![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbur2Ia0S3rdbdaxoNoFvhioqBoAPuv90IW_wR7pCs2OitvpYG1hKsfaOzInGYe67Atth3DPkTdPy9yF-unI4m8tc_OTT7Z97eD8Ec9lsQNJhmPBYCL0Zy_DIm49Gfy0IphGDTV1w9iM/s640/IMG_1304.jpg) |
Morning in the mountains |
On a frigid morning in the mountains, the dark landscape is coated with a thin layer of sparkling ice. Tired and cold, it's difficult to get going on such a dreary, winter dawn.
By late January, the Front Range foothills are quiet and colorless. On this day things are different as a large herd of elk have gathered in the monochrome meadow.
Strung out along the crest of a wide ridge, cows, yearlings and bulls forage together in the ochre grass. Patches of broken snowpack slide into the narrow draw below.
After such an unusual weather event, the pure-white Evergreens look like crystallized Christmas Trees. In the low light, their grey shadows stretch across the watery gulch.
It's a melancholy Monday but the morning march is a therapeutic necessity. It looks like it's going to be another hectic few days, working for the weekend.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAq-1qVXsLa_tuOciU_TDbFFu20-f7btxsQFB7f8tOj5gSf2LLY6bd_ZmKlGDCsBFWRNFXTno-hV78bsI_srb1KBs4GXQiHkvf8z0AxJmIHb3zgsj9w35JkOes5HqK5G5mD7aZ1LJOUA/s400/IMG_1285.jpg) |
A frigid morning |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27K13NMQhs1fhw_nXz7H3hL9NXqWleDFUBQWt3DO2UZfwCdUXq0i2f5M9OrYZn7Ap0csPdQqiEjNMuf9wy2Kp6m4DWjoidhoCTlhJ7-2WY6VmpNEpKplFQB_vdVBibkW0rygDLibFYzY/s400/IMG_1301.jpg) |
The dark landscape is covered with ice |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4gQLAku6nZP_gv21_FsC5kuzMJBoG_GCYggr6Q4ra2bcWzZoRK6XYWKtgmI8e8frE0nP46yqaAYBbotDBMR6T6k7y4weC5ZDUVXWud9FERJ_iYU71v2pcd1giZXfVzLJYmcKSs7axMg/s400/IMG_1297.jpg) |
A dreary, winter dawn |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuedd9bDFCcdfVhY4ud9Ps2iUtxWZXLlShy-h3I44dyeCmOVGlS15uImnzL3RFgbXObdyh8cfT8LSgpnViMB7iN5vDg5YxkjEQnk-YIs-30eqIHX15jq1At6BZS9DhGaA-gGX7HxQpIS8/s400/IMG_1295.jpg) |
The foothills are quiet and colorless |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIMOZnipfcIozPQFQkkyQjvqJcuzre6q0G_HQ5jRODNTaq1AAEnaqKj7VE9ZfMyC366uTGffvZV8yTsE3aiIaqQD8ub-RIjXltioaM2sNh2EgOubvjA2d_ICD7Mj-s7ry-uhZj_BemiM/s400/IMG_1291.jpg) |
A large herd of elk |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-jMmnrP2N64KTziFwPkEE6-Z_QGDdHMDtnkZxLTHOem3I86-f3DNRN3cJmFrkTesK9qYhdVmwfVXqW8ZdNKlv9OiEG1OuumW2IORlUgc3OkmzfJ5CrIipaUgsC3ST65iNpGItvhCdnY/s400/IMG_1286.jpg) |
A monochrome meadow |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHoUzKJmUugtLk-bainELFJu3t-Qriubgs4-piSd0eFcJAGTFaMBic-PYhmPK8X0nYfdrZsY96YhnaD_fyxZF02x-rhvPhuxnNQ7dTjCTDtVcMdjZvGpGvsdGd8fzxqkMLwQacFFhYz4/s400/IMG_1296.jpg) |
Patches of broken snowpack |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4bLzF_BEqWiRGdoXdhXEjLZy0FG7BIzbaPEF9H2NPvei29xfPVY3DcOBREjClNWwgAG6hrlXerGO9KLz0ByOmmyeW0JAoZOOMZaX7gw68mR57yRgux7q2M-YPp83zRgJ3X0J6iEPY0w/s400/IMG_1299.jpg) |
Crystallized trees |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XldYPrFRvmzmCURJW-Ov6fUpVi4kzLWspDx9wEFirjHFFmx-zF68nLvdvsCByup1bDwZsOjYcv4PNiUdqza3kQgw48KZ7kqn8vzRcrvH9BYI9I8hnZRm9mrbKtLVYH26sjn1x3o2J-E/s400/IMG_1302.jpg) |
A watery gulch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsRgCgT4-rrtD3epu8kkIcTL4Fq_0vcWaLEmZj7pUiXBHtnsaSyZFDiiamAnUFTomXnleS7z9b_y-uP8niTi7URbx-3N-tc4K3UFQQAbrYwqPAQCAGulvGlNIL7S1PETHChFtLTHA-6I/s400/IMG_1300.jpg) |
A melancholy Monday |
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