Autumn at 8000 feet

☆ September 3, 2011

elkbit

Comments

34 Responses to “Autumn at 8000 feet”

  1. SDC
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 9:39 am

    Whoa. That is just way too cool!

  2. Scotty
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 9:43 am

    hey bro ! bahaaaaa i think a lot of people may not realize, elk are HUGE animals. nice that they dropped by to visit.

  3. catherine
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 9:50 am

    I miss Wyoming.

  4. Claire
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 9:52 am

    How nice for the elk to drop by. I’m sure you got lots of pictures. So autumn is there. We are hoping to get the summer over with or some rain. I’m ready to negotiate with the clouds.

  5. Kimberly
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 10:14 am

    Autumn really is a wonderful season, even if it is cold.
    I’ve only ever seen an elk from a distance. They’re magnificent animals, and absolutely huge! I’ve never seen anything like it.

  6. hello haha narf
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 10:31 am

    love the nod to frisco!

    once while driving home to pittsburgh from north central pa after fishing, there were all kinds of cars pulling over in this tiny town and people all walking in the same direction. not one to miss a fall festival, i asked the boyfriend to park. we followed along (like good sheep to the slaughter?!) to see what the attraction was. the tree line opened up to a massive field, several football fields long, where a huge herd of elk were casually grazing. massive animals! we stayed for almost an hour, just quietly observing. later we checked the map to see where we were…elk county!

  7. Felyne
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 10:54 am

    I’m really beginning to wonder about the company you keep, Shreve. :D

    How fantastic! Did you call out “when you’re done with those antlers just leave them by the door – kthxbai”

    :D Absolutely gorgeous.

  8. Barbara
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 11:21 am

    Had to intrude into this post to tell you that the happy dog photo of Charlie with Mike in green shirt is amazing. Who would see such domestic trust as belonging to a coyote?

  9. Linda S.
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 11:22 am

    Magical.

    What a magnificent gift.

  10. bonnie
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 11:22 am

    they are huge, and majestic, and they just love kale. my border collies are absolutely thrilled when they show up, cuz they’re allowed to herd them away from my garden, and back into the forest. (don’t worry everyone, the dogs stop at the edge of the clearing, and come back to me as soon as their version of order has been restored)

  11. Ingrid
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 12:10 pm

    Awesome, it seems you becoming one with nature up there.
    Enjoy every minute of it!

  12. Marg
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 1:14 pm

    Guess you won’t be needing that refrigerated truck now. Will you be heading off the mountain soon? Our Canadian Rockies were covered in snow two days ago, beautiful to look at but I’m not ready for snow yet. We’re heading to Italy for two weeks later today and they are having an extended heat wave so will get a couple extra weeks of summer. Will miss your posts but look forward to catching up with them when we return. Stay warm.

  13. Micaela Morris
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 1:14 pm

    You managed to evoke a clear scene with the elk making their way through the herd….you definitely have a way with words! Lovely…

  14. Laura
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

    My daughter reported that it was nearly freezing when she woke up this morning — she lives in the mountains of Idaho, so she has pretty similar weather to what’s up on your mountain. I envy you both! And you create as beautiful pictures with your words as you do with your camera — I can vividly see the elk strolling through the herd in the frosty air. Are you going to make staying on the mountain a regular summer event now? Can I come live with you? :)

  15. M. V.
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 3:23 pm

    When I was very young, my father took me to see some elk. One of them called out. I didn’t expect an animal that large to have such a high pitched call. I fell over giggling. The elk turned and looked directly at me for a few seconds then slowly turned and walked off.
    I will never forget that magnificent creature or those eyes.

  16. Steph in Oregon
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 3:47 pm

    The weather forcasters with all of their high-tech gear have nothing on nature. Those elk have forcasting gear in their DNA.
    What a gift to experience their presence.

  17. Renee
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 5:03 pm

    Hey! I have to know…how did you get the “negative” effect? Elk, yay! Cold, nay! Brrrrrr!!

  18. shreve
    September 3rd, 2011 @ 5:48 pm

    r ~ white pen on black paper :)

  19. Colleen
    September 4th, 2011 @ 3:02 am

    *BIG sigh* What a glorious sight to see first thing! Must have made you smile several times throughout your day. And still!

  20. Robert (Gideon-x) Mowers
    September 4th, 2011 @ 8:08 am

    Still Bumping The 100’s Here In The Desert Southwest (Yuma, AZ)

    Stay Well, (Salud) “GIDEON-X”

  21. Robert (Gideon-x) Mowers
    September 4th, 2011 @ 8:08 am

    Still Bumping The 100’s Here In The Desert Southwest (Yuma, AZ)

    Stay Well, (Salud) “GIDEON-X”

  22. MJ
    September 4th, 2011 @ 12:55 pm

    The elk and bovine encounter is the exact opposite of one I witnessed in the woods behind our house some years ago. A tornado was heading in our direction which caused a herd of dairy cows to move out of their pasture and into the woods. They just kept on moving, like a white and black train on a mission. Just prior to their arrival in the woods behind our home, a 10 buck had showed up to take a drink from our bird bath. I was in the yard gathering bird feeders that would be damaged if the tornado or high winds made contact. The buck was used to my presence and thought nothing of me being their, but when that white and black train came our way, he looked up, seemed to do a double take, seemed to be saying ‘what the hell?’ and then, literally, high tailed it out of the yard and into the woods without a look backwards. Obviously he wasn’t comfortable with all those heifers!!

  23. Donna
    September 4th, 2011 @ 8:22 pm

    I agree with Barbara, what a great picture of Mike and Charlie.

  24. cassie
    September 5th, 2011 @ 8:32 am

    Waking up to frost sounds delightful! Elk are incredible creatures,recently saw a great herd up in Rocky Mountian State park a few weeks ago. Never woke up to find one so close to me though! Here in Austin texas, it is a freaky cold morning at 74, I’m sure we’ll see closr to a 100 today, but it won’t be 110 again! Shreve, I’m jealous . . .

  25. Holly
    September 5th, 2011 @ 9:24 am

    I just love that Frisco gets the respect he deserves from the elk brethren!

  26. Green Goose
    September 5th, 2011 @ 10:55 am

    “Hey My Brutha” LOVE that. Animals are so interesting to watch undisturbed. Frost is far from us still, but we did wake up to temps in the mid fifties in Oklahoma! Huge relief. Enjoy your mountain top!

  27. carmel
    September 5th, 2011 @ 6:04 pm

    what a sight on a frosty morn’…in the 60’s in Chicago today and we’re shivering…brrr!

  28. Pat D.
    September 6th, 2011 @ 8:30 am

    Hey, neat about the elk encounter! You’re lucky to have seen bull elk, too.

    I was in a carful of people recently, driving up towards Buffalo Bill’s grave on Lookout Mountain, CO., when we saw about a dozen elk cows and calves. They’re as big as horses! They were very calm as people stopped to take photos, and didn’t stop nibbling the grass.

    I found out later that bull elk keep to themselves and do not normally run with the females and young’uns.

  29. Nathalie
    September 6th, 2011 @ 9:58 am

    You’re so far out, I’m a little surprised you haven’t seen more wildlife. Maybe the cows serve as a safe barrier to the more remote creatures? Either way, I’m still in envy of your living accommodations.

  30. Jenny C
    September 6th, 2011 @ 11:46 am

    Good for Chloe for alerting you to the regal visitors. Your narration was really fun. I’m sure Frisco blinked a “Yo” to those gorgeous bulls.

    Not long ago, I stopped at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO to observe a huge herd of elk. I was surprised because, as Pat D. pointed out, bulls tend to keep to themselves or travel in pairs or small groups of other males. In this herd, there was one majestic bull and at least 15 females, and it was clear that they were a cohesive group. At one point, the bull really let ‘er rip with that unmistakable shrill call. Out of the trees an apparently errant female came bounding toward him, shaking her head. I swear you could see she was very miffed, and as she got got closer to the bull, she shifted to an indignant sort of prance, as if to say, “WHAT?! Don’t you go hollering at me, old man! I’ll come when I’m good and ready…” He gave one more irritated squeal at her, and she just glared at him. Cracked me up. I was glad to see the entire herd was healthy and well-fed, and I felt privileged to watch this surprising interaction.

  31. Heidi
    September 6th, 2011 @ 11:58 am

    I would have given anything to see that. I love elk. I think they are one of the most beautiful majestic animals. They are so elegant like you said. :) You are so lucky! :)

  32. penny
    September 7th, 2011 @ 5:50 am

    THAT sounds like an all right morning!

  33. I-Ching
    September 14th, 2011 @ 11:52 am

    I love reading your blog and vicariously experiencing a life away from the City of Angels…oh, to share the magical moments you describe with the animals and landscape around you!

    p.s. your handwriting is beautiful – the handwritten journal entries are art in themselves!

  34. Angie
    October 19th, 2011 @ 11:36 pm

    Fav post! made me laugh “hey, my brutha”.

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