Dawn glow
We go to Taos in northern New Mexico for Day 8 of the Travel Photo Challenge. In August 2009, Laurie and I attempted to hike to Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico at 13,167 ft (4,013 m). We got up to around 12,500 feet and turned around because the weather was becoming cold and stormy. We still had a wonderful time with beautiful scenery.
The photographer of the day is picpholio nature photography at https://picpholio.wordpress.com/. picholio combines photography with his love for nature, walking and cycling. He mainly shoots in Belgium and the surrounding countries and does especially great macro photography.
Jupiter with moons and Saturn getting ever farther apart. December 28, 2020.
Canadian Geese echelon flying over the Rio Grande with the Sandias in the clouds.
On the way to Wheeler Peak, 13,167 ft (4,013 m)
Off Center & Not Even 
Great pictures Tim. Dispels the notion that New Mexico is only a desert state. Now if only we could convince people that NM is one of the 50!
One thing at a time. Thanks, Tim.
Fabulous collection, Tim. Your photos remind me of this thought:
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more”
Lord Byron
Thanks, Rebecca. Nice quote.
A beautiful selection from around home, and travel, Tim. That is some fantastic country!
Thanks, Lavinia. It’s probably not too terribly different from your surrounds, other than the altitude.
These remind me more of the Crater Lake area, about 4/12 hrs south of here. The trees up here in this area tend to be more dripping with lichens and moss.
Mossy trees. Interesting.
I’ll take some photos of mossy trees. In Albany, there is one particular one, a giant Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) on the front lawn of the courthouse, that sports moss, lichens and ferns growing up in the tree. Some of these big old trees sport whole communities.
Glad you and Laurie recognized weather for what it was becoming. Up here, we have too many instances, especially during the summer, when hikers don’t read the weather and they end up in a bad situation. They think it’s a summer – June, July, August, and very hot in the lowlands – but be caught in a flash blizzard with lightning. Worst yet, these kind of hikers are local to the area.
Being a native, I’m very aware of how quickly the weather changes. There’s a point you know it’s time to turn around. Thanks, David.
The weather can change quickly in the mountains. I also experienced it several times in the Alps. Thanks for putting my blog in the spotlight, I would never have expected this. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
You are welcome. High altitude can go from sunny to freezing in an instant. I’ve experienced hot to really cold back to hot again when I’ was caught in thunderstorms with freezing rain and hail on my bicycle in summers during monsoons. I would shiver on the bike from the cold, then it cleared up and became sunny and hot again. Thank you for dropping by.
Wow. No idea you had a hill so high there. Wonderful to see these pics with a very diff landscape and you did real well getting up there to where you did. It is never smart taking risks with weather on mountains.
Thanks, Shey. Taos in part of the Rocky Mountain chain. North in Colorado there are 55 peaks over 4000 meters. Mount Elbert is the highest at 14,440 ft (4401.2 m). The highest peak I’ve been on in Colorado is Pikes Peak at 14,115 ft (4302.31 m). Do you remember John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High”? The Rockies are high.
I do indeed. I know you have many wonderful mountains, peaks and hills over there.
Wow! What glorious photos, Tim. Gorgeous post. I needed to see all this splendid nature. (Especially after waking up to realize the comments were turned off in my pre-launch post. Eye roll.)
My only visit to Taos was a “drive around” day trip to that general area. I loved the unique vibe of the place.
Happy end of the year. Hugs!
Thanks, Teagan. You have some nice mountains near down south.
They are wonderful, yes. I love the old railroad pass with those death-defying dropoffs.
Gorgeous country out there Tim. Thank you for the virtual tour.
Thanks, Holly. You are welcome.
😊
Absolutely gorgeous. And sure makes me want to go there. I am glad, however, that you chose safety over the potential of saying you made it (coz you can try again another time…)
That’s true. Thanks, Dale.
🙂
Thanks for sharing the natural beauties of NM, Tim, what a joy. I enjoyed the close-ups and landscapes, night sky of the current planet action, and of course your beautiful Rio Grande and Sandias. I espec. liked the hail stones/mushroom photos. Beautiful and tranquil gallery, much appreciated.
Thanks, Jet. You need to do some more of you adventures in New Mexico.
You have convinced me of that, thanks Tim.
Amazing and gorgeous photos, I especially like the mushroom photos!
Thanks, Tiffany. The mushrooms are great, We get some fungus down here, but it doesn’t do well in the dryness and heat in the summertime.
Again….I cannot pick a fave…beautiful pictures….but I’ll probably say the purple flower cos I just love bright colours soooooo much🟣🟪🟣
Thanks, Ruelha. We get lots of bright flowers in the summertime.
🌷🌼🌻🌺🌹⚘🌺🌼🌻🌷⚘
I really enjoyed appreciating these, Tim, thanks. Things I will never see with in real life. The fungi were amazing.
It’s always nice to find some fungus among us. Thanks, Inchcock.
Hahaha! Well put, Tim.
I believe I almost missed one of your best posts!!! Even as late, I’m grateful I finally landed here!
Thanks, Marina.
🙏🙂
I miss visiting and exploring mountains. One day, hopefully not too long, we’ll be back to visiting again.
Fortunately, it’s easy for us when we have the time to do it. Thanks, Teri.
Absolutely beautiful scenery Tim .. that dawn glow is stunning 🙂
Thanks, Julie.
southwest US! such a great part of the world!
Lots of varied landscapes and ecosystems to choose, Thanks, Holly.
Wonderful pics. Are those poison mushrooms?
Is the last flower an Iris? The shot is absolutely beautiful!
I would say they are poison mushrooms. I would never eat a mushroom growing around here. I believe it is a wild iris. Thanks, Resa.