nature photography Archives - ETB Travel Photography

Synchronous Fireflies: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

What are Syncrhonous Fireflies?

Synchronous fireflies are a species of lightning bugs that blink synchronously during their mating ritual. There are only a few places in the world to see synchronous fireflies, and one such place are the Jake’s Creek and Little River Trailheads near Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Every year around the third week of May to the third week of June, depending on the temperature and soil moisture, the synchronous fireflies mate for 2-3 weeks. During this period, the males fly around flashing in unison while trying to attract females that remain stationary on the ground. The females return their signal, and the males fly down to mate, sometimes fighting with others.

LOOK INTO THE LIGHT!

Happy Hiking: Kettle Ponds

For the first time since Memorial Day, I finally got to reconnect with Jim, Diana, and Danelle to hike Kettle Ponds. My fellow hiking buddies, along with Zoe the dog, were staying up in Breckenridge Saturday night. Annie and I arose early Sunday morning to meet them in Silverthorne, CO at the trailhead.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Raccoon Trail

On the recommendation of a friend, I visited Golden Gate Canyon State Park to hike Raccoon Trail. After all, there is likely a reason it is named “Golden”. The state park includes several trails and features many golden aspen trees.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Sheep Creek Trail

I had the pleasure to join a handful of ladies on a hike on Sheep Creek Trail this past week. Amazingly, despite having driven the 285 Corridor countless times, I hadn’t heard of this trail or turned off into this National Forest Area outside of Fairplay, Colorado.

HAPPY HIKING

Happy Hiking: Mount Princeton

I recently tackled my fourth fourteener of the summer, or should I say the first of the fall, upon summitting Mount Princeton with my friend Cat and Tanya. We selected Mount Princeton to celebrate Tanya’s final summit in the Sawatch range.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Rosalie to Abyss Trail

The Plan

With our property located near Bailey, I have hiked most of the out-and-back surrounding trails off 285 and Guanella Pass. As a result, I have been trying to mix it up with different combinations on trails. Today, my friends, Tanya and Jimmy, joined me in a point to point which combined a portion of Rosalie Trail with Abyss Trail.

Up until the State of Colorado created the app, COTREX, I wasn’t sure how long the hike would be. Now, however, hikers may use the measurement tool to calculate distances. Admittedly, I still faced some user error, as upon proposing it to my friends, I came up with 8+ miles and 12+ miles. I’m still uncertain of the exact length as our watches indicated a 10 mile hike.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Game Creek Trail

Boy did I hit the gold mine, or should I say the gold colors for fall hiking on Game Creek Trail. What a lucky pick!

I took VANgo on her maiden voyage to Minturn, Colorado. On Thursday, I hiked nine miles to Grouse Lake. I also planned to hike twelve miles on Saturday. As much as I wanted to hike to Booth Lake, 10 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation, it seemed a little daunting for three days of hiking in a row with a bad knee. In addition, it is heavily trafficked with little parking.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Grouse Lake Trail

Every time I pass through Minturn and Vail, I tell myself, next fall I will hike there. Due to previous travel and mistiming my visits, I wasn’t able to take full advantage of the magnificent fall foliage until this past week when I hiked Grouse Lake Trail.

VANgo

Not only did I enjoy amazing fall colors, I took VANgo on her maiden voyage, all be it only as a cargo van for now, not a decked-out camper. VANgo handled the roads nicely and has some get up and go power. It will be interesting to see how she operates when she is filled to the brim! I’m looking forward to the full build which will start in December because camping was a little cold! But I digress.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Chicago Lakes

WOW! I have wanted to hike Chicago Lakes Trail for a while, but I had no idea what I had been missing. The scenery on this 9.6-mile trek is nothing short of spectacular.

The trailhead for Chicago Lakes begins at Echo Lake at the top of Squaw Pass Road. This popular area is is situated next to Mount Evans Road which leads to the summit of one of Colorado’s famous 14ers.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Huron Peak

When the wildflower season is over the fall colors haven’t begun, it is 14er season for me. Warmer weather, less chance for storms, and rewarding summits are just a few reasons why to save 14ers for the end of August and early September.

While I generally avoid hiking 14ers on weekends or holidays, with a surprise, early snowstorm in the forecast, I headed to Buena Vista with my friend Colin to bag my third 14er for the season after getting the hole in my heart closed in January.

I had subconsciously taken a five-year hiatus from the popular peaks due to feeling so rotten after hiking them. Who knew I wasn’t getting enough oxygen? While I can’t say I feel perfect after summiting them now, at least I can function afterwards.

HAPPY HIKING!