The Wild Mustangs of the Little Book Cliffs Range

Wild and free, thundering hooves pounding across the plains, billowing dust in their wake. They are the epitome of what we think of when we consider the wide open spaces of the old west, and we are drawn to their romance and mystery. Known as 'mustangs', the English version of  the Spanish word 'mesteno' which means wild or stray, the wild horses of the West are descendants of the horses of the Spanish, the American Indians, and the settlers. At the turn of the twentieth century their numbers were estimated to be about 2 million. Currently that number is estimated to be about 30,000. The Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility for managing these herds.

It is my understanding that there are about 40 wild horse sanctuaries being managed by the BLM,  of that number there are 3 that are protected as 'treasured herds', and one of those is the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Herd in Garfield County, Colorado. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit their 39,000 acre home where the Friends of the Mustangs, a volunteer organization, is a valuable help to the BLM in managing and protecting these magnificent animals. Here the 100 or so mustangs are strong and healthy, and while every few years there is a round-up and horses are adopted out to manage the size of the herd, they are guaranteed their right to this home.

My day with the mustangs went beyond my wildest dreams.

The presence of the three of us didn't bother them. At one point, a band of 4 young stallions came within 4 or 5 feet of me as I was sitting quietly on the ground taking photos.  They were just curious, so I kept clicking...

 Our task is to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature ~ Albert Einstein

The Hayman Fire Reclamation

The long road to recovery
Story and photos by Debi Boucher

Looking west through an area of the Pike National Forest that was damaged by the Hayman Fire in 2002.

Few who lived on the Front Range of Colorado in the summer of 2002 have forgotten the fear, anger and heartbreak they felt over the Hayman Fire. In its stead is a surreal wasteland—138,000 acres of blackened tree trunks, all that’s left of what had been a beautiful ponderosa pine forest. And damage to the environment didn’t end when the fire died. Heavy rains brought mudslides, flooding and the threat of rockslides and falling trees.

I traveled along Teller County Road 11 heading home to Woodland Park on that notorious day, June 2, 2002, and saw billowing grey smoke in the distance. It didn’t occur to me that in just a few days, the fire would be only four miles from my home and not even remotely under control.

It was estimated in April 2010 that the fire’s direct and indirect costs totaled $207 million, only 20 percent of it on fire suppression. Scientists estimate it will be some 500-600 years before the forest returns to its pre-fire state.

Reforestation efforts began immediately and continue now, nine years later. Workers collect pine and Douglas fir seeds from the area and grow them in a controlled environment for a year before replanting them in the forest. Hundreds of individuals from organizations such as the Boy Scouts and the Arbor Day and National Forest Foundations have planted thousands of seedlings. Artisans use salvaged timber for craft work, and builders use it for flooring. Conservationists use trees not suitable for such uses as barriers for erosion control.

Wild flowers are starting to flourish in the Hayman burn area.

Shell Oil Corp. raised much-needed funds, and Coleman Natural Foods sponsored the planting of 300,000 seedlings. More than 100 Vail Resort employees worked together with the U.S. Forest Service and Rocky Mountain Field Institute to assist with seeding, matting, and re-contouring slopes. Future cooperative plans include reducing sediment into our water supply, rebuilding 18 miles of recreational trails, and replanting 1,700 acres of trees.

The fish population is flourishing and wildlife returning. Big horn sheep forage in areas they didn’t visit before.

I have visited the burn area many times since 2002. I have seen the wildflowers blooming, and the aspen flourishing. Some are 15-20 feet tall now. For years I only saw devastation, but lately, I see the beauty to be found amid the scorched remains standing sentinel along the hills, ridges and valleys. The fire permanently changed the landscape, but time has changed how I view what remains in its stead.

It is worthwhile to take a drive or hike through the Hayman Fire affected portions of the Pike National Forest. The old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees” no longer rings true. You will now be able to see the hills as they roll across the landscape, vistas, views and rock outcroppings you may never have known existed. You may see big horn sheep where you’ve never seen them before. You will see the progress of the reclamation efforts, those made by man, and those made by nature as she works to heal the wounds of one of Colorado’s most devastating wildfires. And if you look with your eyes open, you will see beauty. Perhaps it’s not our typical definition of beauty, but beauty all the same.

Written for AAA Encompass Magazine. Copyrighted material. May not be reproduced in whole or in part without express written consent from the author.

St Elmo and Tin Cup Ghost Towns

This past weekend I visited two places I have wanted to see, but in nearly 19 years in Colorado had not made the trip to do so. I went with two friends, one also a photographer, and we had a GREAT time!  St Elmo  and Tin Cup are both what remain of once thriving mining towns, high in the mountains of Colorado. St Elmo, at 10,006 feet in elevation, was founded in 1880 and at one time had a population of 2,000. It is one of Colorado's best preserved examples of a 'ghost town', and enjoys alot of attention in the summer from tourists looking for a piece of old west history, and folks with jeeps and ATVs exploring the old mine roads. Tin Cup, named after a miner who carried his gold back to camp in a tin cup in 1859, wasn't  laid out as a town until 1879. In 1880 the census claimed 1,495 citizens. All of the buildings, and there are many, in Tin Cup are privately owned and serve as summer places for their owners. I was told, however, that there are two hardy souls who insist on remaining year year round. This past winter saw 14 feet of snow. That would do it for me....
This post and these images are for Karen Fiddler and Gail MacMillan, who asked for BIG photos.

Alrighty then :)

"The Final View"  Tin Cup Cemetery - Boot Hill  Tin Cup, Colorado

"Brothel"  Main St, St Elmo, Colorado

"Cross" Boot Hill, Tin Cup Cemetery - Tin Cup, Colorado

Jail and Town Hall - St Elmo, Colorado

"Number 8" - St Elmo, Colorado

"Restful View" Tin Cup Cemetery, The Catholic Knoll - Tin Cup, Colorado

Copyrighted Material - May NOT be reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission from the author. All rights reserved.

The city in the clouds

By Debi Boucher

Stroll down Harrison Avenue in downtown Leadville. © Debi Boucher

While no longer bustling with the frantic activity of the silver mines, bawdy saloons and dancehalls, Leadville is arguably one of the best examples of a still breathing boom town to be found in Colorado today. In 1893 the city boasted 60,000 residents, and is still home to some 3,000 hearty souls willing to brave winter at 10,200 feet in elevation. Surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the country. Over 50 significant 19th century buildings grace downtown Leadville, including the Tabor Opera House, once the largest this side of the Mississippi, and the still operating grand Victorian Delaware Hotel built in 1886. A walk down Harrison Avenue is a delightful journey into a bygone era.

The ‘Route of the Silver Kings’ is a 20 square mile auto, hiking and bicycle tour along the Mineral Belt of Leadville’s Historic Mining District east of town. Maps for the tour are available throughout town, and guide visitors through the mines and small mining towns that dotted the area in the silver boom heyday. One such settlement is Finn Town. Originally settled by English miners and later with Finns, Finn Town had its own mercantile and saloons, and a few cabins are still standing today. The Matchless Mine is now a small museum and offers tours that share the story of the famous Baby Doe and her husband, Horace Tabor. Should you travel to Leadville in the spring, or the mud season as it’s known to Leadvillites, be cautious about taking side roads as they may not be plowed and the mud can be treacherous. I know this because I took one, and if not for the vehicle I was driving, I would probably still be there!

Determined to preserve its history, Leadville is home to the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum which opened in 1987 in the original 1890’s Leadville High School building. Allow yourself at least a couple of hours to tour the museum as additions over the years have brought the museum to over 70,000 square feet of displays, including wonderful dioramas. Take a walk through the Hard Rock Mine Exhibit, a realistic replica of a mine tunnel, blacksmith shop, assay office and more. The museum also offers amazing displays of minerals and crystals from the Smithsonian Institute and private collections, as well as impressive gold specimens from each of the 17 states that had important gold discoveries. The Hall of Fame honors those men and women who have made significant contributions to mining both in the past and in the present. Outside of the museum is a marvelous 9 foot tall marble sculpture depicting two miners called “Mining the Pulse of Civilization.” The marble for the sculpture was donated by the Yule Marble Quarry in Marble, Colo.

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.
© Debi Boucher.

According to the Lake County Visitor Center, Leadville is host to more museums per capita than any other city. You will not want to miss the Healy House & Dexter Cabin, The Heritage Museum and Gallery, the Historic Tabor Opera House, and the Tabor Home. And don’t pass up the two-and-a-half hour Scenic Train Trip aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad that takes you another 1,000 feet above the valley floor!

There are plenty of restaurants and antique shops to browse in downtown Leadville. Famous for its outstanding breakfasts, owner Dave Wright tells me the Golden Burro has been open since 1938 without ever closing its doors. A live webcam inside the restaurant is a big hit with locals and tourists alike. Housed in the ‘Quincy Block’ built in 1879, Quincy’s is a must for an $8.95 6 oz. filet dinner Sunday thru Thursday, or an 8 oz. prime rib for $10.95 served on Friday and Saturday nights. Larger cuts are available also, and Nancy says their one item menu is a huge summer success each year.

If a nature fix is what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Just 20 minutes outside of Leadville are the magnificently picturesque Twin Lakes, Colorado’s largest glacial lakes. Get there early in the morning to photograph the snow capped reflection of our two tallest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. They are a breath taking sight in the still, clear blue calm of an early morning. The honey colored sunset is worth the wait here, too! This area too, is rich in history. The village of Twin Lakes became a thriving tourist destination in the early 1880s, and Interlaken, a hotel on the south shore of the smaller lake, was a famous resort catering to the wealthy of the day. Endless opportunities abound for outdoor recreation in the Twin Lakes area. Fishing, camping and boating are the obvious choices, but countless miles of hiking trails and mountain climbing are there to enjoy as well. Named in honor of the men who trained at Camp Hale during World War II, the 10th Mountain Huts manages a system of 29 back country huts connected by 350 miles of routes for skiing, mountain biking, and hiking with safe and comfortable shelters along the way.

A favorite for anglers, Turquoise Lake is located just a short distance from town and offers a choice of eight campgrounds with 300 campsites and two boat ramps. At the end of the day, roast your mackinaw, rainbow, or brook trout over the campfire and lean back and relax under the star canopied sky. The facilities are closed over the winter, but many come for the season’s ice fishing. Stunning views of Mount Massive and the Holy Cross Wilderness surround this lovely lake, wrapping it in pristine and peaceful serenity.

The picturesque view of Twin Lakes.
© Debi Boucher.

They say golf balls travel 10 percent farther at 10,200 feet. Find out if it’s true at the Mt. Massive Golf Course. Leadville sits just below the Arkansas River headwaters – try your luck at gold panning, or perhaps a guided fly fishing trip with Colorado Fly Fishing Guides. White water rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing and skiing are other popular activities available in the area. If you visit in August, be sure to schedule your trip around Leadville’s Boom Days. Honored by the U.S. Congress as a Local Legacy Event, town folk dress in costumes of the day, mining competitions separate the men from the boys, and don’t be surprised if a gunfight breaks out or a showdown suddenly erupts in the center of town!

Debi Boucher is a freelance writer and photographer based in Colorado Springs.

Copyrighted Material - May NOT be reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission from the author.

All rights reserved.

The Road Less Traveled - AAA Colorado Encompass eUpdate Article

Over the past several months I have been freelancing as a writer and photographer for AAA Colorado's Encompass Magazine. My articles are about travel in Colorado - where to go, what to see, and what to do when you get there. This is my most recently published article:

 The Tarryall Road

Most folks traveling west on Highway 24 from Colorado Springs drive through Lake George and pass by the south end of Park County Road 77 without ever knowing what an incredibly beautiful stretch of road leads from here to Highway 285.Known by the locals simply as the Tarryall Road, it follows the path of the glittering Tarryall Creek as it meanders its way through the Puma Hills. The Tarryall Range looms rugged and rocky to the east, with the vivid blue Colorado sky as their backdrop. Majestic elk call this home, as do deer and big horn sheep, and the mighty mountain lion after which the hills were named.

The Lake George Cemetery, just to the left after turning onto County 77, is a Who’s Who of the original Puma Hills settlers and the generations that followed. The older section of the cemetery is at the back and up the hill, where the best views were to be had. If you look carefully, you may find the grave of Summit Marksbury, the only local known to have been killed by Native Americans.

Several of the old homesteads along the Tarryall are still being ranched, and while most have changed hands many times through the years, some are lived in by descendents of the original owners. Each has a story.

One of the jewels of the Tarryall is the McLaughlin Ranch, homesteaded on either side of Tarryall Creek around 1878. They operated a freight company and livery stable from their home which sat at the edge of the road, and also served as a stage stop. This beautifully constructed, chinked-log home still stands today, looking much the same as it may have then.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The old town site of Tarryall, originally named Puma City, sits west of Tarryall Mountain. In 1896, an old miner from Cripple Creek staked a claim, and as was the case in those days, it did not take long for the word to get out. By 1897 Puma City boasted a thousand citizens. The Tarryall schoolhouse, built in 1921, sits on the site of the original 1898 schoolhouse, which was later lost to fire. The belfry tower and bell were salvaged from the original building. The school served the children of Tarryall until 1947, and is one of only three one-room schoolhouses still standing in Park County.

The dilapidated, broken ruins of the Tarryall post office/general store, built around 1897, remains, as do several other buildings of the day. Jim and Linda English inherited the buildings and property and live in a home that started out as a cabin in 1899. Twelve families still live within the old town site full-time, and another four join them during the summer months.

As you drive past the old town, look to the top of Tarryall Mountain and see if you can make out the head of a mountain lion formed by the pines and boulders that appear to have been placed there just for that purpose.

The Twin Eagles Trailhead Campground is this area’s gateway into the mysteriously beautiful Lost Creek Wilderness, encompassing more than 120,000 acres of opportunity for solitude. Dogs are allowed on a leash, and a restroom is available here. Picnic tables along the creek make this an ideal spot to stop, stretch your legs, and enjoy a creek-side picnic.

Just past the campground is an interpretive sign informing us that what we’re looking at is a National Natural Landmark, one of 12 in the state. The picture-postcard beauty of pink granite peaks, provide the canvas for the spectacular view of this high mountain meadow and historical buildings of the old Williams/Gold Ranch. The river flows in snake-like curves through the brush and grasses that frame its banks. A little further up the road, on the site of the old Williams/Bradley Ranch, summer visitors are in for a real treat! Tarryall Mountain Farms, an organic, high-altitude produce farm run by David Appleton, is open and selling produce on Saturdays and Sundays from 1–4 p.m. beginning in late July.

Jim Fagerstrom and Deb Baxter, the proprietors of the Ute Trail River Ranch, have created an idyllic retreat along two private miles of Tarryall Creek that beckons the city dweller to come do a little fly fishing, hiking or birding, and a whole lot of relaxing. Some of the authentic historical log cabins are a part of the original Denny homestead of 1870, and others were moved here from the old Tarryall town site. All are charmingly decorated in western motif, cozy and comfortable. And if the stories are to be believed, one is even haunted! Jim tells me that many of their guests first came here as children, and now return with their own kids. I believe it. This is the sort of place that gets in your bones.

Construction of the Tarryall Reservoir and the buildings that housed the workers was begun in 1929. Today the reservoir is a popular spot for fishing, (rainbow and pike), boating and primitive camping. On approximately 180 acres, small as reservoirs go, it is big on scenic beauty. Nestled amid rolling rocky hills, the reservoir offers year round recreation and is a favorite for ice fishing. Park County Road 77 continues on from the reservoir as the Upper Tarryall Road and intersects Highway 285 at the town of Jefferson.

A tour along the Tarryall Road is beautiful any time of the year, and judging from the historical photos I’ve seen, it has changed little since those first settlers called this home. If you’d like to learn more about the people and ranches of Tarryall, pick up a copy of The Tarryall Mountains and the Puma Hills by Midge Harbour, a long time Tarryall resident.

Debi Boucher, freelance writer and photographer based in Colorado Springs.

Rainbow Falls - AKA Graffiti Falls

Rainbow Falls flows under a historic bridge built in the 1930's connecting Manitou Springs to Highway 24 on the old Ute Indian Trail. In the 1800's, the beautiful 25 foot falls was a tour and picnic destination for visitors to Manitou Springs, and those traveling Ute Pass. 

But, for the past many years, Rainbow Falls has been a destination for graffiti mongers, and the once pristine area was littered with trash, drug paraphernalia, and empty spray paint cans.

A grass roots effort began in Manitou in 2005 to do something about the issue.  The privately owned property was donated to the county in 2009, and in April 2011, El Paso County approved funding of 350-600,000 thousand dollars in lottery proceeds to return the area to it's former splendor, and recreate a place for families to come with their children to picnic and enjoy the beauty of the falls.

I had heard of "Graffiti Falls", but hadn't been there until now. I was overwhelmed and saddened by what I saw.
 
I don't think this was intention of the name 'Rainbow Falls'.

The graffiti continues down the creek and along the rock walls all the way to the parking lot.

Our task is to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature.

- Albert Einstein

Sandhill Crane Migration - Monte Vista Colorado

In late February every year, some 20 - 25,000 sandhill cranes migrate to the small farming town of Monte Vista in Colorado's San Luis Valley.  I was at the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge before dawn  hoping for some great shots of the cranes as they began their day. It was worth getting up early and braving the 25 degree morning to be there.

Sandhill cranes are big birds. They have a 6 foot wingspan, are about 4 feet tall, and live to be around 20 years old in the wild. These birds mate for life, and it's really entertaining to watch the males' mating dance as they try to attract the females. When they leave the San Luis Valley, they will head to their breeding grounds in Idaho.

Fossil evidence shows that they have been making this migration for millions of years.

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the
"lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and
dispositions of man.  I find the result humiliating to me.  ~Mark Twain,
Letters from the Earth, 1907

Red-Tailed Hawk

The red-tailed hawk, of the sub-species Buteo, is the most common hawk in North America, and ranges as far as north as northern Canada, and as far south as Panama. They can be found in nearly all habitiats, including the prairies, forests, deserts and even rain forests.

They mate for life, and nest in the same area every year, typically in March through May. When their chicks are hatched, the male hunts for his family, feeding both the chicks and his mate, as she tends to the little ones. The chicks will be ready to be on their own after about 45 days, and will not breed until they are 3 years old.

A red-tailed hawk can grow to as much as 25 inches high,  have a wingspan of as much as 52 inches, and weigh between 2-4 pounds. The female is larger than the male, and their eyesight is 8 times the eyesight of a human's. Now you know where the phrase "hawk eye" comes from!

This photograph was taken in Palmer Park, in Colorado Springs.

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants
happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do
other creatures.    -  The Dalai Lama

"13 Bankers" - Required Reading for Americans

Well, it should be. Period.

Thomas Jefferson fought hard against a financial system that would put too much power into the hands of bankers in America. He feared the possibility of a financial oligarchy - an institution with enough wealth to control the government. Quoting Jefferson: "I sincerely believe, with you, that banking insitutions are more dangerous than standing armies."

"13 Bankers - The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown" by Simon Johnson and James Kwak, is a well written, and easy to understand book that gives us a history of the banking system in America, how it has elvolved, and how six banks in this country have come to have assets amounting to more than 60 percent of our gross domestic product. And what that ultimately means to you and I.

Have you lost a home? Lost a job? Had your wages and/or hours reduced? Are you struggling in your industry, whether it's real estate or any other industry? Know someone who has/is? (of course you do!) Wondering how we got into this mess? And what the heck is a 'mortgage backed security', anyway? Then this book is a must read.

How is that Wall Street continues to enjoy record profits as the rest of the country, citizens and corporations alike, struggle to stay afloat?

Do any of these phrases sound familiar to you?

"What's good for the financial industry, is good for America" "Every American should own their own home"

Or how about this one: "Too big to fail"?
 
Literally every financial crisis this country has endured since it's inception, (i.e. 1907, the Great Depression, S&L disaster of the 1980's), has been the result of financial deregulation. And it is NOT a partisan issue.

I'm no financial whiz, so I found this book both shocking and compelling. I think you will too, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

You can buy it here for less than 10 dollars: Amazon

If you've read it, I'd love to hear from you - feel free to share your thoughts.

'Soft' Water Photography

In order to capture the 'soft' water effect, you have to slow down your shutter speed. When you do, you allow more light into the sensor, so it is necessary to adjust your aperture as well, or you will have a seriously blown out photograph.

Here are some tips to capturing this effect.

Use a tripod if at all possible. Slower shutter speeds require a stable camera.

Put your camera in manual mode, decrease your shutter speed just enough to get the effect, and adjust the aperture until you get the light right.

Remember with aperture, the lowest number lets the most light in (i.e. f4), and with the highest number (i.e. f22), less light reaches the sensor. (Just remember, it's the opposite of what you think makes sense!)

The first two shots were taken at 1/20th of a second, and with the aperture set at f22 on a cloudy day.

This shot was taken at 1/10 of a second, and the aperture was set at f32.