Hard Winter Coming

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

Hard Winter Coming

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture And Enhancement

Description

The Rocky Mountains in western North America stretch more than 3,000 miles from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. Initially formed from 80 million to 55 million years ago during the Laramide orogeny during which a number of plates began to slide underneath the North American plate as the North American plate began to uplift even further. The angle of subduction was shallow, resulting in a broad belt of mountains running down western North America. Since then, further tectonic activity and erosion by glaciers have sculpted the Rockies into dramatic peaks and valleys.

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado. It features majestic mountain views, mountain lakes, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments-from wooded forests to mountain tundra-and easy access to back-country trails and campsites. The park is located northwest of Boulder, Colorado, in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River.

In the mountains, heavy snow can lead to avalanches. Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening.

This image was made along the Cub Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado.

Image copyright 2013 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

October 20th, 2013

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