Visions of a Tree

When one thinks of Colorado, one thinks of Mountains, but in reality, Colorado is actually a High Desert. This desert brings an infinite amount of diversity to the table every time I visit it. This photo was taken on the Chico Basin Ranch, just 30 minutes East of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. The ranch is comprised of 94,500 acres of land that is home to 5,000 head of cattle, deer, antelope, and elk – least we not forget the coyotes! At 5,065 ft above sea level, life here is quite different compared to that in Colorado Springs (6,614 ft) and that at the top of Pikes Peak ( 14,111 ft).

It’s been six hours in the saddle when Lola and I came upon the edge of the Chico ranch this past Saturday, where the golden grasses ripple like an ocean beneath the wide Western sky, stood a single, gnarled, scrappy tree. Its trunk was twisted by time and wind, bark weathered gray by decades of sun and storm. Alone, it stood right against the banks of the Chico Basin Creek, a strategic move for its survival. See, on the Eastern plains of Colorado, it’s mostly flat with a few rolling hills – but this creek has carved out its own masterpiece in this land. In some places, the walls of the creek are 30ft tall – a spectacular feat in an area where you can see nearly 50+ miles in either direction!

This tree, in its simple glory, sits alone, watching the ducks play in the creek, which provides water and sustains life for the wildlife in this area. This tree has many stories to tell – those of the cold and those of the heat; cows and cowboys. It had seen calves born in the spring mud, and cattle driven across snow-covered pastures. It had watched boys become men, and old hands ride their final trail. Signs that lightning had struck it once, but still it stood—scarred, but unbroken.

This tree, several miles from any human activity, has many four-legged friends that come visit and take

solace from the heat – a home to many a wary animal – a back scratcher to others. Cows meandered near the tree, seeking shade in summer and shelter in winter. Coyotes trotted past in the early dawn, their eyes sharp, their movements careful—not out of fear, but respect for the rhythm of the ranch. All evident by the tamped-down grass under its branches and the bare three trunks left exposed to the elements. But fear not, even though the leaves have parted for the winter, this tree will be alive and in full bloom come spring – once again proving never-ending comfort to those who will stop by for a visit.

I dismounted, sat down, and leaned back against the trunk. For a moment, I just wanted to see the world the way the tree saw it. Then I whispered, “Keep watch, old friend.”

Typically, when I ride, I don’t bring my big guns. I will either have a D80 with an 18-200 VR or my point-and-shoot Nikon P6000. This photo was shot with the P9000 at 34mm (1/250 sec @ f/8). This is a 13.5MP camera with a tiny sensor, and I have just started to figure out how to control its limited dynamic range. I did shoot this from the back of my horse (moving as Lolo can never seem to stand still), but I have learned with this camera to use a fast shutter speed, and it will usually give me very satisfactory results.

I hope that, in viewing this photo, you find as much peace and serenity in this tree as I did – this one Saturday on the Chico Basin Ranch.