Although I walked every day I was in Colorado, we only went on one hike in the mountains. After a little over a week at these high altitudes, grandpa was able to keep up with the main group, perhaps because the grandkids were more enthusiastic about climbing rocks
then following the trail. Gramps, however, meandered up the trail using pictures of birds, flowers and butterflies as an excuse to catch his breath.
I heard a lot of birds, but I only managed to get a shot of this chickadee. I’m sure it’s not the Black-Capped Chickadee I’m used to seeing in Washington, but I’m not positive it’s the Carolina Chickadee that it looks like.
Luckily, when I don’t see birds I’m perfectly satisfied to focus on butterflies,
or flowers, even flowers I’ve seen hundreds of times like this brilliant Indian Paintbrush, the first I’ve seen this year.
Even better if the flowers are simple ones I don’t recognize.
This hike, though, featured purple and white Columbines,
quite unlike the red and yellow Columbines I’m used to seeing in the Cascades.
Beautiful butterfly pic and columbines!