Last week I woke up early to drive about 35 minutes to a spot I have been wanting to get to for first light. The most photographed mountain in the area, Mount Sneffels is our local ‘Fourteener’ at 14,157 feet. It’s peak can be seen from many vantage points and seasonal light changes make spring one of the best times to capture both early morning and late day light on its craggy and impressive peak. A big puddle added a reflection and that ‘something extra’ to the scene. A tree set off by itself got my attention as it provided a nice foreground element for what was happening in the distance. With fair weather and feeling pretty good about the morning I decided to go out again in the afternoon. I drove about 45 minutes to Montrose and an area the locals refer to as the ‘Adobes’ or ‘Dobies’ (short for Adobe Hills, Adobe Badlands or Dobie Badlands). Within the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Area, this is a popular spot for ATV and dirt bike riders with plentiful roads and trails. Attracted to the hills and formations I enjoyed the contrast between this area and my morning location. The day emphasized the diversity of terrain my home has to offer, for which I am most grateful. I am looking forward to revisiting both of these close-by locations in the near future.
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Denise Bush's Photo Blog 
Beautiful as always Denise! Sneffels Reflected and Near and Far are my favs!
Thanks for checking in Deb! I will take you to both of these spots when you come out.
Lovely images, Denise!
Thanks for the visit and comment Angie! I am looking forward to our next outing!
Love it, Denise. That first shot is a real beauty. Would love to see it one day!
Thanks for your visit and comment Emilio! Where do you live?
I live in North Las Vegas, which is about 25 minutes from all the hotels and casinos on the strip. But really, out here it’s just like any other suburban area in any city. Except, in the summer it can get as high as 120. In the shade!
D, that first image is fantastic (first word that popped into my head when I saw it.) Then I came to the cloud caught on the mountain top and being dragged out in Morning Moon. Looks as though it’s trying to form a landing platform for the descending moon. Wonderful.
Thank you for your ‘fantastic’ and ‘wonderful’ comment. I was happy with the more intimate ‘Morning Moon’ shot… it’s the kind of thing I need to do more of.
All beautiful images, Denise. The top is my favorite. The moon in the second photo provides perfect visual balance in that image.
Thanks Ken! I am always looking for trees on hills and had scoped out the position of that tree on a previous visit. It worked out well on this visit.
I always like to identify my favorite but this time I have failed. They are all breathtaking. With each image, I feel like I am actually standing where you were standing. I am hungry for more!
Thanks very much Season. More will be coming… unless I drive off a cliff or something!
Absolutely beautiful the mountains, Denise. The first photo is my favorite.
Thank you Isabel! The mountains here never cease to amaze me!
Beautiful as always. Morning moon is absolutely stunning. You have everything right where it needs to be.
Thank you Rich… that is my favorite and an endorsement from you is much appreciated!
Makes me wish I was there…
Thank you Robert… and that is saying something… there isn’t even an abandoned building in sight! (Will catch up on your blog soon.)
Well, you know I am partial to all things Western 🙂
I did find some abandoned cabins last week. MIGHT be my next post.
Gorgeous landscapes, Denise – I’m envious! ‘Near and Far’ has such wonderful textures.
Thanks Eliza but you should not be envious with your impressive portfolio and New England landscapes. I am looking forward to exploring the ‘Adobes’ some more!
Great shots as usual Denise. My favorites are the Morning shots. Love the contrasting colors and sharpness
So nice to hear from you Joe! I’m glad you like the morning shots… it was a nice experience!
Envious, although I know I shouldn’t be!
Hey Michael… I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side! If it makes you feel any better, there are photo obstacles here just like anywhere else! Places can be tough to get to, there are a lot of fences and now ranchers are putting white PVC irrigation pipes everywhere! Yuck!
Love the textures in “Near and Far”. Just beautiful!
Thanks Scott… always nice to hear from you! I am really interested in exploring that area further.
Great images, Denise. Especially the first two; very well done.
Hi Robin! Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment!
Magnificent, Denise. The first Sneffels reflection is so crisp and I love the foreground in your last image. I want to call them alluvial fans but that’s most likely not the name… 🙂 Beautiful work!
Thanks Jane! An endorsement from an awesome photog and blogger such as yourself is much appreciated! (Perhaps you are thinking of ‘arroyo’ a steep-sided gully cut by running water in an arid or semiarid region.)
You are sweet, Denise. Thanks. And yes, that’s it! It takes a village. 🙂
Each image is a winner, but Sneffles Reflection stole my heart!
Thanks Linda. Sneffels is the pride and joy of this area!
These are beautiful, detail, light and compositions, the first being my favorite, just love reflections 😉
Ron
Thanks very much Ron! I appreciate the visit and kind comment!
Beautiful images.
Thank you Craig! I am excited to explore the adobes more… It is so close to home! Off to Moab today!
Wow, well worth the drive. The first is my favourite, gorgeous reflection.
Thanks Beth! I am happy that these locations are both relatively close-by.