Amber Maitrejean

Photography enthusiast based in Colorado

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Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine trees. Mount Goliath Nature Area. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine trees. Mount Goliath Nature Area. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

At an elevation of 11,540 feet, the nature area features a 160-acre grove of ancient bristlecone pine trees dated between 900-1500 years old. The oldest tree dates from the year 403- 70 years before the fall of Rome. Dead bristlecone pines can remain standing for hundreds years after dying.

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Full moon in the pines. Jefferson County, Colorado. Photo by Amber Maitrejean

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Juvenile European starling. Jefferson County, Colorado. Photo by Amber Maitrejean

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Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway and a marmot too. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway and big horn sheep too. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mount Blue Sky tundra and mountain goats too. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mountain goats near the summit of Mount Blue Sky. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mountain goats of the alpine tundra. Mount Blue Sky. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Meyer–Womble Observatory. Elevation 14,148. Mount Blue Sky. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Life blooms at 14,130 feet. Mount Blue Sky. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

Look closely at the rock-strewn mountainside and you will spot a remarkable variety of alpine tundra wildflowers. Life for these hardy beauties is brief, lasting only between 6-10 weeks or until freezing temperatures ends their life cycles.

Alpine springbeauty, alpine forget-me-nots, sweetflower rock jasmine

Alpine forget-me-nots

Ross' avens

Dwarf clover

Alpine springbeauty

The alpine tundra where they live

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Mount Blue Sky Interpretive Area and a marmot too. Elevation 14,130 feet. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Mountain goats. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

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Summit Lake Park. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

Summit Lake Park is the highest city park in North America at 12,830 feet. Although it was 87F in Denver that day, up here it was cold and windy with light snow.

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Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photo by Amber Maitrejean

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Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway. Clear Creek County, Colorado. Photos by Amber Maitrejean

Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America. The byway climbs over 7000 feet in 28 miles to an altitude of 14,130 feet, and rises through 5 climate zones: Montane Forest, Subalpine Forest, Timberline, Alpine Tundra and Alpine Zone (summit).