Day 189 - March 12, 2010 The Mountain Pine Beetle and The Death of the Forest

Mushrooms of the shady forest floor give way to wildflowers offered by new sun. Song birds fly a desperate search for their nesting sites. Squirrels hunger for pine nuts that no longer produce. Hummingbird clouds that once circled feeders, replaced by an occasion buzz. I am observing an ecosystem evolve as a forest dies.
On September 9th I wrote about the pine beetle infestation that is devastating the lodge pole pine forests of the Rocky Mountains and at that time I said that I would not mention it again in the blog. A recent photo excursion into the Rocky Mountain National Park has caused me to rescind that promise and while I will not post these photos on my web site, I will post a stunning one here. I am not a journalist nor do I have a political stand on this issue, but as a photographer it is impossible to ignore and impossible not to chronicle this stunning natural phenomenon that will change the Rocky Mountain landscape for a hundred years to come.

Rocky Mountain National Park February 2010

Research tells me that for every “expert” who claims this devastation is the result of global climate change, there is another “expert” who claims this is the natural cycle of life in the forest. While it is pretty clear that climate change is real, it is not clear to me that the pine beetle infestation is in fact caused or exacerbated by climate change.

We grieve for the death of the forest.

Day 155 -- February 6, 2010 –Ghostly Phantoms of the Ute Indians

Curiosity and the Grand Lake Library continue to enrich my connection to the colorful history and harsh climate of my environment. On November 8, I wrote “The Story of Spirit Lake”, so named by the tragic loss if Ute Indian life in the midst of raging summer storm and a brutal battle with the Cheyenne. Each historian reports a slightly different version of the event, but all agree that one day in the summer of 1833, the women and children of the Ute tribe drown in the middle of the lake while seeking safety from the Cheyenne attack. From this tragic loss the name “Sprit Lake” was born. Michael Geary, in his book A Quick History of Grand Lake, describes it this way: “legend has it that the ghostly phantoms of the dearly departed can be seen in the spectral mists that often rise above the lake on summer mornings.” I unknowingly observed the Ghostly Phantoms of the Ute Indians the day after Thanksgiving 2009 and I share them with you today.

Day 148 - Januray 30, 2010 - Joe's Cabin

I am alone this cold day in the park, with only my camera and a desire to know a man named Joe. Carefully placed ledge stones form the crude foundation of the cabin but must have been skillfully placed to remain undisturbed for more than 100 years. I wonder at the massive notched logs that make up the cabin walls. How did Joe, alone in this harsh climate, cut the trees, notch them perfectly to size and them lift them into the place where they remain today? He must have employed the help of livestock with whom he shared survival instincts. I envision them, working together, man and beast creating a shelter against the harsh climate. Why here, Joe? Was it the isolation you sought? Was is just the majestic nature of this high country that drew you in? And oh, by the way, I don’t question why you departed, but I do wonder, “where did you go”?

For centuries, native people roamed the Kawaneechee Valley, hunting and gathering plants. However, homesteaders, miners and trappers were the first documented inhabitants of the Kawaneechee Valley. In 1902, Joesph Fleshuts built this cabin and homesteaded 160 acres here. One can only imagine the isolation, the cold and the hunger that dominated the long day of winter. In 1911 Joe abandoned his cabin and was never heard from again. His rustic one room log home remains one of the oldest structures standing in the valley today, to this day known as “Joe’s Cabin”.

Day 126 - January 8, 2010 – Cold

The early morning sun’s light illuminates a sparkling swirl outside my window as humidity reveals itself in the form of floating ice crystals at -23°F.

Day 118 – December 31, 2009 – Fireworks, a Blue Moon and a Snow Globe Surprise

It is exactly 13° and the Blue Moon is directly overhead as we stand on a frozen beach listening to 2009 draw to a close 8-7-6-5-4-3-2– Champagne corks popping all around as the first balls of fire shoot skyward from the back of a snowmobile racing across the ice. I suspect the allure of fireworks wanes proportionately with the falling temperature as a typically small crowd gathers for this rather intimate small town celebration. For 30 minutes in the freezing cold, neighbors and friends huddle together and stare directly overhead to view fireworks bursting in the glow of the blue moon with ashes drifting onto their heads and into their cups of champagne. Thin clouds begin to obscure the blue moon and the ashes hitting my cheeks have turned cool – ah, now the air is swirling with a mix of bursting fire, falling ash and wisps of snow and I know what it feels like inside a snow globe.

This is the most exhilarating way I know to bring in a new year, warmed by the spirit of neighbors and friends, touched by nature, champagne chilled in a bank of snow. Wishing you a 2010 of joy and fulfillment – Make it so!

Day 105 - December 18 - About Betty Dick; The Little Old Lady and the Act of Congress

When the Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915, there were landowners living within the new park boundary. Over time, the Park began to acquire the privately held land and most of these agreements included “life estates”, which meant the owners were compensated for their property but they were allowed to maintain their residences for the remainder of their lives at which time the land became the property of the National Park.


One such family was Fred and Betty Dick who owned the property that was previously named “The Little Buckaroo Ranch” which they occupied as a summer home. They delighted in the property and used the now famous barn to house their horses. In 1965, Fred and Betty were approached by park officials about selling their property. Fred and Betty Dick reached agreement with the department of the interior on August 7, 1980 and although they sought a “life estate” on the property they accepted a 25 year agreement in return for a onetime payment. The agreement would expire on July 16, 2005. Fred passed away in November 1992 following which Betty continued to return to the property every summer and became an active member of the Grand Lake community.

As 2005 and the expiration of her agreement with the park approached, Betty, now 83, was still enjoying the property each summer and approached the park to extend her agreement. Popular among locals, a groundswell of support developed in support of Betty’s request, spreading from the local newspaper to eventually national print and TV coverage. Local politicians took up Betty’s cause and Bills were introduced in both the House and Senate. (I feel compelled to state my concern that a matter as simple as letting an 83 year old woman continue to use her summer home for a few more years required an act of Congress as I am forever optimistic that our Congressional representatives have more important matters to attend to. One would think that a park official might be empowered to say, “sure Betty, no problem, request granted.) But the saga continued and on April 14, 2005, an 83 year old Betty Dick traveled to Washington and testified before the House Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks in Washington DC, stating the case to remain in her home for the remainder of her life.

On May 14, 2006 the 109th United States congress passed the “Betty Dick Residence Protection Act” permitting the continued occupancy and use of the certain land and improvements within Rocky Mountain National Park by Betty Dick for the remainder of her natural life. Six months later on November 14, 2006 Betty Dick died of ovarian cancer. Betty did not return to her summer home in 2006 due to her illness, but she knew that she could have done so by an act of Congress.

Rest in peace, Betty and thank you for standing up for what is right.

Reflections on Betty's Barn -- the Little Buckaroo Ranch Barn.  See more photos of this historic barn at http://www.janel-seymour-photography.com/

Day 85 – November 28, 2009 – The Snow Gauge

I am always curious about the snow depths which vary wildly from winter to winter. Two years ago snow drifted to the bottom on our stop sign yet this year it seems to be only a dusting to date. To quell my curiosity and enable me to report the changing seasons here, I created two snow gauges, made from yardsticks with each foot painted a primary color so they can be read easily from the window. The first foot is blue and to date none of the blue inches have been obscured. Last year at this time I recall about 2 feet on the ground as we awkwardly tested our new snow shoes, but this year with only an inch or so the snowshoes still cling to their hooks on the garage wall. I will report again as the winter snows fall.