Stevens Family Calendar: December

This is part of a series about the Stevens Family Calendar (if you know, you know).

Chilly scenes

I mentioned back in October that we try really hard to match photos to the season. 

Flying into Anchorage, Alaska, in June;
this is on the calendar page

No, I don't insist upon selecting only photos taken in the month they represent. But, I do try to find shots that give the spirit of the season (as we enjoy them in the typical idea of North America). 

So, you'll often see birds, flowers and butterflies in the spring, brilliant foliage in the fall and snow and ice in January and December. 

Quite often, winter shots were actually taken in a completely different season, such a glaciers and icebergs taken in the summer. 

This is summer, but it looks like winter to us; Left photos: Scott Stevens

It's the feel we are looking for.

We didn't have a winter trip, per se, during the calendar period, so most of this month's photos were either taken close to home or during colder parts of fall trips.

Real winter photos taken at Garden of the Gods just down the street; Photos: Scott Stevens

For example, when we were in Great Smoky Mountains National Park taking photos of fall foliage, the highest elevations had an overnight snow/ice storm. So, a photo of that is featured this month.

It was 17°F with a below 0°F windchill when I took this shot that appears on the main page

Ditto for Alaska, where some "terminal dust" (Alaskan slang for the season's first snowfall) fell during Scott's fall trip.

A bull Moose navigating fall's first snowfall is on the main page; Photo: Scott Stevens

I also mentioned last month that we just can't stay away from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. And, because winter is long and hard there, we often get frosty shots well into June. 

Lewis Falls in May: Photo: Scott Stevens

The Tetons are always snowy: Photos: Scott Stevens

An American Bison eking out dinner before "spring" grasses sprout in June

This icy-looking photo of Yellowstone Lake is on the main page

During this calendar cycle, the only legitimate winter photos (photos actually taken in the winter) are from (surprisingly) Arizona and (not surprisingly) Colorado.

This one is at the end of our street! Photo: Scott Stevens

Scott popped down to the Grand Canyon and got some really nice photos of a recent snowfall there.

To perspectives of the same shot; Photos: Scott Stevens

This one is on the calendar page; Photo: Scott Stevens

A great spot for gorgeous winter shots is nearby Garden of the Gods in Colorado springs ...

The iconic view is on the main page; Photo: Scott Stevens

But, we had a lot more to choose from, including some that also featured Pikes Peak about which America the Beautiful was written; Photos: Scott Stevens

And, if you are lucky, you'll also get some wildlife ...

Bighorn Ram profile from the main page; Photo Scott Stevens

Another angle; Photo: Scott Stevens

While we have a greater variety of birds and animals in the spring an summer, we do have some great opportunities in the winter.

Bighorn Sheep, Elk and Deer live here year-round, as do Bears (although they are denned down a lot of the time), Foxes, Coyotes, Wolves (recently introduced), Squirrels, Prairie Dogs, Badgers and Weasels.

In the winter, we see lots of raptors, including some that visit only in winter and some that are here all year but become more visible in the winter.

Secretive Long-eared Owls gather to mate and can be more easily found;
the left photo is on the calendar page

This male Northern Harrier blends with the snowy landscape and appeared on the calendar page; Photo: Caty Stevens

By now, we've completed the 2025 calendar, where I promise more winterly winter scenes.

Until you see it, enjoy some Harbor Seals from Alaska that didn't make it into 2024