Alpine Visions

Still Photography, Video and Stories from Colorado's Rocky Mountains and beyond.

Mesa Verde Foundation

Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado is in need of a little TLC. Iconic structures like Cliff Palace are in danger of collapsing due to weather, gravity and time. The federal government has been cutting funds to the national park so it is in need of assistance (as are all national parks and monuments). This is where private non-profit groups like the Mesa Verde Foundation come in. They raise funds from private citizens and organizations to supplement the dwindling amount the park gets from the federal government. They need more help though as time is not on the park’s side. My interest in this and other parks and monuments of the region led me to the foundation’s work. We cannot loose these awe-inspiring treasures.

Yellowstone National Park

“For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”  Theodore Roosevelt

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Great Fountain Geyser.

Geyser Basin.

Mammoth Hot Springs.

Old Faithful Geyser.

Bison calf under the feet of it’s mother.

Bull Elk.

Young Bull Elk keeping watch as a mother Cow Elk feeds her Calf.

Lone Wolf crossing a field at sunset. When I spotted the wolf at first I thought it was a coyote then realized it was too big. Suddenly I realized that I was standing in a field alone with a wolf. then I noticed a second wolf in the trees. They allowed me to approach a certain distance then they backed up. When I give them more distance they came back closer. They seemed to feel comfortable with my presence and I soon felt comfortable with theirs. I took many photographs but this is my favorite and remains one of my favorite wildlife experiences to date.



Moonrise. The two women in the foreground were from Singapore and enjoyed their visit to Yellowstone very much. They were happy when I told them that I would be visiting Singapore in two months.

All photos © David Glenn Smith
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Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado is a magical place. The large amount of ruins in close proximity make it a must see for anyone passing thru that area. The amount of work and skill required to build the cliff dwellings is very impressive, especially 800 years ago. Their water systems (reservoirs and canals) were quite an undertaking to build and maintain the the arid climate. I have been working on a project (still images and video) for The Mesa Verde Foundation showcasing their work in helping to preserve these wonderful ruins.

Square Tower House.

Square Tower House ruins.

Cliff Palace.

Square Tower at Cliff Palace.

Far View ruins.

Spruce Tree House.

Spruce Tree House.

Spruce Tree House.

Spruce Tree House.

Kiva - Spruce Tree House.

Petroglyph Trail ruins.

Petroglyph Point.

Mesa Top Loop ruins.

Oak Tree House.

All images © David Glenn Smith / Alpine Visions, Inc.

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Mountain Goats - Mt. Evans, Colorado

Mountain goats are not native to Colorado. Their natural southern range was northern Wyoming. The first goats were released in the Mount Evans area in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. There are now an estimated 300 to 400 mountain goats in the Mount Evans region. They tend to herd together and are most frequently sighted in the rocky cliffs above timberline. I took these photos on Friday the 13th, a great way to spend the day.

All photos @ David Glenn Smith / AlpineVisions.com

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Wetterhorn, Matterhorn and Uncompaghre Peaks

To start off my new blog I’m posting one of my favorite Autumn photos from Colorado. This is of Wetterhorn, Matterhorn and Uncompaghre Peaks in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. This image was taken from Slumgullion Pass near Lake City. I had always liked this view of the peaks but never had timed out spectacular fall colors before. I slept in my truck on the pass that night and headed to this spot for sunrise. It was a stormy morning and I was rewarded by excellent light for only a few minutes before the clouds covered the mountains and the rain came for the remainder of the day.

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