As a native southwestern desert rat, my senses are always a bit perplexed when I visit the Rocky Mountains.  Most of the images on this page are from northern Wyoming through southern Alberta, Canada, which lie on the far eastern edge the northwestern forested mountain ecosystem, so forests often have heavy moss in their undergrowth, wildflowers grow more densely than I’m used to, snow is a year-round possibility, rivers are big, and the land simply feels wild in a way I’m not used to.  What a great escape from the searing heat of August in the Southwest.

Click any of the thumbnails to see a larger image, and an accompanying description.