Impression Evergreen

Gore Mountain Range If one studies a map of central Colorado, you’ll discover an assortment of topographic features that share a common nomenclature. The different landmarks are called Gore Wilderness Area, Gore Creek, Gore Canyon, Gore Pass and the spectacular Gore Mountain Range. I’ve always thought that was a cool title for a chain of craggy peaks because it evokes rugged imagery that makes me think of a shaggy buffalo bull or a pair of rutting elk. Losing yourself in those remote mountains has a therapeutic value that can restore your health but if you learn the true story behind the naming of that range - it will make you sick. During the first half of the 19th century, the northern plains were an isolated region inhabited by Native Americans but encroached upon by a few white mountain men and fur traders. And then in 1854, in a tragic preview of things to come, a wealthy European began tramping across what is now Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas, wreaking absol...

Courthouse and Jail Rocks - Watercolor It's a breezy, spring day in Western Nebraska. Courthouse and Jail Rocks tower above the open prairie. A row of stately cottonwoods traces the winding course of Pumpkin Creek while a field of fresh hay slices through rugged pastureland. The fiery foreground is accented by glittering, silver sagebrush. The cloudless sky is a deep blue as the unusual formation appears golden in the evening light and dark shadows define the bold geography. The steep south face is terraced like a Sumerian ziggurat and descends into a labyrinth of mysterious corridors, caves, tunnels and rattlesnake pits. Composed of Brule clay, Gering sandstone and ash, the rocks are erosional remnants of an ancient plateau formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Later, they became an unforgettable natural landmark that guided emigrants during the 19th century's Westward Expansion. Back then, just passing near the monument offered hope to weary pioneers ...

"Elk Ridge Twilight" Colored Pencil It’s early summer in Evergreen and a collection of evening clouds drifts quietly over a broad ridge. The steep-sloping meadow, renowned for its high concentration of Rocky Mountain elk, is a haven for all wildlife. The field of lush grasses undulates towards a forest silhouette and the blue mountains beyond. The shadowy hillside is splintered with streaks of pure color that flood the foreground and fleck highlights onto the dark brush. This drawing is mostly about the setting sun’s fading light as it explodes through a temporary breach in the cloud-covered sky. The rays spread across the landscape resulting in an arresting impression that seems surreal. Described by fleeting effects, the tranquil setting instills the admirer with awe. It’s an artist’s statement exclaiming there’s nothing more spectacular in the state of Colorado than twilight on Elk Ridge.

Mount Vernon townsite Just south of where Interstate 70 curves west and begins its climb up into the Rockies, Matthews/Winters Park preserves a splendid plateau and a fascinating past. It’s a unique location because it’s the exact point where the high plains meets the mountains. The place was first settled in 1859 by an entrepreneurial clergyman named Joseph Casto who hoped to make a profit from the burgeoning gold rush. Second to arrive was a lawyer from Nebraska named Robert Williamson Steele who called the area Mount Vernon after George Washington’s estate in Virginia. Casto platted the hillside and encouraged development of the small village that became known as Mount Vernon Towne. Casto also started the Denver, Auraria, and Colorado Wagon Road Company, which built a toll road from Denver through Mount Vernon and up the canyon to the gold fields at what is now Central City and Blackhawk. Almost overnight Mount Vernon was transformed into a thriving transportation hub as ...