The Natural West

A timeless summer afternoon in Wyoming's Shirley Basin

Toulouse Geese have made a home where the hot springs flow in to the Big Horn River at Thermopolis, Wyoming. Surrounded by ice and snow they bask in the warmth from the natural hot springs.

This place is only 17 miles west of the Las Vegas strip.

Sunset on the Grand Mesa

Sunset on Glendo Resevoir, WY

Take at the Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix AZ

The weathered old cabins make for a stark and dramatic contrast with the fall foliage,

Water droplets collecting on Aspen leaves after a fall storm in Telluride, CO

One of the many old cabins from the ghost town of St. Elmo, Colorado

An afternoon in Sand Dunes Nat. Park. Unforgettable light.

This was along the road near Horse Ranch Park west of Kebler Pass. The light filtered through the fall aspen leaves on the now yellow ferns was captivating.

A quarter mile outside of Stanley Idaho, on a sunny February afternoon, the local elk herd takes a break. Not bothered by the proximity of the town or the road, they pose for the occasional photo in their high meadow paradise.

Carson Pass, California

Lone bison after a winter snowfall in Yellowstone National Park

At this point, the East River is but a mountain stream and presents an interesting contrast with the fall foliage, rocks, and the clouds in a blue sky.

The Big Island of Hawaii in 2008 as she is expanding herself!

The wave is a compressed sandstone formation in the vermillion cliffs wilderness. Northern Arizona.

A pair of Hoary Marmots dance with joy in the summer wildflowers of Mt. Rainier National Park.

While photographing in the Crested Butte cemetery, my eye was drawn to this fox. She was quite aware of my presence and continued hunting the entire time I was working.

The sun reflects in oddly named "Black Pool", in Yellowstone National park.

Preamble to a peaceful night in the tent.

This bob cat waited for 3-4 hours for a hare to stir in the doorway of its hole. she was joined by her adult cub who shared the stake out and stole the prey. I photographed and filmed the entire successful hunt and you can see it here- or HCN can link to it if you prefer. http://www.vimeo.com/9265181

The North Star stands in the center of this photograph while all other stars seem to swirl about it. At over 10,000 feet in elevation, Cedar Breaks is one of the greatest locations to view stars in the west.

The full "Wolf" Moon rising above the snow covered California Sierra Nevada Mountains is always awesome, but the addition of the simultaneous brilliant red sunset than was reflecting off the snow, rocks, and trees was a bonus. The photo was taken on Hwy 88's Bear River Scenic Overlook in Amador County, California. Moon rise was just south of Lake Tahoe from this vantage point. What a view it was!

Lowland old growth forest (Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar) along the Staircase Rapids Trail, Olympic National Park.

Even thou its the rugged of the lava, the massive roar an clash of the Maui ocean there is still a Calmness at this spot!

This photo was taken at first light at Moraine Lake, Banff National Park Canada.

The last of the larches before you cross the tree line and into the pure granite bowls of the Enchantments in the Washington Cascades.

Sunset in the Chiricahua Mountains.

Weathered tree on the north rim of the Black Canyon above the Gunnison River in Colorado.

A mature bull moose browses at sunset near the Teton Range in winter.

A lone prairie sunflower stands tall in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

This red mushroom was about the size of a U.S. quarter and had emerged from some very soggy ground. The cloverleaf-like plant adjacent and behind the mushroom is marsh cinquefoil, a rare plant in the Southern Rocky Mountains. The site was an uncommon fen (peatland) located on the western slope of the Indian Peaks, Colorado.

View from the north rim of the Black Canyon looking west and down to the Gunnison River.

Young Mustang Stallions engage in "practice" battles.....near Steens Mountain, Oregon

North Face of the Grand Teton. Photo taken just after a thunderstorm from the shoulder of Mt. Moran on our attempt to climb the peak via the CMC route.

Weanlings, Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Montana, 8/2009

A tarn on the continental divide at Independence Pass at sunset. Storm on eastern slope.

In the Northern Rocky Mountains and Eastern Cascades, the western larch (a deciduous conifer tree) provides us with beautiful autumn displays. This was taken in the Selkirk Mountains in northeastern Washington.

The annual Pinedale Classic Sled Dog Race is the howl of the town.

Lowest place in North America (-282 ft) after unusually heavy spring rains flood the valley floor.

Pollock Bench trail, McInnis Canyons NCA, Grand Junction, CO

Aspens beneath the peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Layers of ancient sedimentary rock, stunted forest of subalpine fir, and magnificent snowcapped peaks give one something to reflect on at Glacier National Park.