Thompson Divide is a place of natural beauty and controversy.
For several years the residents have been fighting the Gas n Oil industry and the govt over fracking leases, and natural gas "wells".....currently the leases have not been renewed but its a constant battle in and out of courts to save our beautiful mostly unspoiled wilderness! I can't tell you how many petitions and letters I have been part of this year alone. You may want to check out the Coalition and join the fight.
A drive back towards Aspen on Hwy 82 then a turn onto 133 south towards the town of Carbondale will take you to the Thompson Creek Road, (CR108)
ranch land on both sides of CR108
....and then the dirt rd off that follows the gulch this huge area is known as Thompson Divide. There is public land there...and a campground snuggled under the big pine, fir, spruce, and aspen trees. A lot of people visit this area on horseback.
There is layers of beauty, peaks, trees, and the wonderful plants too...
I drove the dirt road as far as I could then it got steep, narrow, and rocky so I turned around the first chance I got...
Forest Service road getting way too narrow...
The road crosses the Thompson Creek, it was a bit muddy with recent rains...
One can get the best unobstructed views of one of the high peaks...Mt. Sopris. This is the ELK Range in the Rocky Mountain Chain. Sopris overlooks the town of Carbondale like a mother hen...at 12,966 ft.
Mt Sopris
It is hardly one of the High Peaks of this area but it sure is a good looking mountain. It has twin peaks! There is a hike up to the summit about 12 miles in length. The peak sits in the Maroon Bells Wilderness area I hope to take you there soon!!
Sopris again...
Because Maroon Bells is one of the most photographed peaks in Colorado, and I haven't been there since 2008, Aug 25th. I know one thing that changed is you can't go up in your car during the hours of 9-5, they put in a passenger bus to take visitors up since it was so heavily visited....so I have to go early or go late or ride the bus in.
Down by the creek I found Golden Crowned Kinglets, a not so focused shot as they were as fast as could be, and they were in a mixed flock of Mountain Chickadee, and White Breasted Nuthatch.
Golden Crowned Kinglet
I had my head set on finding a Red Crossbill but so far I have struck out every where I've gone...I felt sure these cones would be full of crossbills...lol.
I read this area is also good for poorwills, hammond flycatchers, and bushtit. Struck out on all 3 did see another imm. mountain blue bird right at the beginning of the dirt road on a power line.
here's a closer look at Mt Sopris..as you can see the top peeking over into the Divide Area little bit of snow here and there
I arrived about 10:30 AM and left about 2:30 PM, it was awesome to explore this area...got home and found this Cooper's hawking the feeder birds...took this through the glass door...he is a real beauty he saw me and took off, saved our feeder birds from an attack.
till next time....
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
