Seeking God's direction
Encourage to go on a mountain adventure
I woke up early, fed the chickens and self-pollinated several new winter squash blossoms in the vegetable gardens. I would have made breakfast to go, but I guess in an attempt to leave without waking anyone, I forgot. A short way down the road, I saw a nice mule deer buck and then a herd of Elk and their calves. I sensed the encouragement of Jesus.
God redirected the Plan
There was little traffic, and I decided to stop at one of our favorite restaurants in Idaho Springs, called the Main Street restaurant. We love the way they make kale. I substituted kale for a croissant in a meal and it was really good with mushrooms, gravy and hash browns. Soon I was on the road again. Smoke from forest fires was getting thicker the further I went. I noticed the exit for the Herman Gulch trail, and then I saw traffic was at a standstill up ahead before the tunnel. There was an exit ramp just ahead of me so I took it and headed back to the Herman Gulch Trailhead. I remembered that there was another path there that I have not taken, the Watrous Gulch Trail. A description said that it goes above the tree line within the first mile. OK, that was exciting. I started off on a mountain adventure.
The mountain adventure was off to a good start
The trail took me uphill through the pine forest, and then it started to open up and I crossed a crystal clear stream lined with Parry Primrose and Elephant Heads wildflowers. I guess in the mountains one can see a freshly emerged mayfly in July.
Mountain butterflies
I started to see butterflies that are found in the heights: a female Ancia Checkerspot, a Freija Fritillary, and a Chryxus Arctic. The first time in my life that I saw a Freija Fritillary was only a couple of weeks earlier on the Herman Gulch trail. They are also in Alaska and northern Wisconsin along bogs and streams.
Answer to prayer
Just after I took a picture of a common Orange Sulphur butterfly, I met a lady all dressed in mountain adventure clothing and equipped with binoculars to find birds. She said, “are you butterfly hunting?” I shared my picture with her and asked if she would like to see my new book. She loved it but did not have money with her. A couple of men came up the trail, and the lady showed them my book. They liked it too. When I caught up with them again, one of the men thought of someone that would like the book as a gift. His friend loaned him the money to buy it. I was glad that I was inspired to bring the book with me. God is good.
God used people to direct my path
Further on the trail, I met an older man who was on his way down from Woods Mountain. I asked him what was his favorite mountain adventure. He pointed to Mt. Parnassus to the east (13,580 feet elevation!). I said that I was not sure I brought enough water with me. He suggested I hike to the saddle (5.6 miles from the trailhead where I started) and then decide. Further on, a young man said the mountain was too steep and he turned around. Still I was encouraged that the steep hike before me was going to be good. As I continued, I saw some beautiful tiny plants, the Alpine Bitterroot and the Alpine violet. I also was high enough now to see Rocky Mountain Parnassian butterflies. God made plants and butterflies for every elevation.
Woods mountain was to my left (West) and had interesting rock formations. Mount Parnassus was to my right.
Encouraged by God to continue the Mountain Adventure
I made it to the saddle and could see a trail up Woods mountain (12,940 ft). All around me were more alpine plants and insects: a colorful bumble bee on Mountain Avens, Tufted Saxifrage, Alpine Sunflower, a Tundra Moth on Alpine Avens, a large bumble bee on Moss Campion and Western Paintbrush. I stopped to eat a mix of hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, dried black currants and chocolate chips. It seemed that my need for water was less and felt more comfortable about the idea of heading up Mount Parnassus to see God’s glory and the earth rejoicing. Why rejoice? Because Jesus is reigning and restoring all things.
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might ... so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
Made it to the top
I did not take many pictures going up the mountain, but slowly hiked back and forth until I was at the top taking in the view of the expanse. This is the breath-taking look to the North-East.
I zoomed up on the mountain side in the above picture and noticed what looks like a trail across the middle of the step side. Maybe bighorn sheep take that route to a safe place to rest among the rocks.
Surrounded by God's Creatures
The first creature that was curious to see me was a Yellow-Bellied Marmot. It is certainly well designed with a thick coat of hair to live in the rocks of the cold mountain tops.
A Pika took a brief look at me too.
Topping behavior of butterflies
The mountain top was a special place, and it was worth spending some extra time there. One thing that is interesting is that male butterflies like to be a top of hills and mountains to look for females. Do the females have the instinct to be seen there too? I mostly saw males chasing off other males as I captured in the case of the Anise Swallowtail. The two flew high in the air until I could not see them. Thirty minutes later one returned.
Insight
Other butterflies that I saw previously on mountain tops were the Melissa Arctic and the Anicia Checkerspot. They were seen on this mountain adventure too. Maybe they have this topping behavior to ensure that we would see God’s glory in every place. The butterflies also may illustrate a truth in scripture: people will flow to Jesus and the Church. I will expand on that idea.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea
I saw a female butterfly on Mt. Parnassus. It was a Rocky Mountain Parnassian butterfly (Parnassius smintheus).
Interesting to learn that the name Parnassus effectively means “the mountain of the house of the god.”
That god is referred to as Apollo, another name for the Parnassian butterfly is Rocky Mountain Apollo. The names are part of Greek Mythology.
The real spiritual mountain is Jesus and the Church. Christians are the living stones of the Church with Christ as the cornerstone. All will flow to the mountain of the Lord like the butterflies (the meek) that fly to the highest point. God’s CreationSpeech is to encourage us that His Word is true.
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
Wildflowers covered the Mountain
God made the mountain to illustrate Christ and His Church, so one would expect it to be a beautiful place. This beauty is seen whether you look at the whole mountain or everything that thrives there. Wildflowers cover the mountains. Below are pictures of Alpine Spring Beauty, Goldbloom Saxifrage, Alpine bluebells & Alpine Avens, Pigmy Goldenweed, Moss Campion, and Alpine Phlox.
Birds, Butterflies and wildflowers for every place
I found that the animals on the mountain were comfortable with me. This was especially true with the White-Tailed Ptarmigan. I sat down and watched them for an hour or so and they gradually came towards me. Maybe I was near their favorite wildflowers to eat. As they started moving away they talked to each other.
Descending down the mountain, I stopped at several alpine bogs. When I came to one, a White-Crowned sparrow flew up on a bush. I sat down, and the sparrow flew down in front of me chirping and eating. Other bogs featured “Arctic Blue” (Plebejus Glandon) butterflies.
Further down in elevation, along a stream, Common Alpine butterflies were seen. One had a particularly unusual blue color in its wings. This color is seen in some other Erebia species like the Colorado Alpine.
More wildflowers along the stream and in the meadow: American Speedwell, King’s Crown with Bluebells, Queen’s Crown, Three shades of Splitleaf Paintbrush, Alpine Sagewort, Small Flower Penstemon and Alpine Larkspur. My favorite Splitleaf Paintbrush photo is highlighted with a larger view.
Almost to the parking lot, and I keep disturbing Deduced Graphic moths on the path. This and other moths seemed to like Fireweed wildflowers.
Be encouraged to see what God is saying through His creation
So if you are passing through the Rocky Mountains and have time for a mountain adventure, consider exit 218 and see what God is saying through His creation.
Wonderful pictures and an Awesome Creation that God has made!
Thank you Rich. “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23. Blessings, Neal
Thank You for sharing your wonderful hike on a mountain trail … so much beauty! I almost felt like I was there!
I sat in solitude, looking at the flowers, butterflies & birds, feeling so close to our Heavenly Father! so relaxing ….
God Bless You!
Marilee, your comment is beautifully composed, a gift. Thank you for the blessing. Neal
Beautiful examples of God’s fingerprints everywhere. Thank you for the narrative as you wove the adventure God gave you with His Word. Breathtaking!
Thank you Jennie for your comment! “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Beautiful walk on the trail with you sharing the blessings of God’s creation.
Thank you. I am glad that such blessings are available to you to enjoy in your garden and surroundings. Neal