Althouse: 3 views of Boulder.

March 17, 2014

3 views of Boulder.

Very Boulder:

Looking out:

Looking closely... pulsatilla:

18 comments:

Ann Althouse said...: The bronze plaque on the boulder in the first photo reads:

"Flagstaff Mountain/Granted to the City of Boulder/by Act of Congress in 1899/through the efforts of Charles M. Campbell"; 3/17/14, 10:23 PM
Bob said...: The flowers look a little like baby birds with their mouths open to be fed, don't they?; 3/17/14, 10:39 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Well - welcome to Colorado. Hope you enjoy your trip.; 3/17/14, 11:25 PM
AmPowerBlog said...: "The flowers look a little like baby birds with their mouths open to be fed, don't they?"

Indeed.; 3/18/14, 12:34 AM
gadfly said...: What - no Flatirons?

Do breakfast at The Buff and visit the street mall.; 3/18/14, 12:43 AM
Tank said...: Isn't it amazing how the sky and clouds look out west? Why does it seem so different from how they look here in NY/NJ?; 3/18/14, 7:19 AM
David said...: Way to go Chuck Campbell,; 3/18/14, 7:44 AM
Hunter McDaniel said...: "Isn't it amazing how the sky and clouds look out west? Why does it seem so different from how they look here in NY/NJ?"

High altitude and low humidity.; 3/18/14, 7:50 AM
Unknown said...: I suggest you drive east to the Wild Animal Sanctuary. At least hit it on your way out of town. You won't regret it.

It's not a zoo and your life will be forever changed.; 3/18/14, 7:56 AM
Tank said...: High altitude? Yeah. The clouds are right on top of you when you're on a hill or mountain there.; 3/18/14, 8:27 AM
Hagar said...: If you could get to a 777 on the ground, could you install a device that would cut all input from the pilot(s) and leave you in control of the autopilot by a remote radio connection?

We seem to have a situation where the Israeli, American, Russian, and now also Chinese and Indian governments take an interest in the ethnic and religious background of all personnel working near commercial aircraft.; 3/18/14, 9:14 AM
madAsHell said...: Isn't it amazing how the sky and clouds look out west?

I think every part of the country has it's own sky.

I always figured it was caused by the moisture, dust, and proximity to the ocean......but that explanation squelches any romantic notions.; 3/18/14, 9:27 AM
Anonymous said...: Sometimes when women kiss the sky they leave lipstick traces on the clouds: you can see this best at sunrise and sunset.; 3/18/14, 9:33 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Isn't it amazing how the sky and clouds look out west?

I spent maybe 5 years in DC, and would forget what stars looked like. Then, during the summer, we would go up to the Shannadoah National Park to camp, and, amazingly, there were stars. Not like the skies that I was used to out west, but still, at least, you could see stars at night.

I think that it is probably more humidity than altitude, though altitude has some effect. In my experience, the skies around (but not in) Phoenix (maybe 1500 feet) is more similar to Boulder than to the east coast at similar elevations. Altitude probably does matter a little though - I grew up at around 5k, and now living at 9k (with Boulder closer to the 5k), and like the skies in the mountains even better than down on the plains by Boulder.

Being used to the drier west, I noticed the humidity, etc. almost immediately when I went back to NY a year or so ago for my kid's college graduation. Everything seemed so dank and old. Even if I hadn't looked at the sky, I would have known I was back east, or in the south (including the part of Texas I lived in for awhile).; 3/18/14, 9:42 AM
Hunter McDaniel said...: At higher altitudes the sky is a much darker shade of blue because there is less atmosphere above you. I notice a big difference coming from sea level to 5K feet, and another big difference when I go hiking up at 10K.; 3/18/14, 10:31 AM
Jason said...: What? No "Partisan Rock?"; 3/18/14, 11:44 AM
K in Texas said...: The deeper blue sky is one of my many favorite things about Colorado. The thinner atmosphere, besides giving you a deeper blue sky, allows one to see further, with much sharper detail. It also seems like the colors are brighter as well. Every time I'm outside, I always feel better.

Of course, the mountains are great - I love being outside when it is really clear at sunrise - the red rays hit the high mountain peaks, giving the snow a rosy tint. I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at the mountain ranges.; 3/18/14, 12:18 PM
southcentralpa said...: Respectfully, Professor, that is three views of boulder. A view of Boulder would have to include someone with white dreadlocks; 3/18/14, 1:18 PM