Three things that I didn’t know that I didn’t know
One of God’s creations that has avoided my lens, or should I say may ability to properly focus my lens, has been the Bull Elk. On at least four separate occasions I have had the opportunity to photograph these lads in the wild, and for some very irritating reason, highway and pasture fencing was involved that kept me at great distances and allowed atmospherics to hamper that crisp clear shot I so desire.
An October 21st to the 28th trip to Colorado was approved by my personal banker and keeper of the funds (Jojo) to rectify this gap in my ever-growing critter repertoire.
Many hours of research placed us in Grand Lake Colorado, a beautiful little gateway town to the Rocky Mountains National Park. My research indicated that elk would surely be everywhere…this is where the first thing that I didn’t know comes into play.
Colorado experienced its largest wildfires in its history some 5 or so years ago. The Rocky Mountains National Park at Grand Lake took a major hit with thousands and thousands of acres still to this day showing a recovery that will not be fulfilled in my lifetime. I was told by locals here are still some elk in this part of Colorado, but they would be sporadic. I was so disappointed that I considered climbing into bed for the rest of our time there. As we kept questioning the local population, the conscious advice was “Go to Estes Park for The Gathering.”
Estes Park was on our list of day/shopping trips for the ladies and I knew that it was famous for the gathering, where thousands of elk descend into the valley as they have done for thousands of years. When man came along and started the ever-expanding town, the elk simply refuse to go elsewhere as it is a matter of surviving winter. There are so many elk there now that the golf courses provide rainchecks when it rains and elk-checks when the elk are all over the golf course. Photographing elk in Estes Park is muck like shooting fish in a barrel and wasn’t what I desired, but was a back-up for sure.
The next thing that I didn’t know that I didn’t know is that the hour and a half drive from Grand Lake to Estes Park was only available certain times of the year. This route took you though the Rocky Mountains National Park along the highest road in the US…with no guardrails! I for one was looking forward to the drive! Unbeknownst to this kid, this option was closed for the winter the day before our arrival…thus making Estes Park a 7+ hour round trip drive and thus, mentally ejected as a possible back-up to get my much desired “wall hanger” elk shot. This road closure also blocked us from seeing more than 90 percent of the park.
The last thing from this trip that I didn’t know was how much I am loved. Without hesitation, our friends and Jojo jumped on the idea of driving to Estes Park and spending the night there. A suggestion that since we already had a cabin paid for in Grand Lake, doubled the lodging costs for that night. They went on to discuss how this plan would provide me an opportunity to photograph elk in both the evening and morning light. My heart immediately did the Grinch growth thing as it was overwhelmed by kindness. Sleeping well that night wasn’t an option!
Arriving in Estes Park around lunchtime, we were all surprised that “The Gathering” that was in progress yielded no elk in sight. The ladies at the visitor center and in many of the shops all said the same, almost robotic response when asked about the elk…” They’re Everywhere,” a phrase that became a joke amongst our tribe as we scoured high and low for these massive creatures.
Just as the sun started to set, what was once a joke to us became a reality as too many to count elk began appearing from a hillside near the high school. With the exception of getting a strand of downed barbed wire rapped around my leg as I tried to change angles and lighting, I was in elk heaven!
This shot, from our evening with the elk would represent everything that I could have prayed for. What I didn’t know was what God had planned for me the next morning!
It’s amazing how one act of compassion, flowing from love by those in our life can wipe away so many little disappointments that previously seemed so large?
Adventure before dementia!
Three things that I didn’t know that I didn’t know
One of God’s creations that has avoided my lens, or should I say may ability to properly focus my lens, has been the Bull Elk. On at least four separate occasions I have had the opportunity to photograph these lads in the wild, and for some very irritating reason, highway and pasture fencing was involved that kept me at great distances and allowed atmospherics to hamper that crisp clear shot I so desire.
An October 21st to the 28th trip to Colorado was approved by my personal banker and keeper of the funds (Jojo) to rectify this gap in my ever-growing critter repertoire.
Many hours of research placed us in Grand Lake Colorado, a beautiful little gateway town to the Rocky Mountains National Park. My research indicated that elk would surely be everywhere…this is where the first thing that I didn’t know comes into play.
Colorado experienced its largest wildfires in its history some 5 or so years ago. The Rocky Mountains National Park at Grand Lake took a major hit with thousands and thousands of acres still to this day showing a recovery that will not be fulfilled in my lifetime. I was told by locals here are still some elk in this part of Colorado, but they would be sporadic. I was so disappointed that I considered climbing into bed for the rest of our time there. As we kept questioning the local population, the conscious advice was “Go to Estes Park for The Gathering.”
Estes Park was on our list of day/shopping trips for the ladies and I knew that it was famous for the gathering, where thousands of elk descend into the valley as they have done for thousands of years. When man came along and started the ever-expanding town, the elk simply refuse to go elsewhere as it is a matter of surviving winter. There are so many elk there now that the golf courses provide rainchecks when it rains and elk-checks when the elk are all over the golf course. Photographing elk in Estes Park is muck like shooting fish in a barrel and wasn’t what I desired, but was a back-up for sure.
The next thing that I didn’t know that I didn’t know is that the hour and a half drive from Grand Lake to Estes Park was only available certain times of the year. This route took you though the Rocky Mountains National Park along the highest road in the US…with no guardrails! I for one was looking forward to the drive! Unbeknownst to this kid, this option was closed for the winter the day before our arrival…thus making Estes Park a 7+ hour round trip drive and thus, mentally ejected as a possible back-up to get my much desired “wall hanger” elk shot. This road closure also blocked us from seeing more than 90 percent of the park.
The last thing from this trip that I didn’t know was how much I am loved. Without hesitation, our friends and Jojo jumped on the idea of driving to Estes Park and spending the night there. A suggestion that since we already had a cabin paid for in Grand Lake, doubled the lodging costs for that night. They went on to discuss how this plan would provide me an opportunity to photograph elk in both the evening and morning light. My heart immediately did the Grinch growth thing as it was overwhelmed by kindness. Sleeping well that night wasn’t an option!
Arriving in Estes Park around lunchtime, we were all surprised that “The Gathering” that was in progress yielded no elk in sight. The ladies at the visitor center and in many of the shops all said the same, almost robotic response when asked about the elk…” They’re Everywhere,” a phrase that became a joke amongst our tribe as we scoured high and low for these massive creatures.
Just as the sun started to set, what was once a joke to us became a reality as too many to count elk began appearing from a hillside near the high school. With the exception of getting a strand of downed barbed wire rapped around my leg as I tried to change angles and lighting, I was in elk heaven!
This shot, from our evening with the elk would represent everything that I could have prayed for. What I didn’t know was what God had planned for me the next morning!
It’s amazing how one act of compassion, flowing from love by those in our life can wipe away so many little disappointments that previously seemed so large?
Adventure before dementia!