Walking Mountains Curious Nature | Walking Mountains (9)

Walking Mountains

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

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

Little Brown Birds and how to identify different species

Little Brown Birds: Pine siskin, Dark-eyed Junco & the House Sparrow

Posted by Walking Mountains on May 9, 2016 2:46:38 AM

Birding is a great hobby that everyone can take part in, but most birders (myself included) tend to be drawn to the flashy or colorful species because they can be easier to identify, and they seem..

Topics: Curious Nature, Birding

A Rocky Mountain Love Story: Lichen!

Posted by Walking Mountains on May 2, 2016 11:57:25 AM

That’s not moss, it’s lichen! Next time you are on the trail, you can easily distinguish moss from lichen by getting up close and making some simple observations. At the most basic level, moss is a..

Topics: Curious Nature

Teamwork in Nature: Parasites

Posted by Walking Mountains on Apr 25, 2016 1:24:48 AM

Parasites. When most people think of a parasite, it often brings to mind images of worm-like creatures infesting other animals. While that is one correct perception, there is a lot more to these..

Topics: Curious Nature

Mud on Everything: It Must be Spring

Posted by Walking Mountains on Apr 18, 2016 2:20:21 AM

Spring is like a scavenger hunt for the senses. Each spring I find once again my nose being tickled by sweet smells, my ears filled with melodies I haven’t heard in months, and I revel in the warming..

Topics: Curious Nature

Stories in the Trees: Scars On Aspen Trees

Posted by Walking Mountains on Apr 4, 2016 2:41:52 AM

Aspens form the backdrop to so many of our recreational activities here in Colorado. Hiking, skiing, camping and snowshoeing seem to be much more enjoyable when done in the shade and beauty of our..

Topics: Curious Nature

Water We In For

Posted by Walking Mountains on Mar 28, 2016 1:43:57 AM

The scare is over as more snow has been piling up over the past week. An unusually dry and warm February had many of us thinking an early spring. We lost a lot of snow as it melted, but there is..

Topics: Curious Nature

Rufous Hummingbird In Colorado Migration

Migration Madness: Swainson’s Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Warblers, Red-naped Sap Sucker

Posted by Walking Mountains on Mar 21, 2016 1:56:54 AM

Winter is on its way out and spring is on its way in! It’s time for budding aspens, rushing rivers, bare feet, and clear highway conditions. This time of year can go by in the blink of an eye, and if..

Topics: Curious Nature, Birding

February doldrums bring March Gnar-Pow

Posted by Walking Mountains on Mar 14, 2016 2:37:33 AM

On February 2nd, 2016, alias Groundhog Day, the mascot of this historic and beloved tradition, Punxsutawney Phil, was hoisted high in the air at Gobbler’s Knob, PA, amidst a chorus of cheers.

Topics: Curious Nature

Crazy Corvids

Posted by Walking Mountains on Mar 7, 2016 1:49:47 AM

As a naturalist up at the Nature Discovery Center on Vail Mountain, I am commonly asked about the large black and white bird they see hopping around town. Perhaps to a local, this bird has lost its..

Topics: Curious Nature, Birding

How to Identify the Douglas Fir in Colorado

Douglas-Fir – A Case of Mistaken Identity

Posted by Walking Mountains on Feb 29, 2016 12:59:39 AM

It’s difficult to see the forest for the trees, especially when most of those trees are conifers. After all, conifers all tend to look the same, especially from a distance. People don’t come from all..

Topics: Curious Nature

Curious Nature