For this week's
Skywatch Friday post, here's a little illustration of our weather. Although winter can sometimes be cold here, it's nice living on the downwind side of a major mountain chain. The mountains tend to catch the worst of the weather, leaving us with sunny skies most of the year, and this was obvious on this morning's hike. I started around dawn, and it was cold at my house (21 F or -6 C). But the sun quickly warmed things up - at this altitude, there's heat in the sun year-round.
The most obvious peak to our west (upwind) is Pikes Peak, and it was clear how it was catching the weather this morning. The mountains further west are out of sight but the weather was even worse there. The first photo was taken at the start of my hike, the second near the end, and the weather is visibly deteriorating.
But where I was hiking, just a few miles east (downwind) of the mountain the weather stayed sunny the whole day, without even one cloud overhead.
For a wide variety of skies, mountainous and otherwise, visit the
Skywatch Friday site.
Great photos. Seeing them makes me miss the mountains in Southwest Alberta. Do you often encounter wildlife in your hikes?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, beautiful scenery, seems to be a nice place.. i liked it.
ReplyDeleteUn saludo desde el sur..
Beautiful...when the wind has cleared the air and the sky is bright, I can see Pike's Peak on my way to school. It rarely happens that conditions are perfect, so I love your pictures. Of course, it is only a small bump on the western horizon for me. ♥♫
ReplyDeleteBeautiful skies, but Way Too COLD.
ReplyDeleteSuperb! The glow on the mountains in the first one is almost other worldly! Love the clouds gathering in the second shot and the third looks as though it is still summer! What an incredible variety in such a short time frame. What a fantastic hike it had to be!! So glad you were able to capture the differences! And thanks as always, Al, for sharing your wonderful skies with us! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Gosh it's pictures like this that make me miss Colorado ... Storms over the mountains ... vivid blue down below. sigh. The only thing about this scenario I don't miss too much is the 21 degree morning. Brrrrrrrr.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear about your local weather. What amazing scenery for a morning stroll.
ReplyDeleteI think it's amazing how you casually stated -6C as just "cold!" It's 10C here and we are all screaming everytime the wind blows :-D
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of the mountain!
Hi Al :)
ReplyDeletesuperbe immagini di questa montagna, vista in diversi momenti della giornata.
Mi piace molto soprattutto la foto n. 1
Bye Myriam :))
The pictures of the mountains are beautiful, I especially liked the first one with the orange clouds and mountain.
ReplyDeleteAmazing to me how that happens! Of course, we have no mountains like that here in SeMo! Lucky you was able to have such a beautiful blue sky for hiking where you were
ReplyDeleteI love how you've captured the golden light!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures from the beautiful mountain!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful light in that first photo. I'm glad you let us come along on your hike.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Al...that first shot really caught my heart. Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place it must be, to know one is alive, able to breath and see. Thank you for sharing. Please have a good Friday.
ReplyDeletedaily athens
I just love the mountains, beautiful photos. Happy skywatching!
ReplyDeleteso tranquil, I was just discussing Pike Peak with a friend last evening! Someday I hope to make my way out there to see it.
ReplyDeletePikes Peak is on my "bucket list." Your photos really are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteJoyce M
great scene:)
ReplyDeleteso so beautiful~
ReplyDeleteBeautiful landscapes.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! That wind sometimes rolls down the eastern side of the mountains creating some wicked winds, interesting cloud formations and air traffic delays.
ReplyDeleteSuper captures...What power and beauty in each! :)
ReplyDeleteYou got great captures.
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful photos you can visibly see the mountain. Very neat and clean shot.
ReplyDeleteWell, Al, we were definitely getting some of that weather you photographed! We crossed Vail Pass Wed morning in a winter storm that made driving treacherous. I love those early morning clouds over Pike's Peak!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots - and you have a bit nicer weather then I have! :) Love the last one, great perspective, and what a wonderful color on both mountain and sky!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog, I appreciate it!