A Crow’s Paradise

Into the hills on the back of a crow flying, just a few miles northwest above the small town of Walsenburg, Colorado, there lies an oasis in a high mountain desert. Golden flocked plains stretch out endlessly to the East, where sunrise brightens and vibrant oranges and pinks fill the dusty twighlight skies. Amtrak and coal trains wind along the base of the hills, through Walsenburg; their eery cry follows crow flights, mournfully calling to raptured ear.

North, west and south are larger mountains, peaking above Juniper and Pine trees, tipping the clouds. Wet Mountains border the North with gentle rolling rising. The west are the Sangre De Christo - Blood of Christ - that glow red in sunset and lend comfort in daybreak. The Spanish Peaks guard the south: Two breast-shaped, snow tipped peaks towering above amazing rock formations and winding ridges jutting through lush green hills.

So many animals can be seen while you're there! Antelope, Elk, Mule Deer, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Badger, Western Diamondback, Timber Rattler, Porcupine, Pack Rat, Jack Rabbit and more; Golden Eagle, Red tail, Baldy, Turkey Vulture, Raven, Magpie, Raven, Stellar and Blue Jays, Junko, Chickadee, Prarie Dove, Wild Turkey and more; Cattle roam freely, Coyote and Black Bear roam the night, and a murder of Crows dance in the sky.

Wind whips through trees; swirling, lifting spirits and energizing. Heat of summer brings life to cicadas when other beings hide in shade, under trees or in arroyos. Dust made of fine clay the color of butterscotch pudding coats the soft ground, scattered with cane cactus; its flowers vibrant fuscia, its fruit bright yellow. Prickly pear and barrel cactus with yellow, pink and red flowers compete for attention. Bright orange Indian Paintbrush, blue bells, Sunflowers taller than a man, daisy's, asters blend with the prarie grasses the wind tickles and bends.

In the very dark of night, like a desert the temperature drops by 30 degrees. Coyotes howl delighting in the cool air. In the crisp, cloudless night, unpolluted by city lights, the Milky Way streaks vibrant across the sky; starlight view only obscured by human eye's capacity to see. The blanket of stars beckons you stay, wrapped in the beauty for one more night, one more day; just stay.