Nature

Multimedia

To meet this week’s prompt, I have created a Prezi presentation about visiting Stavanger, Norway. The pictures without image or source credits belong to my family – they’re pictures my parents took when we lived there. I hope you enjoy!

https://prezi.com/view/XvJh0aUpRn5dXwLru0xM/

Listicle

For many University of Denver students, one of the largest draws to the campus is, without fail, the spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains. With mountains lining the Western sky, Denver is celebrated for its stunning sunsets.

The trick is finding that perfect spot to catch that mountain view, but with an ever-changing campus and several locations to choose from, it can be easy to find yourself frustrated with your options. Fortunately, current DU seniors have scoured the area for nearly four years, providing you with the five best places to enjoy everything a University of Denver sunset has to offer.

Sunset over Denvers Washington Park LakeImage taken at Washington Park Centennial Halls from Pinterest.com/AshStrick5280

5. Washington Park

Located a mile North of the University of Denver campus, Washington park provides spectators with an opportunity to experience beauty in an adventure off campus. With mountains and trees filling in the backdrop, the magical look is complete with a clear lake reflecting the world within. If you come in the spring and summer months, you may even see birds landing in the lake, adding to the sense of wilderness that one may find for a moment in the midst of a city scape.

Sunset over Rocky Mountains from Centennial HallsImage taken from the 10th floor of Centennial Halls by Alex Koon

4. Centennial Halls 10thFloor

For many first-year students, making the decision to live in one residence hall or another can be a headache. However, living in Centennial Halls (or befriending someone who does) sure comes with its benefits. Any resident may venture up to the 10thfloor lobby to witness the spectacular view of both the mountains and the city skyline. With a collection of shorter buildings in Denver, a 10-story residence hall is a treat for any site seeker.

Sunset over University of Denver CampusImage taken from the 5th floor of the SIE Complex from DU.edu

3. The SIE Complex 5thFloor

The SIE Complex is accessible to all DU community members, providing anyone with the opportunity to venture up to the striking 5thfloor. The modern building provides comfortable couches and billowing windows to watch the night sky creep in. In addition to the classic mountain view, sunset lovers also witness the picturesque view of the University of Denver campus from above, adding to the beauty of the sunset sky.

Pink sunset from Denver's Kunming ParkImage taken at Kunming Park by Alex Koon

2. Kunming Park

Most any warm Denver night, Kunming Park is filled with picnic blankets and photographers alike, all hoping to enjoy a near perfect view of the gorgeous mountain sky. Just West of the DU Campus, Kunming Park sits atop a small hill, creating the perfect opportunity for mountains to peak above the bustling neighborhood, an almost rare site from the ground in the University area.

Sunset from Evans Parking GarageImage taken from the Evans Parking Garage by Alex Koon

1. The Evans Parking Garage

Located on the Southeast corner of Evans and High street, the Evans Parking Garage is accessible for anyone to venture to the top. The steep incline combined with the open air provides a perfect 360 view of all that Denver has to offer. With mountains to the West, downtown to the North, and DU Campus to the East, it seems as though this entire sliver of the world is dazzled with color. At the top of the Evans Parking Garage, you are guaranteed to find beauty in any direction.

Listicle

Top 4 places to stargaze in Northern California.
The Northern California outdoors is known for its beautiful coastline and expansive mountain ranges that have plenty of opportunities for day hikes, camping, and other outdoor activities. However, Northern California is also known for its heavy light pollution and smog, which can obscure skies at night and make all but the brightest stars invisible. As a result, city dwelling Californians may have to adventure into other parts of the state to stargaze. Here is a list of my top four places in California that boast both beautiful days, clear nights, and give you a chance to get outside and really see the world. Of course, all of this is dependent on local weather conditions and air quality, so make sure to check weather sources before you head out!
1.Salt Point State Park

Salt Point State Park is located around 2 hours north of San Francisco up highway 1 and is far enough from major cities that its night skies are not affected by light pollution or smog. During the day there are several beaches and trails that wind along the cliffs of the rocky coast. The nights aren’t great for hiking, but if you are careful on a clear night there are several coastal campsites where you can lie on the cliffs over the ocean, stare up at the stars, and listen to the pounding of the waves.

2.Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is about four hours north of Sacramento, on the very southern end of the Cascade mountain range. During the day there are many opportunities hiking various volcanoes and volcanic remnants, but at night the sandy expanse around Cinder Cone or the open sky over forested lakes is a perfect opportunity to sit and watch the stars behind the jagged outlines of Chaos Crags or Lassen Peak.

3.Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, while contestably “Northern”, is one of the best places to see the milky way, particularly from the top of the valley. Backpacking up either side and spending the night in the high Sierras will give you a spectacular view of the sky without light pollution or smog, but if you aren’t able to do that, the night sky is still vibrant from the valley floor. However, during most of the year, Yosemite is very crowded, and you may have to reserve a backpacking permit or campsite months ahead of time.

4.Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness encompasses miles and miles of back country south of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada’s. There are numerous trailheads and opportunities for overnight trips into the glacier carved wilderness. Tree coverage is sparse and whether you find yourself on a lake or mountain side there is plenty of opportunity to see the stars from such a high elevation. These trails can be rough, and poorly marked, so make sure you have a map, and plenty of water.

Review

Evergreen Lake

My boyfriend grew up in Evergreen, and had been dying to get me up there and show me around. I finally made the time.

I had no idea what to expect. The only context I had were pictures of breathtaking, bright amber aspens he sent me last fall, saying he “passed by them on an afternoon walk”. I was completely dumbfounded. I thought he might have been pulling my leg. No way could he take these gallery worthy photos just because he decided to go on a walk…

Visiting myself proved me wrong.

Everything up in Evergreen looks like that. Editorial pictures right before your eyes. From the local bars that are built right into the mountain, to the mansions gracefully sitting atop hillsides, to the vast plains of tall grass. I saw three deer, a mom and two babies, just driving around a small peak. It was the closest I’ve ever been to a wild animal in my life. I saw a bald eagle in person for the first time, dive for a fish in the lake.

Evergreen makes for a very easy and inexpensive day trip from Denver. By highways it takes about 30 minutes to reach, but I recommend taking your time and finding the scenic routes, so you can find places to pause and take in the mountain air. In town there are plenty of locally owned boutiques, cafés, art galleries and novelty shops to browse, and live music from the patio by the dam to listen to while you do. I’m partial to the rocks and minerals house at the edge of downtown. There’s a very unique other-worldly mural on its side; you can’t miss it.

It was so easy to be present with my boyfriend in this environment. Watching people go by, I felt we were all in the same boat; we were all there for a moment free of trouble. To paint, shop, fish, walk, bike, run, hike— to relax. I felt as if the weight of my worries was being carried away by the summer breeze. I was truly at peace.

I can’t wait to go back again.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33415-d812134-r772183510-Evergreen_Lake-Evergreen_Colorado.html

Review

North Fork Shanahan Trail

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Boulder is always a great place to go hiking but for a beginner (someone who hasn’t done too many hikes) it is sometimes hard to find a trail that is your speed. But for a new hiker who wants to get an amazing view of the Flatiron mountain North Fork Shanahan Trail is for you. On weekends people who are on the trail are very cautions everyone is wearing masks and staying 6 feet away from other groups. The trail is easy to get around with the path being cleared and lined up with beautiful tall trees that are just now changing into beautiful fall colors. And if you want to bring your four-legged friend with you there is a lot of open space, but remember to bring some bags to clean up after your pup. At the end of the hike, you end up at a lookout area where you see the beautiful flatirons mountains. This is definitely a hike I would recommend.

Check out this trail on AllTrails.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/north-fork-shanahan-trail

Review

Zapata Falls is the sort of place you can’t find unless you look for it. Despite this, I stumbled upon it largely by accident as it happened to be the only open campsite in all southwestern Colorado because it is first come, first serve. It’s a bit of an adventure to find, miles and miles through the wide open expanse of the San Luis Valley, and the a sharp right turn onto the roughest three mile dirt road my ford fusion has ever seen that seems to be going nowhere the entire 25 minutes it takes to wind up the side of the valley without popping a tire.
The campsites sit on the west facing slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, from which you can see the tallest sand dunes in North America and a spectacular view of the sunset over the valley. It is great for car camping, for $11 a night the sites are decently spaced, there is good tree coverage and clean bathrooms. The weather is unpredictable, so be prepared for short bursts of strong winds and heavy rains, especially in late summer.
The hike to the falls from the campsite is short and sweet, uphill but not too steep, though if you’d like to see the waterfall be prepared to wade upstream for 20 feet or so. The water is cold, but it’s worth it to wade into a chasm carved out by the force of a little creek over a millennium. The falls themselves aren’t large, but it’s the sort of place where time ceases to exist, or maybe is a little more present, just for a moment until someone else comes in and they aren’t wearing a mask and damn its 2020 isn’t it?

Review

As you swirl around the zig-zags of the mountainous town of Manitou Springs, Colorado, you finally see it. First, you may only see trees, and then a few of the stone peaks gently welcoming you in. Then, they suddenly appear – the beautiful red rocks of Garden of the Gods.

You can’t decide whether to attempt to find a parking spot so you could climb the multiple trails, or to stay in the car while listening to music to simply enjoy the view. I personally just drove around in my car, as handicap spots exist but are limited, and pulled over at the designated spots to take Instagram-worthy pics and just gaze at the lovely view. Regardless of your choice, you will instantly fall in love with the glorious Garden.

This exquisite national landmark is both dog-friendly and wheelchair accessible, as most of the trails have dog care stations and there are a few paved sidewalks. With 21 miles worth of trails, you could have a different experience of the park each time you go exploring. They even offer guided tours where you and your friends could climb one of the monumental boulders and get a view that one could only say belongs to the Gods.

The visitor center is an entertaining experience in of itself, with a fully-immersive exhibit of the history of Colorado’s land and an overwhelming gift shop! When you begin your tour, your eye instantly goes to the center display, a dinosaur fossil unique to Colorado, and suddenly you find yourself fascinated at the transformations the land has gone through.

Garden of the Gods is open year-round, with fluctuations based on weather, and it’s beautiful on any given day. You could go on a spring morning, a rainy summer evening, or a fall afternoon when the leaves are changing, and feel like you are experiencing the park for the first time.