July 19, 2021 American Lakes, Colorado

 It was 98 and smoky from the fires to the west of Colorado. We went up to the mountains and hiked. 

We rode the first 2 miles along the Michigan Ditch on Cameron Pass. The ditch takes water from the drainage on the other side into the Poudre river canyon. View of Nokhu Crags from the Michigan ditch. 

The flowers were magnificent. A mix of paintbrush, ragwort, and gentian, bitter cress, and penstamon. Bog orchid, chiming bells and columbines- the Colorado state flower.

Mandy, John and John crossing the stream below American Lakes. John, Mandy and John at lunch in the meadow. 

A perfect S cloud in the sky for Sue. Elephant heads. 

Chiming bells and bitter cress along a stream. American Lakes.

 

Columbines, bistort and senecio below a snow bank. A field of columbines. 

View of the lake from the snowbank. Queens crown, gentian, and marsh marigolds.

Fuchsia paintbrush, senecio, and a field of paintbrush and elephant heads.  A field of parry primrose. 

Paintbrush and senecio.  John walking in the meadow. 

  I am wearing my Mike Wiegele Heli ski t-shirt in memorial for Mike who passed away this week. John, Mandy and John crossing a field of wildflowers. 

Parry primrose, anemone, larkspur, huge mushroom and a bistort. Alpine sunflowers and bitter cress along the creek. 

One of three moose we saw.  John, John and Mandy hiking back into tree line.