After some heavy snow followed by a day of unseasonably (but not unreasonably) warm temperatures, clouds seemed to play among the sandstone formations of the Colorado National Monument on the afternoon of February 10.
Journal: 10 February 2014: Sun And Fog In The Monument
Misty Panorama of Independence Monument
Swirling clouds cleared from the Monument floor long enough for me to make this 8-image panorama. A few minutes later, all I could see from here was fog. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.
Swirling Clouds around Independence
The wilderness character and proximity to a sizable urban area make the Colorado National Monument unique in the National Park Service system. The clouds surrounding the base of Independence Monument completely obscure the city of Grand Junction, population ~60,000, that sits just a few miles away. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.
Clouds, Independence Monument
The wilderness character and proximity to a sizable urban area make the Colorado National Monument unique in the National Park Service system. The clouds surrounding the base of Independence Monument completely obscure the city of Grand Junction, population ~60,000, that sits just a few miles away. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.
Sea of Clouds around Independence
Swirling clouds reveal only the top 150' or so of Independence Monument. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.
Red Rock, Clouds
Clouds swirl up and around the red sandstone formations of the Colorado National Monument on an unusually warm February afternoon. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.
Blue Sky and Clearing Fog
Fog rolled in, out, and back in during much of the afternoon on this unusually warm February day, making this scene from Grand View alternately breathtaking and completely enveloped with clouds. Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.