Walking Mountains Curious Nature | Walking Mountains (7)

Walking Mountains

Our mission is to awaken a sense of wonder and inspire environmental stewardship and sustainability through natural science education.

Swallow Your Pride: About the Swallow bird in Colorado

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 29, 2016 2:15:17 AM

Throughout the spring and summer, you may see Swallows darting and sailing overhead while singing out their favorite songs. The beauty of their flight and harmonious sounds are a treasure in the..

Topics: Curious Nature, Birding

Animal Horns vs Antlers they are not the same

Animal Horns vs Antlers: Why They Are Not The Same

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 22, 2016 2:53:33 AM

Wow, look at the rack on that … elk, of course. But a rack of what? We tend to use the terms “horns” and “antlers” interchangeably, but they are really very different structures. A common..

Topics: Curious Nature

The Pika in The Colorado Rocky Mountains and Vail Valley

The Pika: Princes of the Mountain

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 8, 2016 2:20:59 AM

High up on a mountain, little furry animals run between rock crevices underneath the snow. They cheep to one another, emitting a high pitched call to send signals to their friends. After resting and..

Topics: Curious Nature

About Pollination and How Pollination with Bees Happens

Pollination: Teamwork at its finest

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 1, 2016 2:16:59 AM

What is pollination? Pollination, essentially, is plant sex. More specifically, it is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. The goal is to..

Topics: Curious Nature

Ancient Trees: The Bristlecone Pine

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jul 25, 2016 2:35:16 AM

Long ago, before the discovery of the Eagle Valley and even before the rise of Egyptian pharaohs, a young seed drifted on the wind and landed in the Rocky Mountains. This young seed took hold of the..

Topics: Curious Nature

Scatological Specimens: How to Identify Types of Animal Scat

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jul 18, 2016 2:30:57 AM

“Ewwwww!” The kids were clearly repulsed as I wantonly picked up piece after piece of what looked like elk scat, holding it out for them to get a closer look. In case you don’t know, scat is the..

Topics: Curious Nature

Beautiful and Blue: The Colorado State Flower, The Columbine

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jul 11, 2016 2:47:42 AM

If you’ve been out hiking recently, you have probably seen this striking flower blooming in the summer wind. The pale-blue to lavender sepals, the delicate white petals, and the golden pistils is the..

Topics: Curious Nature, Wildflower Update

Showy Milkweed In the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Gardening

Milkweed for the Mountains and Monarch Butterflies

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jul 4, 2016 3:00:20 AM

Milkweed is becoming a popular buzzword in the gardening community and the push to plant it in gardens and on public lands seems greater than ever. While admittedly the flower has a lovely bloom, why..

Topics: Curious Nature, Wildflower Update

Gaillardia and bee pollination and pollinating

Symbiosis in Action

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jun 27, 2016 2:36:08 AM

Hiking a trail that meanders through the brilliant reds, yellows, purples, and oranges of emerging wildflowers, I feel a sense of wonder and awe. As I stop to enjoy the beauty of these blossoms, I..

Topics: Curious Nature

In Light of the Summer Solstice

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jun 20, 2016 2:02:48 AM

Grilling out with friends and family, playing competitive yard games until late in the evening, hiking or walking the dog after work, and finishing the day with a breathtaking sunset. These are just..

Topics: Curious Nature

Nice Marmot! Yellow Bellied Marmot in Colorado

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jun 13, 2016 1:56:58 AM

How would you like to eat and sunbathe all day during the summer and then sleep through the cold winter months? The yellow-bellied marmot of the high regions of Colorado and the West do just that. At..

Topics: Curious Nature

Avoiding the Spool System Swindle

Posted by Walking Mountains on May 23, 2016 2:35:11 AM

Dear reader, I have been fooled by a system! The swimsuit pictured on the advertisement on my social media newsfeed was elegant, totally my style, and the price was right. Fast forward almost a month..

Topics: Curious Nature

Curious Nature