November 21: Day one in Greeley, Colorado . . .
Read MoreHere I was in Greeley, Colorado enjoying my Thanksgiving week off and starting day one by watching the trains pass by. Dr. Heather, however, still had to "Adult" this morning and give her students an exam. This meant I had some free time to explore the area on my own. I decided to head toward Loveland, Colorado this morning and find a place to take some pictures of the Rocky Mountains.
US Route 34 is one of the main thoroughfares connecting Greeley and Loveland. The area in between the two cities is marginally crowded, filled with housing developments and shopping malls. The good news is that wide open space is a short distance away via one of the many secondary roads that connect with Route 34. I turned left onto County Road 17 heading south and saw nothing but a farmer's field off to my left (looking east).
I wanted to get closer to the mountains, and started looking for a left turn to take me west and came across something familiar. Johnstown, Pennsylvania near my hometown is located in the mountains in Cambria County. History buffs may recognize the city as the namesake of the Johnstown Flood from 1889. Nowadays, the city is known more for its economic woes. Johnstown, Colorado looks to be a bit smaller and a little less active. I immediately sent a "Look where I am" photo to my brother.
I didn't have to worry about traffic on an unpaved County Road. So I pulled over and started shooting. I tried to label everything as best as I could. But as much as I like to be sure I get everything right, all I can do here is look at a topographic map and give it my best guess. I think the prominent peak on the left is Sheep Mountain (8,450 ft). The snow capped peaks directly behind it may be Mummy Mountain (13,425 ft), and Hagues Peak (13,560 ft).
Panning slightly to the right from the previous photo, my best guess (L - R): Sheep Mountain (foreground with the green trees 8,450 ft), Mummy Mountain (behind Sheep Mtn 13,425 ft), Hagues Peak (13,560 ft), Rowe Peak (covered by clouds 13,420 ft), Gibraltar Mountain (13,300 ft), Mount Dunraven (12,571 ft), the very edge of Mount Dundicking (12,312 ft). West Creek flows in the valley between Mummy and Dunraven Mountains.
The pointed peaks on the far left foreground may be Palisade Mountain (8,264 ft), and Alexander Mountain (7,105 ft). The snow capped peaks in the background in the center are possibly Stormy Peaks East (12,020 ft), and Stormy Peaks West (12,148 ft). The prominent pointed peaks just right of center are possibly Storm Mountain (9,918 ft), and Lookout Mountain (10,626 ft).
I zoomed in on the left side of the previous photo to get a perspective shot. I think the snow capped peaks in the background on the left side of the photo below are the previously mentioned Stormy Peaks East (12,020 ft), and Stormy Peaks West (12,148 ft). The pointed peak on the right is possibly Storm Mountain (9,918 ft). The camera can't do justice to the scale of what I'm seeing. Those tiny looking evergreen trees seen off in the distance on the side of the mountains are probably 25 - 50 feet tall !