tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32480905288234641992024-03-14T13:18:46.147-04:00Road Trip!A VERY circuitous route from NYC to San Francisco.Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-55882040896611223662015-08-05T12:02:00.001-04:002015-08-05T12:02:11.898-04:00Old Devil Moon & Beer Scholar Study Guides for the Cicerone ExamsBeen awhile! Here a quick update about what I've been up to.<br />
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<li>I'm now selling study guides for the Certified Beer Server and Certified Cicerone exams through my <a href="http://www.thebeerscholar.com/" target="_blank">Beer Scholar Study Guides for the Cicerone Exams</a> website. The guides have been selling like crazy, getting great reviews, and have helped lots of people pass their tests.</li>
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<li>Some partners and I recently began demolition on the space where we'll be opening <a href="https://www.facebook.com/olddevilmoonSF" target="_blank">Old Devil Moon</a>. ODM will be among SF's top beer bars (plus full liquor and Southern leaning bites!) when we get the doors open. We're gunning for opening around the beginning of 2016. Can't wait to see you there!</li>
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Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-72167518143733646512014-02-14T16:09:00.000-05:002014-02-14T16:09:02.725-05:00SUPPORT CHRIS' KICKSTARTER FOR THE BEER SCHOLAR STUDY GUIDES FOR THE CICERONE PROGRAM EXAMS!I launched a KickStarter to help raise money for an initial print run of <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rebelscum/pass-the-cicerone-exams-with-the-beer-scholar-stud" target="_blank">study guides for the Certified Beer Server and the Certified Cicerone exams</a>. For all the information you need about the study guides, check out this <a href="http://www.thebeerscholar.com/cicerone-study-guide-faq/" target="_blank">Beer Scholar FAQ page</a>. After only a day and a half it's nearly 50% funded!<br />
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If you're a beer geek and want to raise your game by taking the Certified Beer Server or Certified Cicerone exams, pick up a copy during the KickStarter while they're less expensive.<br />
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If you know any beer geeks who may be interested, please let them know about it or link it on your social media sites.<br />
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Every little bit of spreading the word helps. Thank you!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="380" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rebelscum/pass-the-cicerone-exams-with-the-beer-scholar-stud/widget/card.html" width="220"></iframe>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-28887688759397892372013-08-15T03:16:00.000-04:002013-08-15T03:26:03.239-04:00Chris is a Certified Cicerone and is now working as a beer consultant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cbZ7syjZs0ELSfuAxE55OP3GvPeVI_L0FL5pZmcdGwTr_XK4MfRyEtsGAe_WaaCxU1LwnqfzY9DaypaNetJqmtc_TjBeiLab0S9ppVJ6pIcHft3lMHf0aPTipgJK5ppJy6wwbt3NuNcg/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cbZ7syjZs0ELSfuAxE55OP3GvPeVI_L0FL5pZmcdGwTr_XK4MfRyEtsGAe_WaaCxU1LwnqfzY9DaypaNetJqmtc_TjBeiLab0S9ppVJ6pIcHft3lMHf0aPTipgJK5ppJy6wwbt3NuNcg/s320/IMG_1857.JPG" width="312" /></a>It's been a few years since we arrived in San Francisco! After working for several years as an attorney, I'm excited to announce that I've made the move into the beer business.<br />
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Since 2009 I've explored the growing craft beer scene in the US in a deep way, learning about the industry and making contacts all over California and beyond. I also started homebrewing in 2009, I love the the community of people around the hobby. Obviously, I learned a ton about beer this way and have become a beer judge thanks to the knowledge I gained about beer styles and brewing technique.<br />
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I launched the <a href="http://sfhomebrewersguild.com/">San Francisco Homebrewers Guild</a> in February of 2012. I have served as the President of the SFHG for 2012 and 2013. Only a year and a half after launching the Guild, we have over 130 annual-dues-paying members, hold monthly meetings at Anchor Brewing, and organize four <a href="http://www.bjcp.org/index.php">BJCP</a>-<a href="http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/">AHA</a> registered homebrew competitions per year on top of plenty of other events including Homebrew Shares and brewery tours. <br />
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I earned <a href="https://cicerone.org/user/66171/">my Certified Cicerone® status</a> in 2013 by passing the rigorous Certified Cicerone test. <a href="https://cicerone.org/content/about">The Cicerone program </a>tests knowledge of beer styles and history, beer off flavors and how they come about, food and beer pairing, properly running and cleaning tap systems, and proper beer service. A high level of beer knowledge is required to pass. There is only one higher level in the Cicerone program, that of <a href="https://cicerone.org/content/master-cicerone">Master Cicerone</a>, of which there are currently only seven. I will be preparing for the Master Cicerone test over the coming years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9NATQ0SJG-LrZkHNN-2IcIZn9V2CF8UqeBwatK-2yFyLMJEcSnECAvjhydrfl9A01YxtEoNUh_ekBaZWQI1UrKfB3jUCfD3wn3Bb4clPuGZnn9M5hT47vD4lCojOz-NrNA3Ba71ZLeih/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9NATQ0SJG-LrZkHNN-2IcIZn9V2CF8UqeBwatK-2yFyLMJEcSnECAvjhydrfl9A01YxtEoNUh_ekBaZWQI1UrKfB3jUCfD3wn3Bb4clPuGZnn9M5hT47vD4lCojOz-NrNA3Ba71ZLeih/s320/IMG_1846.JPG" width="233" /></a>I celebrated earning my Certified Cicerone status by taking a three week trip to two of my favorite beer (and whiskey) producing countries - Scotland and Belgium! Here are some pics from my beer travel adventures to <a href="http://chris-cohen.com/cicerone-blog/2013/8/7/beer-whisky-tasting-in-scotland">Scotland</a> and <a href="http://chris-cohen.com/cicerone-blog/2013/8/14/beer-tasting-in-belgium">Belgium</a>. Prior to that huge European beer trip, I went on a week-long road trip down the coast of California to visit breweries. Ultimately, the trip ended with a massive two day bottle share with friends in San Diego, which included some of the greatest and rarest beer on Earth, plus the <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/event/21327/" target="_blank">7th Annual Stone Sour Fest</a>.<br />
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I recently launched a new website to make folks aware of my availability for <a href="http://chris-cohen.com/">beer consulting services: Chris Cohen, Cicerone</a>. I am highly qualified to help bars and restaurants that want to take the beer programs to the next level by helping them put together a great beer list and by training their staff in proper beer service. I am also available to help with setting up beer dinners and other fun beer tasting events. I am based in San Francisco but am available for travel.<br />
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Please don't be shy about getting in touch, I can talk about beer all day!<br />
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<br />Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-3152705166621379452009-01-05T15:57:00.003-05:002009-12-09T14:58:48.251-05:00We Made it to San Francisco!!!!!When we arrived in SF from our massive trip we were ready for a break, ready to hang with old friends and make new ones, we knew we had lots of work ahead of us getting our living situation in order and finding jobs. A few months later...it's all gone by pretty quickly and we're thrilled that we made the move!<br /><br />At first we stayed in the Inner Richmond on friend's couches for two weeks, then got a sublet nearby for six weeks (from a <a href="http://beerodyssey.blogspot.com/">dude</a> who has since become one of my best SF buds!). After about two months we got a more permanent place in the Outer Richmond. We've been loving it out here since. We've made loads of new friends and have traveled all over the Bay Area - gorgeous country. It's much different out here from Manhattan!<br /><br />I've taken about 10,000 photos in the Bay Area already and I'd love to share them all, but let's face it, we all have short attention spans. That's the case throughout this entire blog - I take thousands of shots and post maybe 1 in 100 (seriously, it's probably more like 1 in 1,000), it takes lots of time to do this so "cheers" to you for reading. I hope that you'll go ahead and check out our trip from start to finish - it was such an AWESOME ride!<br /><br />Also, I gotta say, I'm really glad I created this site to preserve some of the memories of the trip and I would urge others to take the time to do the same for whatever event or trip they'd like to remember and share.<br /><br />Cheers again, ciao people! *cue the outro music*<br /><br />Ocean Beach and Sutro Park:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161833981/" title="Surfer -- Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/3161833981_e7c224e119_m.jpg" alt="Surfer -- Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA" height="160" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161834101/" title="Sand Dollar & Bird Footprints -- Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/3161834101_4efbee331d_m.jpg" alt="Sand Dollar & Bird Footprints -- Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3158247629/" title="Ocean Beach -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/3158247629_18fcceb90a.jpg" alt="Ocean Beach -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3158247325/" title="Light the path -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/3158247325_aeb71f1f51_m.jpg" alt="Light the path -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson" height="240" width="170" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3159081424/" title="Carson & Steve -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson by chrisnyc, on Flickr"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/3159081424_a28a291232_m.jpg" alt="Carson & Steve -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3159081266/" title="Refraction and birds -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/3159081266_79a3ffab22.jpg" alt="Refraction and birds -- Sutro Park Sunset Photowalk with Steen, Steve, & Carson" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Golden Gate Park:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3159015772/" title="Those are definitely D cups -- Golden Gate Park by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3159015772_3aceb8da10_m.jpg" alt="Those are definitely D cups -- Golden Gate Park" height="160" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3158183085/" title="The tiniest of curls -- Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens by chrisnyc, on Flickr"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3158183085_6461fd7d0b_m.jpg" alt="The tiniest of curls -- Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Cliff House area:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3162413678/" title="Gull & Seal Rock -- Leah's visit to San Francisco by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3162413678_6e1ae4baa6.jpg" alt="Gull & Seal Rock -- Leah's visit to San Francisco" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161577709/" title="Leah & Joey -- Leah's visit to San Francisco by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3161577709_f5bb2a18af.jpg" alt="Leah & Joey -- Leah's visit to San Francisco" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Sea Lions!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3162412034/" title="Sea Lions -- Leah's visit to San Francisco by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/3162412034_9d5a1dc9df.jpg" alt="Sea Lions -- Leah's visit to San Francisco" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Crissy Fields & Golden Gate Bridge:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161578607/" title="Cartwheel -- Leah's visit to San Francisco by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3161578607_61389f65bd.jpg" alt="Cartwheel -- Leah's visit to San Francisco" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The downtown from Dolores Park:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161769643/" title="Looking Downtown -- Mission Delores & Park area by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3161769643_606b16a763.jpg" alt="Looking Downtown -- Mission Delores & Park area" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Mission Dolores & a typical SF Victorian home:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161769893/" title="Mission Delores & Park area by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3161769893_76127597ff_m.jpg" alt="Mission Delores & Park area" height="240" width="135" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3161769947/" title="Typical SF Victorian -- Mission Delores & Park area by chrisnyc, on Flickr"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3161769947_142f5c6d54_m.jpg" alt="Typical SF Victorian -- Mission Delores & Park area" height="160" width="240" /> </a><br /><br />Xmas tree burning on Ocean Beach:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3175022595/" title="Steve, Carson, Crio, & Steen -- Christmas Tree Burning on Ocean Beach! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3175022595_d5567705e9.jpg" alt="Steve, Carson, Crio, & Steen -- Christmas Tree Burning on Ocean Beach!" height="400" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Wine tasting in Napa, Sonoma, and Lodi:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3208047152/" title="Swan posing - Winetasting in Napa by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3208047152_fb976712ef.jpg" alt="Swan posing - Winetasting in Napa" height="500" width="399" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3200393205/" title="Crane Reserve in Lodi, CA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3200393205_787efa69fc.jpg" alt="Crane Reserve in Lodi, CA" height="359" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3201238058/" title="Wine tasting at Heritage Oaks in Lodi, CA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3201238058_54a39c5b33.jpg" alt="Wine tasting at Heritage Oaks in Lodi, CA" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3201237130/" title="Wine tasting at Heritage Oaks in Lodi, CA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3201237130_e70becabd1.jpg" alt="Wine tasting at Heritage Oaks in Lodi, CA" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Then Obama won the election and everything seemed to be coming together nicely in the world!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3198020769/" title="High Five for oBAMa! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3198020769_3b1a629ed2_m.jpg" alt="High Five for oBAMa!" height="201" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3198020323/" title="oBAMa! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/3198020323_bff26a3e55_m.jpg" alt="oBAMa!" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />And finally, I started brewing beer. Here's a pic of my first brew, a straight ahead amber. Cheers to you for reading, come have a brew with me sometime!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3359378384/" title="Nice amber color -- My first brew - Amber Ale by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3359378384_fac527f1e6.jpg" alt="Nice amber color -- My first brew - Amber Ale" height="500" width="332" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-212367775226115192008-09-18T00:11:00.000-04:002009-01-07T00:21:41.758-05:00Driving through the Willamette Valley and breaking down in Grant's Pass, OregonYeah, so the Willamette Valley is gorgeous to tool through, but try REALLY hard not to break down in Grant's Pass...there's not much to do there. Trust me. <br /><br />Easy St is off to the right...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106163203/" title="Driving in the Willamette Valley, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/3106163203_b5a0d6a62d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Driving in the Willamette Valley, OR" /></a><br /><br />There are several Weeds in OR, this here is the way to "Central Weed."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106993916/" title="Driving in the Willamette Valley, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3106993916_9b1a10d5d3.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Driving in the Willamette Valley, OR" /></a><br /><br />Right about at Grant's Pass, the car started doing some funny stuff, like puttering the way a car does when it's running out of gas. I didn't want to push it and end up damaging it worse, so we pulled into a Holiday Inn parking lot and called up AAA and got our SECOND tow of the trip (the first being in Durango, if you'll recall, Dear Reader).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106158933/" title="Grant's Pass, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3106158933_afaa9caf8f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Grant's Pass, OR" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106989640/" title="Grant's Pass, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3106989640_83b17f1c86.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Grant's Pass, OR" /></a><br /><br />Grant's Pass -- "<span style="font-weight:bold;">It's the Climate!<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106989702/" title="Grant's Pass, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/3106989702_a50377117a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Grant's Pass, OR" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-40745268570102268442008-09-17T20:58:00.001-04:002009-01-07T00:05:31.874-05:00Visiting Carson's Grandparents in Eugene, OregonWe popped into Eugene, OR to visit with Carson's grandparents. It was a nice relaxing time and a great visit. <br /><br />Shell & Jan, plus Jake the puppy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106273189/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3106273189_8ec249b70f.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Lookin' good, Jake, FETCH!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107103972/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3107103972_98d9d64ea0.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Eugene has Geese.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106273117/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3106273117_e2e266203b.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />The sun shines on Eugene. Oh, and it has a river. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106273035/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/3106273035_a31bf97146_m.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="240" height="160" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107103900/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/3107103900_a0de9e6e3d_m.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="240" height="160" /></a><br /><br />It was great meeting the fam for me and seeing them again for Carson. They're not TOO far away, so we hope to see them again soon!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106273217/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3106273217_29dd5d39f9.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107104022/" title="Eugene, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/3107104022_d8a174386d.jpg" alt="Eugene, OR" width="500" height="333" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-40510660482856742442008-09-13T22:31:00.000-04:002009-01-01T23:11:30.037-05:00Images of Portland, OregonPortland was another city that was on our short-list of places we were thinking about moving to. Honestly, I loved it and if I knew a few people that lived there already I may well have voted to stay. It was gorgeous, had great public transportation, incredible nature surroundings, and the the best book stores ever (other than maybe Strand in NYC, of course). Everyone there was friendly and warm, the city is well planned out, and the restaurant/foodie/craft beer brewing scene there is fantastic, plus they've got wine flowing in from the Willamette Valley right next door. <br /><br />We stayed at Ace Hotel, great. Ate at Le Pigeon and the McMenamin's Kennedy School, fantastic. Chilled at the Jupiter Hotel bar, fun. Drank at Portland City Grill on the top floor of the tallest building in town (and at a bunch of other places), excellent. Spent a bunch of time browsing in Powell's Book Store, which is awesome. I liked it, I liked it a lot. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107077526/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/3107077526_7f5e2315f8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />It's not a huge city, and certainly not very tall. Like I mentioned above, we did hang out at Portland City Grill, a piano bar at the top of the tallest buildings in town, which was great. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106247249/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/3106247249_9399aa3910.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107077600/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3107077600_6b2ba63f1f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />2,443 miles from Times Square, sigh.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107077632/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3107077632_159f2a7890.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />Mt. Hood looms on the horizon.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106246981/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/3106246981_01c5deeb46.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />Powell's Book Store. Note the Elvis impersonator singing out front.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3107077990/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/3107077990_67997aa2c6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />Turkey Vulture at the Audubon Sanctuary, where we hiked some trails and met various ravens, vultures, and other birds. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106247225/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3106247225_861d739384.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />A couple random shots...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106247293/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3106247293_d147505b8d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106247167/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/3106247167_8e1445ee7b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a><br /><br />Bye Portland, we loved you!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106246841/" title="Portland, OR by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3106246841_b8da90cde9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Portland, OR" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-3745674111341134042008-09-11T21:26:00.002-04:002009-01-01T22:17:42.889-05:00Images of Seattle, WashingtonSeattle was on our short-list of cities we were considering moving to. While it didn't end up that we wanted to stay, we did think Seattle rocked.<br /><br />Oh, and let me just say that, yes I know there are things in Seattle other than the Space Needle. It's just that I like a bunch of my pics of it, sorry!<br /><br />I'll just get all the Space Needle pics out of the way first...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106835426/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/3106835426_850a0d1e72.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />An obvious shot that I saw in the NYT recently --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106834976/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3106834976_129402318a.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106002603/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3106002603_a7ed8d4a58.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />At some point we ended up right by it...because I just HAD to go to the Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame! It was awesome and you should go there, too, by the way.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106127967/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/3106127967_066faffb26.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106127777/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3106127777_ced0e7838b.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="334" /></a><br /><br />Ok. Moving on...<br /><br />If you thought cops on Segways was interesting, wait 'till you see these bad boys.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106128211/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3106128211_f903ce1ff5.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="401" /></a><br /><br />Seattle has AWESOME parks!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106835694/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3106835694_55fff50611.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />We really loved the Pike Place Market, it'd almost be worth living in Seattle just for that.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106128621/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/3106128621_61f9991161.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106959208/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3106959208_52aa0247b2_m.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="240" height="135" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106959294/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/3106959294_cc5697a8f2_m.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="240" height="160" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106128327/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3106128327_d8e5707859.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="500" height="281" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106959060/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/3106959060_8808cfc01a_m.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="135" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106959088/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3106959088_01bd5da02b_m.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="135" height="240" /></a><br /><br />One thing Seattle has is insane traffic. And also Mt. Ranier! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106958978/" title="Seattle, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/3106958978_1a83720e10.jpg" alt="Seattle, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Like the sign says, head this way to Portland, OR, that's our next stop!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-17375239433853216062008-09-09T20:26:00.001-04:002009-01-01T23:28:19.068-05:00The Grand Coulee Dam & Spokane, WAWell, there are so many shots of Glacier National Park, that I'm still working through them, however, I have finished working on shots of the Northwest so let's get them up here!<br /><br />After staying in Glacier National for a night we headed back to Missoula, MT and then on to Seattle, WA. That's a heck of a long drive though, so we decided to stay in Spokane, WA on the way. Then we figured we may as well hit the Grand Coulee Dam on our way out of Spokane the next day.<br /><br />First we had to drive through a bit of Montana and through the top of Idaho.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106469038/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/3106469038_1eec594317.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />This is the entire town of Haugan, MT, I believe:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105636993/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3105636993_a14a25acc2.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />We did not get any potatoes:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637067/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3105637067_cc0dc64b6b.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><br />We made it Spokane, Washington, no problem. It's a very pretty little city.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637353/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3105637353_696e3e7b61.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106468236/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/3106468236_da0f930d21.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="401" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637627/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3105637627_b114e8828b.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Another beautiful carousel, who knew that so many cities had one?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637343/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3105637343_dd2711e4cc.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />They have a gondola that's not really worth doing, I would say.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637101/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/3105637101_1422b07c3b.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />Now, would you believe that Spokane, WA has a hotel that is considered to be one of the world's finest and certainly most ornately and lavishly appointed? Well it does, the incredible Davenport Hotel. Check this baby out.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467690/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/3106467690_28e3f1054f.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="399" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467480/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/3106467480_a27eff55eb.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="401" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Every surface is encrusted with decoration and carvings:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467454/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3106467454_b917031740_m.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="160" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467864/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3106467864_f6cd2a3285_m.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="160" height="240" /></a><br /><br />Infinite mirrors:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467518/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/3106467518_41cda3b1d8.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The lobby:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106467826/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3106467826_843de662f2.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Before leaving the next morning we hit up Frank's Diner, which is in an old railroad car and is awesome. If you go, get the biscuits and sausage gravy, they do them AWESOME here!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106468710/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/3106468710_e1c1883dbb.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="399" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />The Grand Coulee Dam is a biggun'. Here's what Wikipedia says about it: "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Coulee_Dam">Grand Coulee Dam</a> is a hydroelectric gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. In the United States, it is the largest electric power producing facility and the largest concrete structure. It is the fourth largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world...The Grand Coulee Dam is almost a mile long at 5223 feet (1586 m). The spillway is 1,650 feet(503 m) wide. At 550 feet (168 m), it is taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza; all the pyramids at Giza could fit within its base. Its hydraulic height of 380 feet (115 m) is more than twice that of Niagara Falls. There is enough concrete to build a four-foot wide, four-inch deep sidewalk twice around the equator." It was built between 1933-1944, as one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's public works program. Check it out --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106468986/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/3106468986_e76a73ce00.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3106468812/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/3106468812_907d416d98.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Spokane, WA" /></a><br /><br />It's a huge dam, but not super interesting to look at...plus the car was smelling like it was burning oil so I was anxious to move on and get to Seattle. The Grand Coulee is seriously in the middle of NOWHERE and in case something happened to the car that's not where I wanted to be stuck.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3105637991/" title="Spokane, WA by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3105637991_778436f047.jpg" alt="Spokane, WA" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />On to Seattle!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-52903696684075362342008-09-06T00:13:00.000-04:002009-01-01T21:16:46.394-05:00Missoula, MT -- a surprisingly cool little college townMissoula was a very pleasant surprise. I actually thought to myself that if this town was a few times bigger but with the same character it'd really be a place I could live! We really enjoyed it and everyone we met there. We stayed in Missoula after leaving Yellowstone and then again a few nights later after going to Glacier National. (Finally, we headed out on September 8th for Spokane, WA with a slight detour to The Grand Coulee Dam. But that's the next post.) <br /><br />If you ever go, do yourself a favor and book the Goldsmith's B&B for your stay. The people that run it are great and the breakfasts are solid, plus it's right in the middle of town.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3088815054/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3088815054_32967cfe7c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br />It's a university town - University of Montana has a beautiful campus there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087977021/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3087977021_14b96c45de.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087977253/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3087977253_cc142afbfb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087977221/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3087977221_d1d43d54b3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br />Gorgeous landscape, truly this is Big Sky Country.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3088815146/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/3088815146_8e848b787a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087976921/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/3087976921_c5a05a6b3e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and they have a killer hand-carved carousel, ha! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087977545/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3087977545_e8d459641e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3088815634/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3088815634_a674de0bbf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3087977785/" title="Missoula, MT by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3087977785_7b66d648a3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Missoula, MT" /></a><br /><br />My recommendation -- if you're going to do a Yellowstone and Glacier National Park trip, stay in Missoula on the night in between driving from one to the other, you won't regret it one bit.Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-1381785532755908152008-09-05T22:44:00.008-04:002008-12-15T02:39:05.480-05:00Animals of Yellowstone National ParkAmazing. It's like being on a safari. Check it out.<br /><br />Coyote:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051395479/" title="Coyote by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/3051395479_18e1bfbb07.jpg" alt="Coyote" height="403" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Bison:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052232854/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3052232854_923bf205e1.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052232706/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3052232706_551e5e2cf2.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />This was the first Bison we saw and he just happened to be on the other side of a gushing geyser!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052230304/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3052230304_0cba1605eb.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />This guy was sleeping by the side of the road.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052496596/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3052496596_6ebc8a9734.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />We had to pull over for all kinds of animals that were in the road. I entered the park in the pitch dark and almost cruised into an entire herd of Elk, no crap. Here's an assertive little goat --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051660327/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3051660327_9b8cdc4bfe.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />I love this one of him, one of my favorite YNP shots.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052496382/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3052496382_f6ca8bd290.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />And another bison. There were LOTS of bison.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052494648/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3052494648_b6f2eac1e9.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Can you spot the Mule Deer? At least, that's what I think they are. These pics were taken with my lens at 200mm and then cropped way in, they were pretty far away. It's blurry, but if you look closely, you'll see a baby trying to get a little milkin' teet action in the second shot below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493224/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/3052493224_b4aeebf2d6.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051657169/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3051657169_3fb3071c64.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="399" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493192/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/3052493192_a0cd384728.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="399" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Little chipmunks and squirrels were everywhere.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051658623/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3051658623_64c1edf159.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />A herd of people watching a herd of bison.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052494582/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/3052494582_aaf6acc88e.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051658403/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3051658403_f841bf2710.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />I was gored moments after photographing this sign. Just kidding.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051657647/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3051657647_f0a6bb215a.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="500" width="358" /></a><br /><br />No, seriously...we did pet them...ok, not really.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051395243/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3051395243_7cd1d4a3e5.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051395175/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3051395175_c64be3cf7b.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />FYI we weren't <span style="font-style: italic;">quite </span>as close as we look in these pics. What...you think I'm stupid? ;)<br /><br />Some Elk with their young, resting by Mammoth Hot Springs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052639086/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3052639086_cfbd55cb07.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051802531/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/3051802531_09f4cd6847.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052639150/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3052639150_e4177d4b14.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Of course, there were some interesting bugs, even though the weather was <span style="font-style: italic;">freezing</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051657597/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/3051657597_9f6e2ea8d8.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493648/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3052493648_6c38b296eb.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />We caught a few Mountain Goats right as we were leaving the park.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052639226/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/3052639226_9e247ce207.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="357" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052639194/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3052639194_b279a3eeaf.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Please go to YNP if you have the chance. It's truly spectacular for so many reasons, the animals being just one.<br /><br />We really wanted to see a moose and we never did...oh well, I guess we'll just have to go back as soon as can be arranged!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-32342364987441788132008-09-05T22:41:00.002-04:002008-12-15T02:33:39.543-05:00Day 3 at Yellowstone National ParkOn day 3 at YNP we headed north from the Grand Canyon area, stopped by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Falls">Tower Falls</a> and hoofed all about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris_Geyser_Basin#Mammoth_Hot_Springs">Mammoth Hot Springs</a> before finally exiting the park from the North Entrance and heading to Missoula to sleep the night. <br /><br />Here's that map again so you have an idea of where we were:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052932143/" title="YNP map by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3052932143_58c0f3801a.jpg" alt="YNP map" height="500" width="477" /></a><br /><br /><br />When we got up in the morning, it was freezing. I believe that the Canyon area is at a much higher elevation than the area of the park we were in previously. Regardless, there was frost on the trees and a little snow on the ground. Keep in mind that a few weeks earlier we had been snorkeling in Key West...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052496034/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3052496034_68ba0284ed.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Carson..."Nature Girl." Haven't seen that shirt again since, ha.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052495906/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3052495906_c89640ce2d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Here's a little random geothermal activity a few miles off.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051659799/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/3051659799_6eac9b9691.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Here is some of the amazing landscape around the Tower Falls area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052496176/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3052496176_0157c3cca1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051660189/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/3051660189_a7fb79d27d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051660289/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3051660289_139edd05f3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />The Tower Falls itself was apparently not impressive enough to get a pic uploaded to Flickr by me, hmmm. I'll have to look into that. Anyway, we moved on to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Hot_Springs#Mammoth_Hot_Springs">Mammoth Hot Springs</a> area, which is another amazing spot complete with boardwalks for easy hiking about. Mammoth is different from the other geothermal areas in Yellowstone in that there are no geysers, however, the water that is coming out of the springs contains massive amounts of calcium, which cover everything around springs in white calcium rock and build up and up creating a massive white hill.<br /><br />Here's the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel with one of the typical National Park tour vehicles you see everywhere up here (and at Glacier).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051660671/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3051660671_7931529e14.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051660699/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3051660699_1c3b1cb1cf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Seriously, that IS a Mammoth Hot Spring...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052497000/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3052497000_cc65e4a8bf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Minerva Terrace, a famous feature - <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051802095/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3051802095_65e16a17d3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052496960/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3052496960_a1bae2d4da.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Complete with colorful pools of super hot water, colorful bacteria & algae, and tons of calcium at the top of the Mammoth Hot Springs. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052638974/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3052638974_e0e59a98b4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052639038/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/3052639038_a70289af6b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051802419/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/3051802419_d24a146996.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Every day in Yellowstone was amazing. I could have stayed for a week and never ceased being awed by what I experienced. I WILL go back to check out the rest of the popular spots there, and then I'll hike into a bit of the easier back country, too. But for this trip, three days in Yellowstone was all we had. We made the best of it and brought out memories that we'll keep forever. Carson was totally blown away, not that I wasn't, but I had seen pictures and had big expectations whereas she had none. It was just amazing. <br /><br />To everyone who hasn't been: Go there go there go there!!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-16801392781632009212008-09-04T20:34:00.003-04:002008-12-15T01:59:55.570-05:00Day 2 at Yellowstone National ParkOn our second day at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone">Yellowstone</a> we traveled from the Old Faithful area (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris_Geyser_Basin#Old_Faithful_area">Upper Geyser Basin</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris_Geyser_Basin#Norris_area">Norris Geyser Basin</a>) around the southern region of the park, past the enormous Yellowstone Lake and up to the Canyon area. We didn't just shot up there of course, because there is ton's to see along the way! We stopped for a couple mile hike to and from the <a href="http://www.yellowstone.net/hiking/naturalbridge.htm">Natural Bridge rock</a> and we also checked out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_Lake">Yellowstone Lake</a> and the old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Hotel">Yellowstone Lake Hotel</a> as well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_areas_of_Yellowstone#Mud_Volcano_and_Sulfur_cauldron">Mud Volcano</a> Cauldron area. We arrived in the Canyon region in the afternoon and did some hikes there -- <a href="http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGR121-020">Uncle Tom's Trail</a> down a steep set of stairs along the side of a cliff to the bottom of a huge waterfall, and to <a href="http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2008/05/closed-public-nearly-year-artist-point-yellowstone-national-park-reopening">Artist Point</a> where you can get a gorgeous view of the waterfall from a bit of a distance. I've never been to the Grand Canyon in New Mexico, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_of_the_Yellowstone">the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone</a> is MASSIVE. We stayed in a little cabin in the Canyon area that second night in Yellowstone.<br /><br />First a map of Yellowstone so you can get a feel for where we were, then pics from Yellowstone Day Two.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052932143/" title="YNP map by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3052932143_58c0f3801a.jpg" alt="YNP map" height="500" width="477" /></a><br /><br />On our drives through Yellowstone NP we crossed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide">Continental Divide</a> several times. Oh, and that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone#Geography">elevation</a> is pretty typical for YNP, the average is about 8000 although some areas get higher.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052492618/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/3052492618_18c1171cda.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Carson's action pic at Shoshone Lake!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052492666/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/3052492666_172c716072.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052492702/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3052492702_437016535c.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Then we stopped off for a brief hike to Natural Bridge. As we were leaving on the hike we hooked up with impromptu hiking buddies Brian & Christine, who were very cool companions! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051390025/" title="Brian & Christine, our Yellowstone hiking buddies by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/3051390025_50acf18322.jpg" alt="Brian & Christine, our Yellowstone hiking buddies" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052492990/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3052492990_99efc5d6e8.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />There's the Natural Bridge above and behind us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493078/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3052493078_11edf402f4.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />And of course, here I am looking deceptively calm whilst dangerously close to falling off the side of the cliff after hiking right up behind the Natural Bridge, which is behind us. Seriously, see how Carson is holding me tightly. I smiled for the pic, but I was thinking "oh sh1t, get me up quick!"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493126/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3052493126_26206d33ba.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />We stopped by Yellowstone Lake, the largest high altitude lake in the US. We also stopped in to warm up with some tea at the Lake Hotel, one of YNP's famous old lodges. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051656729/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/3051656729_48a0811256.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051656753/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3051656753_d52d332fcb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />The Lake Hotel on Yellowstone Lake. Oddly, the clientèle here seemed <span style="font-style:italic;">very </span>much older, just as our guidebook said it would.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493416/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3052493416_530736dd3f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />LeHardy Rapids --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493460/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/3052493460_2a6d46ed74.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />We stopped by the Mud Volcano area. There were bubbling mud pits and fumaroles <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493730/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/3052493730_1746f58802.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Grizzly Fumarole. Yes, I know this is a boring picture, but those little holes in the ground were whistling as they blew up super heated gases. It was awesome. This is actually very similar to the bubbling pools except that it's in a very dry spot so any water just comes out as a bit of steam.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052493982/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/3052493982_f038f705ed_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Amazing grasses at Mud Volcano -- <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051658177/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/3051658177_c85d4c7581.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />OK, the ridiculous thing is that this post is very long and yet I haven't even gotten to the day's main event -- The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, complete with massive waterfall and trail of stairs (part of Uncle Tom's Trail) along the side of a cliff leading down to near the bottom of the falls.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051658659/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3051658659_94b377d53f.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051658931/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/3051658931_c4df452e6f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Still wondering why it's called "Yellowstone"? Hadn't even occurred to you to wonder? Ok, well wonder no more anyway -- <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052494956/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/3052494956_74e886cc08.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Here are some shots from Artist Point.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051659293/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3051659293_d047ddf574.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051659339/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/3051659339_874a25ba89_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052495588/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/3052495588_198fa2b383.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Crazy colors in the volcanic rock of the canyon, it's really breathtaking. I didn't think it could get any better than all the geysers we saw on day one, but the hits just keep on coming at Yellowstone NP.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052495392/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3052495392_9f3b5c9073.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />At the end of an incredible day we headed to our little cabin near the Canyon Lodge.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052495742/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3052495742_d971c2e20a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Which had a half-decent fireplace...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051659737/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3051659737_6a10d7da30.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />...where I partook of much Yellowstone Rogue Ale. Excellent.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051659781/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/3051659781_4068121467.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />WHAT A DAY!!!!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-85718348920596136342008-09-03T13:54:00.007-04:002008-12-15T02:01:41.106-05:00Day 1 at Yellowstone National ParkWow. Yellowstone is unbelievably awesome. You MUST visit it!!!<br /><br />We arrived in Yellowstone from the South entrance (having driven by the Grand Tetons and witnessing an amazing sunset, see the prior post for details) the prior night and had a cabin in the Old Faithful area for the first two nights there (in the Canyon area on the third night).<br /><br />On our first day in Yellowstone we woke in our cabin in the Old Faithful geyser area and hiked all over it, then we visited the Old Faithful Lodge and watched Old Faithful itself go off, then we headed over to the Norris geyser area and hiked all over there as well. What an amazing landscape!<br /><br />Here's a map to give you an idea of the areas we covered. On our first day we were in the Western areas where some of the most intense geothermal features of the park are located -- Old Faithful and Norris.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052932143/" title="YNP map by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3052932143_58c0f3801a.jpg" alt="YNP map" height="500" width="477" /></a><br /><br />Seriously, these are some sweet cabins (and we got the cheapest we could). It's no hardcore camping, they even supply you with a cute little basket of soaps and such, as you can see.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051390393/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3051390393_7b3aee2f82_m.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="160" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052228110/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/3052228110_6404a782ce_m.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Here's our cute little cabin. It had a queen sized bed, a heater (which we needed), and a sink. Bathrooms were located about 30 feet away. We cooked our dinners on a gas stove which Ricky D provided us in exchange for a Nintendo DS game we had finished. We made lunches and brought them hiking with us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051656475/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/3051656475_3dbdd6eee1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />I am spending this much space on the Old Faithful area quarters because I want people to know that visiting Yellowstone is very pleasant, not an exercise in wilderness survival. Therefore, you should all visit!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052233818/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3052233818_84313d18fc.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />If you think those lodgings are decent, wait until you get to pics of the Grand Lodges and Yellowstone hotels!!! They're absolutely magnificent.<br /><br />Here's a shot of what the general landscape in this area of the park looks -- there are geothermal features, mainly geysers, pools, and fumaroles, all over the place. The whole area is steaming like it's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_Caldera">supervolcano</a> that's about to explode (which may actually be the case). <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052228380/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/3052228380_8034787ccc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052234114/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/3052234114_9edff0fae2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />The entire area is set up with boardwalks for easy hiking and due to the dangers of all the geothermal stuff. Check it out, one of many of the funny warning signs:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051393185/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3051393185_3af9602887.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Here are some shots of colorful pools of hot water. The color is due to the flourishing of crazy bacterias that live only in super-hot environments and apparently they get brighter in color when they are hotter. Here's what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_areas_of_Yellowstone">Wikipedia</a> says about these: "Mudpots such as Fountain Paint Pot are acidic hot springs with a limited water supply. Some microorganisms use hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), which rises from deep within the earth, as an energy source. They convert the gas into sulfuric acid, which breaks down rock into clay."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051391227/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3051391227_9ba783da85.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051391519/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/3051391519_7869163912_m.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="160" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052229444/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/3052229444_2aefa2aa96_m.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />It was an overcast day for the most part, but things cleared up later in the afternoon and as you can see, it makes a BIG difference for a photographer!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051392923/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/3051392923_16e8b45b3d.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />This little hole full of boiling water had recently formed. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051393097/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/3051393097_b84b86fe78.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Some of them were more spectacular than others --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052231342/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/3052231342_1be39c1a5e.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Here was a bright blue one in the Norris area, with our shadows waving "hello":<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052234534/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3052234534_cc98447258.jpg" alt="Yellowstone" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Of course, the pools were not the MOST impressive of the geothermal features of Yellowstone, that honor belongs to the ubiquitous geysers, which generally blow boiling water out on some loose schedule. We had the honor of witnessing three go off. <br /><br />First, we were very lucky to catch Fan/Spiteful/Mortar go off, which only occurs once every other week or so. Second, we happened by as Riverside Geyser went off, which is also only every few days or so. Those two are in the Biscuit Basin area of boardwalks. Finally, we watched Old Faithful, as every visitor to Yellowstone must, which goes off once every 90 minutes or so. This will not mean much to those who have never been, but below is a pic of the area of the map where some of the aforementioned geysers live:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051392489/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3051392489_a765246123.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />First, Fan/Spiteful/Mortar...special because it's very infrequent. Crappy because the light was horrible and the sky overcast. Didn't get the best shots, but that aside, it was magical for both of us to experience our first geyser! I should note, we only caught it because it was surrounded by "Geyser Gazers," a group of enthusiasts with walkie-talkies and such who keep track of these things and informed me that it would erupt soon -- thanks!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051391861/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/3051391861_9cdef9f80d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052230038/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3052230038_2eb44ccc12.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051390275/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3051390275_ede3b770fd.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052230148/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/3052230148_d4401c9ffc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Second, we happened by right as Riverside Geyser, reputed to be among to most beautiful due to its riverside location, erupted.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051393857/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3051393857_c86417987c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051393803/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3051393803_38018628b3_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Yellowstone" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051393767/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3051393767_0a4309cb31_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Finally, we hit the Old Faithful Lodge, got some hot chocolate and sat on the deck to see Old Faithful itself erupt. That one really puts on a show, however brief, by shooting water over 100 feet up!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051394391/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/3051394391_52cbbddf5f.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Check out the ridiculous Old Faithful Lodge, which is considered one of the National Park system's jewels and is referred to as one of its Grand Lodges.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051394661/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/3051394661_ed80dd0a35.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051394611/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/3051394611_68c9f46a66_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Yellowstone" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052232496/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3052232496_672493acde_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Check out the fireplace...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051394209/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/3051394209_6b51af7676.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />After seeing Old Faithful erupt, we headed over to the Norris Geyser Basin, which required a short drive. Along the way we ran into a couple of big fuzzy Bison and a Coyote! (I'm saving my best animal pics for a separate "Animals of Yellowstone" post, sorry.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052232706/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3052232706_551e5e2cf2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Passed by some falls, Gibbons Falls I believe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051395555/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3051395555_c56361bd99.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />We passed by Roaring Mountain, a large hill full of fumaroles. Described by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_areas_of_Yellowstone">Wikipedia</a>: "Fumaroles or steam vents, are the hottest hydrothermal features in the park. They have so little water that it all flashes into steam before reaching the surface. At places like Roaring Mountain, the result is loud hissing of steam and gases."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052233576/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/3052233576_0a09af7a68.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051395753/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/3051395753_083124b747.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Then we walked the Norris Geyser Basin, which is every bit as awesome as the Biscuit Basic where Old Faithful is located. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052233724/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/3052233724_20ee544b8b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051396495/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3051396495_2857257a97.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052233764/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3052233764_9c504cf926.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />Then we caught a very nice pink and purple sunset up on a hill by some Painted Pots mudpots!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052234808/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3052234808_7a9415d00e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051396749/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/3051396749_d0dff31e6d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051397157/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/3051397157_4155e2b3f5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3051397117/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3051397117_680a3e1179.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a><br /><br />After returning to the campsite I set the camera up and tried my first star trail shot. The result is poor considering what I was going for, but considering that I was totally winging it, oh well, I still like it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/3052235182/" title="Yellowstone by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3052235182_61432e7815.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Yellowstone" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-22860448388476596332008-09-02T20:00:00.002-04:002008-11-03T14:04:49.454-05:00The Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through Wyoming & the Grand Tetons!Breathtaking country! First, as we left Ft. Collins, CO and headed NW into Wyoming, we encountered some pretty hilly and dry terrain. As we hit the Teton area, it was more than hilly, they are HUGE, and there was even snow on the ground right outside where we were driving! Finally, just about an hour before we got to the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone, we watched the sun set behind the Grand Tetons. You know I had to pull over several times for that!<br /><br />These photos start in the Northern CO and Southern WY areas and then end during sunset in Northwest WY at the Grand Teton National Park, near Yellowstone. Enjoy!<br /><br />The land rises slowly...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986707929/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2986707929_08963f9291_m.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="135" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986708793/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2986708793_a40dc63c37_m.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="135" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Bones, anyone?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987559268/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2987559268_696bdbd4b5.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986703867/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2986703867_cfbb88f6e9.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Big sky country, no joke.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987560640/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2987560640_7e3485cba4.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Ok, now we're getting to the Tetons...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986709505/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2986709505_f2f0183f09.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Snow on the ground!!!!! We were just in the FL keys like 2 weeks earlier!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986704319/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2986704319_05126d8afa.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The Tetons are Grand!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986705337/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2986705337_355e6668d9.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987562178/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2987562178_a0eb5ce03d.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />And then the sun set behind the Grand Tetons.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986706765/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2986706765_4c314daa10.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986707461/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2986707461_1b99a0340c.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986706209/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2986706209_bb8131f669.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Bathed in sun set light.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987563458/" title="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2987563458_1db62ae768.jpg" alt="Drive from CO to Yellowstone NP, through the Grand Tetons" height="500" width="495" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-14711703613768902732008-09-02T14:31:00.001-04:002008-11-24T21:34:22.314-05:00Images of Ft. Collins, COI've really dug Ft. Collins ever since first going there to visit my good friend, Randi V, back in 2001. It was great to visit again and also to see Somer and Keri, only days before they were getting married over in Steamboat!<br /><br />First, Carson and I visited Horsetooth Reservoir and tooled around town...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987298650/" title="Ft. Collins, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2987298650_89112a5838.jpg" alt="Ft. Collins, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986454887/" title="Ft. Collins, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2986454887_8601fd3131.jpg" alt="Ft. Collins, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987325044/" title="Ft. Collins, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2987325044_98f57ce9a8.jpg" alt="Ft. Collins, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2986463653/" title="Ft. Collins, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2986463653_41a96f907b.jpg" alt="Ft. Collins, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Then we hung with Somer and Keri! Not at all a flattering shot, but oh well:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987333880/" title="Somer Me and Carson by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2987333880_57e264c928.jpg" alt="Somer Me and Carson" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2987329964/" title="Me & Somer by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2987329964_424686b846.jpg" alt="Me & Somer" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Now on to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Yellowstone National Park</span>!!!!!!Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-85029646850346014912008-08-31T14:21:00.000-04:002008-10-30T14:44:30.360-04:00Flowers!Not sure why, but I took tons of shots of flowers in Denver. Wanna see?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982934758/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2982934758_50dcde42fe.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982076409/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2982076409_491b9e8951.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982047661/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2982047661_323879910c.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982920196/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2982920196_a96c66309f_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982917542/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2982917542_e1aca59435_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982873790/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/2982873790_32f05eebd7.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982926638/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2982926638_7c04a736e6.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980610265/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2980610265_33e57da433.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982053161/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2982053161_1850805eed_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981453222/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2981453222_d3c710fdd0_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982914740/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2982914740_1537280df5.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-59277134792873306242008-08-30T05:05:00.000-04:002008-11-24T21:34:37.382-05:00Images of Denver, COWe were in Denver for quite a few days and the photo set from there is pretty large. (Go to my flickr page to see the whole bunch, if you're interested.) While in Denver we saw the aftermath of the DNC / Obama nomination, I got my first pedicure (surprisingly pleasant!), met up with Colleen after not seeing her since about 1998 or so, stayed at the Hotel Monaco where we had a fish named Speckles, and generally traveled all over the city checking it out. We were very seriously considering a move to Denver, so we wanted to know all about it and it's various neighborhoods. I think we saw quite a bit, check it out:<br /><br />The CO State Capitol Building:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982379402/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2982379402_e4d561b82a.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Art Museum and skyscrapers (there are lots of shiny reflective buildings in downtown Denver).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981485314/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2981485314_a4c493c86d_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981471562/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2981471562_3295792742_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981482670/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/2981482670_22f2b7ed2f.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />This was some sort of cool bridge in a fun section of Denver. I took a bunch of shots of it, as you can see...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981425294/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2981425294_ea7ffe6632.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980613169/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2980613169_10a235205c.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980572737/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/2980572737_1275b33b73_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="240" width="160" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980574689/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2980574689_cb273cd8dc_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />More skyscrapers and the 16th St Mall, a cool but sort-of-dingy walkable area of the downtown.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981417934/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2981417934_4dd5a3023b_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981413406/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2981413406_1d77e5b16b_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />Another very cool bridge. The architecture in Denver is fantastic, you can really tell that they've recently had a boom, everything is shiny and postmodern and surprisingly well planned.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980592701/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2980592701_ec66908637.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />Speckles was our pet fish, we had him for a couple days while we stayed at the Hotel Monaco, which is a great hotel if you can swing it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982833814/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2982833814_83fdd68c24.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />A killer roof. This shot looks to me like it's HDR, but it isn't at all.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982067749/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2982067749_4127acb1fe.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Warning: thin ice! Ha!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2982036281/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2982036281_4305fd19dc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Denver, CO" /></a><br /><br />One of the highlights of the trip was reconnecting and visiting with old friends. I reconnected with Colleen, who I hadn't seen since about 1998! Her and her boyfriend, Mark, are living it up and lawyerin' it up in Denver. I'm jealous of them, I want mountains, too!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981960197/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2981960197_1e6ebd941a.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-66886565680186228332008-08-30T03:43:00.002-04:002008-10-29T04:52:41.082-04:00In Denver the day after the Democratic National Convention during which Barack Obama was officially nominated to run for President!It was Obamania in Denver in the days directly after the DNC! I was definitely digging it, even though we sort of had to detour to Boulder before going to Denver because there were no hotel rooms anywhere in the city during the convention. We watched his nomination speech at a bar in Boulder and everyone was captivated, I think I did actually see some people with wet eyes. Let's hope he actually brings real progressive change to this country, which sorely needs it after 8 years of W.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981370032/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2981370032_1aba9aa187.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981375152/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2981375152_5eeaa560b1_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980512541/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2980512541_df29145f3c_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981984979/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/2981984979_69bc70380b.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980526921/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2980526921_4190710833.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="399" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981362316/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2981362316_4513c9a201_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="240" width="172" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981372976/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2981372976_88f3d48e2b_m.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980510289/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2980510289_9d6f04bc4f.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2981407040/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2981407040_6e9d45055b.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2980530477/" title="Denver, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2980530477_3978d66518.jpg" alt="Denver, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-7073238899464218292008-08-29T18:47:00.003-04:002008-11-03T13:35:31.119-05:00Images of Boulder, COBoulder was gorgeous! We arrived at night and it was pretty cool out, we'd been moving further and further north and further and further up in altitude on our trip and we were really feeling the chill at night in Boulder.<br /><br />Boulder is a cute town that is well-planned and has a great walkable downtown. It has a major public university, University of Colorado at Boulder, and was full of students and therefore good bars and places to hang out. The city is surrounded by a massive greenbelt full of hiking and biking trails, and of course there are a bunch of beautiful mountains all around Boulder that promise great skiing in the winter.<br /><br />We went for a long walk through some of that green space:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2970369314/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2970369314_766e293cdd.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969538871/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2969538871_497ed60357_m.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969529355/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2969529355_1f58dea9e0_m.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2973159491/" title="Boulder! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2973159491_d8d6e20716.jpg" alt="Boulder!" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Those are pine cones on the right.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969571669/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2969571669_db119416b0_m.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2970396132/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2970396132_3c0036e38a_m.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />A big fat bumbler:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969535299/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2969535299_bd1c399a0e.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="400" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Check out those roots:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969550463/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2969550463_fe9154b8c0.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969533875/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2969533875_b6d34a4e46.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="500" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Most of the pics I have posted from Boulder are from the outdoors, but the downtown is cool, too. That pic of me is from downtown Boulder, as is the theater below. That one of Carson on the rock is from a park.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2974013002/" title="Boulder! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2974013002_efc7b99cb6_m.jpg" alt="Boulder!" height="240" width="135" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2969601129/" title="Boulder, CO! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2969601129_bcbda1201c_m.jpg" alt="Boulder, CO!" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />They sold out a whole theater for Obama's nomination acceptance speech, which I might add, took place on that very night. (We took off for Denver the next day, so we soaked up some of the excitement there, too!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2973164881/" title="Boulder! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2973164881_6ba892ca7b.jpg" alt="Boulder!" height="500" width="281" /></a><br /><br />Before leaving for Denver, we hit up the Celestial Seasonings factory for a tour. It was all worth it just for the "mint room," which was like taking a bath in Vick's Vaporub menthol. It was awesome, most people couldn't even stand being in the room for more than 10 second or so, ha! No photo's were allowed in the factory, so no pics of that.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2973173001/" title="Boulder! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2973173001_a5d365b384.jpg" alt="Boulder!" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Sleepy time!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2973166993/" title="Boulder! by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2973166993_c497cc1751.jpg" alt="Boulder!" height="500" width="348" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-21960242708438705742008-08-28T17:34:00.002-04:002008-10-24T13:49:10.640-04:00The Drive from Durango to Boulder, COI think these "driving" posts are sort of silly, but they help me organize my memories of the trip. <br /><br />For this drive we opted for the slightly-longer-but-much-easier-on-the-newly-repaired-car path from Durango to Boulder. This way only had one major mountain pass whereas the other option had three and was the path on which the car had popped its coolant system on several days earlier.<br /><br />I understand that heading through the mountains north of Durango is the prettier drive, but we headed to the east and then north, we got to drive by the Sangre de Cristo mountains, we met a nice chipmunk, drove over Wolf's Creek Pass, and we saw an awesome sunset!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963892712/" title="Really crazy sunset colors outside of Dever by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2963892712_e2965c04b3.jpg" alt="Really crazy sunset colors outside of Dever" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />That sunset was wild! In the pic on the right it looks flat, and it was, but if you look at the big version of the shot you'll see the Sangre de Cristo's looming out there on the horizon.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963890668/" title="Really crazy sunset colors outside of Dever by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2963890668_01c84786a3_m.jpg" alt="Really crazy sunset colors outside of Dever" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963886202/" title="Flatness, but the Sangre de Cristo mountain loom on the horizon by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2963886202_16cc06f422_m.jpg" alt="Flatness, but the Sangre de Cristo mountain loom on the horizon" height="135" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Ho hum just another waterfall here at the top of the Wolf Creek mountain pass.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963883234/" title="Ho hum, there's another waterfall right next to this mountain highway by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2963883234_a45ff61164.jpg" alt="Ho hum, there's another waterfall right next to this mountain highway" height="358" width="500" /></a><br /><br />A bunch of Elk, presumably this is a ranch and they're not just hanging out, but who knows.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963033361/" title="Elk? by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2963033361_706e29d839.jpg" alt="Elk?" height="359" width="500" /></a><br /><br />He didn't seem rabid or anything, but he was crazy -- he was walking right up to me and practically taking stuff out of my hand (dumb I know, yeah yeah).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2963880920/" title="A surprisingly friendly chipmonk by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2963880920_a50df561fd.jpg" alt="A surprisingly friendly chipmonk" height="281" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-90172499940785167622008-08-28T16:12:00.005-04:002008-11-03T13:36:05.576-05:00Images of Mesa Verde National Park, COMesa Verde is AWESOME!!!! Definitely go there if you're ever in the Four Corners / Durango region. We only did one small trip of many that are offered and it was fantastic.<br /><br />Welcome to Mesa Verde --<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868407529/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2868407529_053acf3122.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />This massive rock greets you as you enter the park:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868410491/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2868410491_4408b3df3c.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Sportin' my Stetson from Steamboat, CO, which inexplicably disappeared later on the trip, check out the valley behind me! I was scared driving on the edges of some of these cliffs, I'm not gonna lie...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869242824/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2869242824_f95d88e85e.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />A gnarled old tree and a bunch of burned trees. They had massive wild fires at Mesa Verde a few years back.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868420649/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2868420649_37fe6a2e47_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869319412/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2869319412_09be56b806_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="135" width="240" /></a><br /><br />WOW! An ancient Puebloan village built into the cliff! We walked down to it with a guide and were able to go in there and check it out in a respectful manner. That black stuff on the top of the cliff is from fires that the people in the town made over the decades that they lived there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868433153/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2868433153_cfcb9c6c15.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Me and Carson before heading down to the village site. This hole, built into the ground of the village, is called a Kiva, the ancient Puebloan people performed various rites and rituals in them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869269170/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2869269170_faa6dd50bf_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="192" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869310222/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2869310222_f8eba327dc_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Another shot of the city from above.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868442687/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2868442687_1739fd9372.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />A Puebloan skyscraper!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868477329/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2868477329_fbfc66181d_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="240" width="160" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869300462/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2869300462_ae9056f36c_m.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />High up and having a blast at Mesa Verde!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869317004/" title="Mesa Verde National Park, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2869317004_e1f5304e51.jpg" alt="Mesa Verde National Park, CO" height="281" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-9248867603886352008-08-28T16:08:00.001-04:002008-11-03T13:36:33.039-05:00Images of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, COCanyon of the Ancients is very remote and frankly there just isn't much there, relative to Mesa Verde, where much of the archaeological material left by the Puebloan people are found in small, easily visited areas. Still, it was quite a drive to get out there and see the countryside and the Puebloan ruins. The landscape is amazing -- sagebrush fields, lots of farms, rolling hills, and gorgeous colors.<br /><br />Welcome to this vast area full of archaeological treasures of the ancient Puebloan people.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869589640/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2869589640_f80011a3f3.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><br />There were loads of vultures flying above.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2869580024/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2869580024_4e588a6ba2.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />We spotted this Bald Eagle a long ways off in the distance. If you would like you can click on the pic and see the large version of it in which you can see that the eagle is looking right at you. There are a few other pics of this guy on my Flickr page, if you want to check them out.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868741539/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2868741539_80f23f2fa8.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="336" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The ruins of a massive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiva">Kiva</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868773411/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2868773411_bc061ef3ac.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The ruins of a Puebloan town.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868768767/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/2868768767_95cf4c858e.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Of course I didn't touch or disturb anything, but the neat thing about Canyon of the Ancients is that it is so remote, that literally there was no one else around and we were free to wander about the ruins in a way that you could never do at Mesa Verde, where you are typically going on tours led by Rangers. Canyon of the Ancients is a MASSIVE area and we only checked out one small area containing a large area of ruins.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868764323/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2868764323_b6798de8e6.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The original Route 666 was recently renamed Route 491. How lame.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868786623/" title="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2868786623_ec0eecfb05.jpg" alt="Canyon of the Ancients National Monument" height="358" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-39346374359864558742008-08-28T15:51:00.001-04:002008-11-03T13:37:08.112-05:00Car Trouble in Durango!This is the first episode of trouble and required a new coolant system and timing belt kit (all installed by the awesome crew at Animus Automotive, they were the best mechanics I've ever had and I'd certainly recommend them if you're in the Durango area).<br /><br />We left Durango for Boulder, but didn't quite make it to the top of the first pass (of three total) before the coolant pump quit and the coolant overheated and came spewing out of an emergency release valve in a steamy cloud. I let the car cool back down for about 40 minutes and then, I kid you not, coasted the car almost all the way back to Durango, it was a good 40 miles down that mountain. When we hit Durango things flattened out and I had to press on the gas. The car almost overheated again and started beeping just as I pulled it into a parking spot downtown, SCORE!<br /><br />We ended up getting an SUV for a bit over $20 a day while the car was being worked on, not bad. There's so much to do in the Durango area that even though we stayed several days longer than planned we couldn't do everything we wanted to!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2866718269/" title="Durango, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2866718269_d506c0447e.jpg" alt="Durango, CO" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2866716439/" title="Durango, CO by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2866716439_5151bfb78a.jpg" alt="Durango, CO" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2866889787/" title="Our poor car gets hauled away for some expensive repairs, keeping us in Durango for a few more days by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2866889787_dc1668f7c9.jpg" alt="Our poor car gets hauled away for some expensive repairs, keeping us in Durango for a few more days" height="281" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248090528823464199.post-31011900475098558282008-08-27T16:18:00.001-04:002008-11-03T13:38:07.460-05:00Riding The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Siverton Narrow Gauge RailroadThe Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway is a beautiful ride (as long as the conductor leaves you alone, as I discuss in the prior post). You leave from a cool little train station in historic downtown Durango (there's a pic of the station in my Durango post below) and climb up to Silverton, have lunch there and walk around, then ride on back.<br /><br />It's a great ride, though I would certainly suggest just taking the train one way and taking a bus or cab the other, the two-way train ride takes all day, but to drive to Silverton takes only 30 or 40 minutes, ha! One way is enough to see all the scenery. I felt that the morning ride was prettier, however, we got quite a bit of ash in the face and all over our clothes in the morning because we were in an open car (best for photographing of course) and on the way up to Silverton, a climb of several thousand feet, the train is working much harder and burning far more coal, thus blowing loads of ash. I didn't notice any ash on the way down, when the train is coasting back, relatively speaking.<br /><br />Check out some pics from the ride:<br /><br />Blowin' off a little steam as it crosses the Animas River at 7200 feet above sea level.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868162722/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2868162722_b5aea68f8c.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="400" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Aspen and purple mountains majesty!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867343183/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2867343183_128af2a543_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867349717/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2867349717_827bff96be_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Looking good ;)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868286190/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2868286190_47b078421f.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="357" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868139744/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/2868139744_d696db515a.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Two shots of an abandoned old mine shaft:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868244586/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2868244586_f1806bf739_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="160" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868238992/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2868238992_6d86f1b8db_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="240" width="160" /></a><br /><br />The Animas river was filled with these intensely bright colored rocks, its was gorgeous!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867385823/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2867385823_cb013e0d06.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="500" width="381" /></a><br /><br />Here is a series of the train in old-timey color schemes. I'm a sucker for machines like this and who doesn't dig an old steamer?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867422533/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2867422533_da0f41cc28.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868266892/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2868266892_c6b3fc9e80.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868273060/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2868273060_3646dcff9c.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="500" width="357" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867435033/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2867435033_915214b814.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="357" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Some more Aspen and that's one of the "Galloping Goose" there on the right. Those were smaller vehicles fitted to ride the rails to carry smaller loads back and forth more quickly than the train could, mostly mail, if I recall correctly.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2868289188/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2868289188_5a17436fbf_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="191" width="240" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867446481/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2867446481_fa4135887a_m.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="171" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Although many of the pics I've posted here were of the tail itself, the scenery was totally spectacular, as it is practically everywhere in CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccohen/2867415459/" title="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by chrisnyc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2867415459_0c6f671a2c.jpg" alt="The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad" height="333" width="500" /></a>Chris Cohenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232721805565990363noreply@blogger.com0