Thehikingmermaid

10/30/2024

Hey heyyy lookie who ON THE FLYER!!!!!!!
The DEAD HEADS!!!!!

Frozen Dead Guy Days is back St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 15-17, 2024. Join us in Estes Park for three days of frigid fun.

10/26/2024

Always the saddest day of the year for me 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Today, Friday, October 25, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) inside Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) officially closed for the season to through travel.

With 11 miles of road located at elevations above 11,500 feet, few guard rails, and no shoulders, Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road. Winter conditions of drifting snow, high winds and below-freezing temperatures occur above 10,000 feet.

Trail Ridge Road is currently closed at Rainbow Curve on the east side of RMNP and at the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side of the park. Closure points on the road may fluctuate this fall, however the road is closed to through travel for the season.

Interested in taking a scenic drive? There are several popular scenic driving destinations open this time of year, including Bear Lake Road, Endovalley Road, Trail Ridge Road on the west side of RMNP from Grand Lake Entrance to the Colorado River Trailhead and Trail Ridge Road on the east side of RMNP to Rainbow Curve.

Trail Ridge Road normally opens the last week in May, weather permitting. In 2024, Trail Ridge Road opened on Friday, May 31.

Old Fall River Road closed to vehicles for the season on October 8. Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road will remain open to bicycles, hikers, and people walking leashed pets through November 30. Leashed pets and bicycles are only allowed on the roads, not on side trails.

On December 1, both roads will transition to "winter trail status." On Sunday, December 1, 2024, bicycles and leashed pets will no longer permitted to travel beyond the closed gates. Pedestrians, snowshoers and skiers will be welcome to recreate during the winter season on both roads.

Image Credit: NPS Photo - Trail Ridge Road Gate at Rainbow Curve

10/11/2024

Have you ever seen Lake Estes with her AURORA DRESS ON?!?! 💃 💙💜🩷💚
This was from 7-8pm and i caught the very end of blue hour as you can see from the 1st shot!!!
What a spectacular night!!!! So blessed to live where I do!!!!!! Just added yet ANOTHER 7 hours of shooting Mother Nature’s light show here in Colorado!!!

10/11/2024

ITS HAPPENING!!!!!!

10/09/2024

The sun blasted 2 X flares on Monday night, and now it's fired off another! The X1.8 flare was produced at 1:56 UTC this morning by sunspot region AR3848. This imagery from the SOHO spacecraft shows a ring of sun-stuff that seems to have been blasted our way by the flare, followed by a confetti-like barrage of solar particles. Will the sun-stuff reach Earth and cause auroras? We'll keep you updated in our daily sun news post:
https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates/

📸 SDO, SOHO, and jhelioviewer.

10/09/2024

This aurora forecast update shows a high likelihood of auroras on October 10 and October 11, especially at high latitudes. Here are some highlights:

1. Kp Index: The predicted Kp index, which measures geomagnetic activity, is expected to peak at Kp 8 on October 10 and October 11. This indicates a strong geomagnetic storm with potential auroras visible at lower latitudes than usual.
2. Geomagnetic Storm Probabilities:
• Middle latitudes have a 5% chance of minor storms on October 9 and 10, with a 20% chance on October 11.
• High latitudes show a higher probability, with a 50% chance of major-to-severe storms on October 11.
3. Aurora Maps: The maps show the likelihood of auroras visible over North America, with red and yellow areas indicating higher visibility. This means auroras could be visible further south on the nights of October 10 and 11.
4. Moon Phases: The waxing crescent moon on October 9 and 10 may provide darker skies, improving aurora visibility before it becomes a brighter waxing gibbous phase.

If you’re interested in capturing auroras, October 10 and 11 look like promising nights!

10/08/2024

Not 1 but 2 bright comets might soon grace Earth's skies! And EarthSky.org has the lowdown on both. Join us at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC) on Monday, October 7, and we'll bring you the latest information on these visitors to the inner solar system. Plus! The autumn meteor season kicks off overnight on October 7-8 with the Draconid meteor shower. Will the Draconids storm in 2024?

More in EarthSky's regular Monday livestream! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcg30fDis4A

10/08/2024

After catching a quick peak at the aurora in my neighborhood, i got in my car and headed to marys lake as quick as i could! 🚙
Clearly I arrived just in time for the most amazingly stunning LIGHT SHOW over the water!!!!!!
😍😍🥳WOW WHAT A NIGHT!!! 🥳🥳
Another 4 hours of shooting the northern lights in Colorado this year!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/08/2024

Well tonight got exciting really fast!!! My phone text me saying the KP was at storm level so i ran outta the house to a higher spot in my neighborhood and the show began!!! I even got to see it with my own eyeballs dance across the sky for several minutes!!!!
(These are only iphoneone photos!!! Nikon ones to come soon!)
WHAT A TREAT!!!

09/25/2024

My heart was pounding around every corner that beamed in yellow, oranges, and reds!!!!!! Thanks for joining me in a wonderful day exploring the colors in RMNP!

09/23/2024

The peaks were stunning in their white dresses today!!!!

08/30/2024

It’s that time of year again – AstroFest time! This year's events will take place at three locations along the Gunnison to highlight the skies along the river from September 5-7. Events include presentations from rangers on various astronomy-related topics, opportunities to view deep sky objects through telescopes, and discover our constellations with night sky tours! We invite you to attend as much or as little works for you, just remember to bring layers, water, a red light to help you see, and a sense of curiosity.

For more information and a detailed schedule, please visit https://www.nps.gov/blca/learn/news/black-canyon-regional-astrofest-september-5-to-7-2024.htm

We encourage carpooling as parking will be limited and remind you that events are weather dependent. We look forward to seeing you!

Photo: Joyce Tanihara

08/17/2024

The quiet Storm Mountain neighborhoods were recently full of activity as firefighters worked to control the Alexander Mountain Fire. Now, volunteers are working to help residents who lost their homes.

08/16/2024

😂😂😂

A joyfully child-free couple from Indiana decided to throw an announcement their way and recently went viral for celebrating their major step.

📷: Elijah VanDine

11/10/2023

Everyone needs this!

11/09/2023

11/05/2023

Possible exciting night upon us!

Praying the KP gets greater than 6tonight and that its clear and that I actually get to see it! And im praying if it happens it happens early enough i can take these 4 amazing kids to go see it!!!!!!!!!

10/31/2023

I know its been too long since ive shared any work here :// life has gotten a little overwhelming this year🙈

However! Heres some of the teasers to the wedding i shot in the blue ridge mountains in Georgia!!! They currently live in steamboat but are from there! My amazing neighbor Melanie knows the bride very well, and i had the pleasure of her as my wonderful assistant!❤️❤️❤️