It was a perfect day to get out and go snowshoeing in a beautiful Rocky Mountain blizzard. It had snowed several inches the night before but the storm had subsided a bit and the plows had time to clear the streets and the highway to the trailhead.
The view of the Sangre de Cristo Range in the distance was magnificent, and I was hoping a little more clearing of the clouds would make the view from the summit of Grouse Mountain even a little better.
I strapped on my MSR snowshoes and headed up the hill into the wilderness. I love my MSR’s with the ratchet binding. I just slip my foot into the binding, and crank down the ratchet a few times and I’m ready to go. My boot stay secure and the binding never loosens. Just be sure not to go too far and tighten them so much that you cut off circulation in your feet!
It didn’t take very long for me to realize however, that the storm was not yet over with. Clouds were already rolling in from the Arkansas River Valley and I knew it wouldn’t be long before flakes were flying again.
A quick look behind me revealed my tracks in the fresh snow as new and blowing snow had already begun to fill them in.
Soon I found myself striding through a new blizzard. Snow was falling heavily and the wind was piling up new snowdrifts. Myself, I was in heaven as I enjoyed the solitude of my favorite hiking trail. The crowds of summer are gone, and I knew I would be the only one braving the weather on this day.
In fact that’s something to consider. If in fact you decide to make snowshoeing your passion, there’s a good possibility you will be spending a lot of time alone! You won’t find a lot of people who think trudging through knee deep snow on mountain trails in the winter is a good idea. These still pictures are nice, but you can experience the full effect of the trek by watching the Youtube Video I created along the way!
My Recent Book Storm Warning
However, if you or someone in your family does decide to take up the sport, be sure to get a copy of my book Storm Warning. This book will teach you all you need to know to get awesome pictures of the mountain back country in the winter. It is filled with dozens of beautiful pictures of the mountains in winter, the trails, and wildlife you might find along the way! You will learn where to go, what to bring along, and how to survive the harsh Rocky Mountain Winter.
Steven W. Krull is a renowned photographer and author who has been photographing and writing of the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for over two decades. Please visit his website at S.W. Krull Imaging to view his work, including thousands of prints for sale, stock images for commercial use, and his library of published books.
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Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 