2006 Mt. Massive Hike

Artan the 140lb ridgeback, one of the biggest dogs I've ever seen.

A somewhat pale columbine.

I don't know that this peak has a name, but it's the single most picturesque part of the southwest Mt. Massive trail. You pass by it on the hike up the valley, and it's a major feature of the scenery all the way up to the saddle, changing its appearance all the way up as you see it from different angles.

The weather doesn't look so bad over there, either, but maybe it's time to go back down, just in case...

Weather doesn't look quite so bad over there...

Despite it being the state flower, with its image on so many things in Colorado, I had never actually seen a columbine until this hike.

One of the Half Moon Lakes. Oh, look at that -- a storm cloud on the horizon...

Columbines in the upper meadow. I think these were the first columbines I'd ever actually seen...for being the state flower, they sure are scarce down on the plains.