This post is dedicated to friends, flung far and wide. Some of whom are able to be with us, some not—we wish we could have you here laughing and talking and sharing in flesh and blood raising a glass of cab or pinot—Love abounds and perseveres—always getting closer to you and closer to the sun, moon and stars with you by our sides.
We're here till Wednesday, then I drive back to Dallas to get ready for the the book debut party and my photo art on the walls/gallery event that I posted about here.
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussions.)
all images copyright © 2009 by barry b. doyle • all rights reserved
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Comments
Not so much for the poo.
(thumbified for photos of land with bumps in it - a balm to the elevationally oppressed.)
AMAZING - like you! What a wonderful time to just breathe and take in everything that has been going on ... to process your success without all of the distractions of home and work. :) xoxo
Rated~~
Received my copy of your new book, "DALLAS Iconography." I love it! Enjoy your party and book signings!
I hate to say it, but seeing bear scat might have induced some Bill scat. I'm not too comfy around omnivores that are bigger than me. ;-D
A beautiful place to recharge the soul, Barry. Thanks for sharing those amazing skies and vistas with us. Safe home, brother.
Rated.
By the way, Barry, your book is BEAUTIFUL. I love it. It has an honored place in my house where I can pick it up whenever I like and look at its beautiful art. :) Thank you.
Liz Emrich is with us and we're off to the base of the Cimarrons for a picnic near where they filmed True Grit.
Thanks so much!!
::sniff::
Next time, though, you should plan to spend more time on the other side of Lizard Head! What a pleasure, to meet the two of you!
Thanks for this.
whats your opinion of john fielder? I saw him give a lecture once.
Kisses,
Marcela
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The opening shot should be framed and hung, it's incredibly beautiful and informative.
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btw - got your Iconography book the other day. It's as beautiful as can be - the beauty your eyes see. Thank you So much.