Views from Ice Cave Peak, Uinta Mountains

These are a few photos taken last week while out mapping along the south flank of the Uinta Mountains. Ice Cave Peak gives a great view of the Whiterocks River valley and the rocks that are exposed along that valley. Late June is a great time to visit because the mountains are so green and the temperatures are pleasant. In the higher mountains, rain clouds form almost every afternoon.

View to southwest from Ice Cave Peak across Whiterocks River valley. On the far side of the river you can see, starting at the far left on the far ridge, gray outcrops of the Pennsylvanian Weber Sandstone, then red outcrops of the Morgan Formation, also Pennsylvanian. At the bottom of the red Morgan cliffs is a thinner gray cliff of Round Valley Limestone, completing the Pennsylvanian outcrops.  The Round Valley Limestone sits above a dark streak of green trees that are growing in the strike valley formed by the soft shale of the Doughnut Formation (Mississippian). Then at the top of the closer ridge, and still dipping off to the left, is a somewhat covered slope (with trees and scrub) of the Humbug Formation sitting atop several ledges with some trees that comprise the Deseret and Madison Limestones, all Mississippian in age. These Mississippian units sit unconformably on a yellow orange unit, called the Red Pine Shale. The Red Pine Shale here appears to be almost horizontal. It is the oldest unit in the photo and is Proterozoic in age. That's probably more geology than you really wanted to know.

Another view to the southwest across Whiterocks River valley.

Looking to the north from Ice Cave Peak to the high rounded peaks of the Uinta Mountains with rain clouds gathering for their afternoon frolic.

A broader view to the northwest.

The storm clouds begin to dump their treasure onto the higher peaks.

Standing on the Mississippian limestones of the Madison Limestone that make up most of the outcrops around Ice Cave Peak and looking south. Below are a couple more shots to the northwest.

Uinta Mountains East

One of the "ships" of rock in the Red Fleet, near Red Fleet Reservoir.

Marsh Peak in Springtime.

Sheep Creek Canyon with steep walls of Paleozoic rock.

Sheep Creek Canyon outcrops of Precambrian Uinta Mountain Group.

Spring fleabane daisies and other flowers.

Sheep Creek Canyon fold with red Precambrian Uinta Mountain Group on the left overlain by contorted Paleozoic rocks.

Fall colors in the aspens on the northeast flank of the Uinta Mountains.

[These photos were taken mostly on the eastern end and southern flank of the Uinta Mountains, Utah. All photos were taken by Urthman and any use of these photos requires permisson.]

Colorado Rockies -- August 2008

Scenery in various parts of Colorado. Click on the photos for a larger view.

Mountain road near Rabbit Ears Pass, Colorado

Nohku Crags in northern Colorado

North Fork of Lake Creek, not far from Independence Pass, Colorado

Shavano Peak, Mount White, and Mount Antero, Colorado

Mount Massive near Leadville, Colorado

Indian Paintbrush in meadow near Rabbit Ears Pass, Colorado

Mountain meadow, near Rabbit Ears Pass, Colorado

Precambrian gneiss in Poudre Canyon, Colorado

Mount Princeton, Colorado

Folds in Precambrian gneisses, Poudre Canyon, Colorado

Avalanche scars near Aspen, Colorado
(All pictures were taken by Urthman and may not be reproduced without permission)

New England 2006

Maine lighthouse at dusk


Scenic stream valley in New Hampshire


Apple-size garnets at Gore Mountain, Vermont


Beach at sunset in Maine
(All photos were taken by Urthman, and may not be republished without permission)