Devil’s Backbone as seen from the trailhead parking lot
Less than a mile from my house, our first stop on Tuesday morning on the drive through the Big Thompson Canyon, toward Rocky Mountain National Park, was the trailhead leading to one of Loveland’s gorgeous open space areas.
This area is called the Devil’s Backbone. The area gets it’s name from the unique rock formations called Flatirons. It is believed that the first settlers to this area arrived in 1858 creating farming settlements around the Devil’s Backbone and the Big Thompson River. Flatirons were given their name by these pioneer women, because the flat, jetted peaks reminded them of their metal irons. Not sure how these Flatirons were named The Devil’s Backbone.
The Devil’s Backbone Open Space area consists of 2,198 acres and lies in a beautiful valley just west of Loveland. As you hike, bike, bird, eat a picnic lunch or just sit taking in the view, you can’t help being overwhelmed by the areas serene beauty. I can’t wait to hike this area and to capture both a sunset and sunrise photo.
I can’t believe how green our area is this year!You can just make one of the hiking trailsA close-up of some of the Flatirons
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep climbing the cliffs in the Big Thompson Canyon
Yesterday, as we were driving through the Big Thompson Canyon, west of Loveland, Colorado, heading up to Rocky Mountain National Park these sheep could be seen from the road.
We stopped to photograph them, which was a first for me. Two ewes were along side the road and the other ewe was up the canyon wall about thirty feet.
Bighorn sheep are named for the large, curved horns borne by the rams (males). Ewes (females) also have horns, but they are shorter with less curvature. They range in color from light brown to grayish or dark, chocolate brown, with a white rump and lining on the backs of all four legs. (as described on the wikipedia web-site).
These images are of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep; they are large, with males occasionally exceeding 500 pounds and females exceeding 200 pounds.
Pretty Face – Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep climbing the cliffs in the Big Thompson CanyonRocky Mountain bighorn sheep (ewe). What does she see?I think I have her attention; she was very high up the cliff.Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep eating grass (ewe)Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (ewe)Off she goes leaving the other two!Just for fun!
The Big Thompson Canyon is beautiful and rugged. I hope these images give you a feel of how the canyon looks during the summer. With all of our rain this spring and summer the lush grasses and other vegetation are plentiful. Good for them, good for us!
The morning started out cool and beautiful with white puffy clouds floating like mysterious shapes in the azure sky. The stillness and quiet enhancing the allure to get out. So I got out and drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park to take a few photos. I spotted these wildflowers, growing among the trees, just off a trail.
Purple & Pink Wildflower
seed, rain and light
entice many colors, so bright
purple, pink delight
White Wildflower
wildflower in white
beauty growing in the sun
leaves a happy thought
Yellow & Orange Wildflower
yellow and orange
smiling swaying with the breeze
its sunny side up
Aspen Tree
nature leaves its mark
patterns display happenings
scared old aspen tree
White YarrowBlack & White
I tried to find the names of these wildflowers, but didn’t have any luck. If you know what they are, please let me know.
