Sand Hill Cranes in flight heading along the North Platte River looking to roost at sunset.

In the course of a week I have witnessed the two extremes of Mother Nature’s charge.

Last Friday and Saturday I sat quietly in the early evening hours with my wife and friends Jerry and Bridget in the confines of an exquisite blind watching and photographing the Sand Hill and Whooping Crane migration along the North Platte River in central Nebraska. Jerry and Bridget have been working the past five years as administrators of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, revitalizing this grand ribbon of water into an even more appealing habitat for the majestic birds.

The site and sounds of this natural ritual , orchestrated over millions of years, will forever penetrate your  heart and etch it’s primal instinct in your sacred memory bank. On wing and with their eerily prehistoric call, one can certainly consider the experience one for the “bucket list”.

Upon returning to Colorado and settling into our work week , we were alerted Monday evening by local network news that a wild fire had broke out in Conifer Colorado approximately eight miles south of our home. Being Colorado natives living in a domain of coniferous forests, spring always reminds us of two things. Either wet heavy snows created by the clash of cold Northern Pacific air with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico or extremely dry conditions precipitated by strong continuous pummeling winds activated by an unruly jet stream.

This spring we have gotten outrageous winds, some upwards to 90 miles an hour certain days. Talk had already begun circulating among friends and neighbors about fire danger weeks before the Lower North Fork fire erupted.

For those of us that live amongst nature’s finest array of beauty we are reminded that part of that precious balance is viciousness and natural selection.

Wild fire, including Conifer Colorado's Lower North Fork fire, is an ever present reminder of the turbulent lifestyle mountain dwellers face each year.

Sarah Burke 1983-2012

The death today of four-time Winter X Games champion skier Sarah Burke will touch the hearts of many.

The 29 year-old Canadian was at the top of her game and she was a true role model for her peers and fans alike. She will be remembered not only for her  talents on the slopes and the half pipe but for her sportsmanship, radiant smile and the effervescence she exuded. Her affable way was contagious. Her grit and determination were to be admired.

In a world of sports filled with large egos, self-ingratiating individuals,  and arrogant ways, Sarah’s  style was as fresh as newly  fallen snow and as beautiful as the sun on a winter morning.

May we all remember the gracious competitor with fire in her belly. The awards podium at the Winter X Games will forever  be void of a special athlete and human being but her legend will gleam like a “Games” gold medal.

Sarah Burke competing in Women's Skiing Slopestyle at Aspen Buttermilk January 24, 2009

Former Oakland Raiders great wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff salutes the fans at the eternal flame for Al Davis in pre game ceremonies prior to the game against the Denver Broncos November 6, 2011.

Over the years covering the NFL there really is only one game I dread. It is visiting the Oakland ( Los Angeles then Oakland again) Raiders home field. It isn’t so much the Black and Silver themselves it’s everyone the Black and Silver draws to the stadium. I have been spit on. I have had batteries thrown at me. Just about every foul word you imagine has been slung in my direction. And I don’t just mean grown (that’s a stretch) men. One of my fondest memories was the mom with young son in tow, I would guess ten to twelve years-old, bombarding me with a slew of four-letter bombs.

Then, in the  past, the Al Davis antics. Al Davis for those of you that have no idea whom I am talking about Davis was the Oakland Raiders Head Coach, general manager and long-time owner of the Oakland. He passed away last month. As much as you might have disliked the man he brought many good things to the game of pro football.

The antics. How about us staying at a San Francisco hotel in the Dan Reeves era only to have fire alarms go off in the wee hours of the morning prior to the game. I didn’t happen to leave my room at the hotel but I am pretty certain the fire department didn’t even show up.

When the team called LA home, it was always fairly certain that when you showered after the game there would be no hot water or nor an abundance of towels in the Coliseum locker room.

Last season a dreadful and power rain storm soaked the Oakland Coliseum field ( forgive me, the stadium has had so many names I can’t remember actually what it was officially called last year; it’s now O.co Coliseum-what?). To make matters worse, they had a bit of a”watering and sprinkler” issue. Of course, the only area that was a bonafide quagmire was directly in front of the Denver Broncos bench area.

These are memories of just a few crazy times. It used to be we all dreaded going to the stadium. Now even the Broncos players have some fun with the whole scene. Sunday this past weekend Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker threw kisses to the fans after he scored on a 27-yard reception in the first quarter. And after running back Willis McGahee tore up the field with 163 yards and two rushing touchdowns, one of which went for 60 yards, he gave the Black Hole a Mile-High salute on his final end zone visit.

Used to be we all thought the place was crazy and scary. Don’t get me wrong there are still some scary folks there, unfortunately for the wrong reasons. But all in all it’s a fun place to cover an NFL game (even though football should never be played on a baseball field) and Oakland’s fans really are harmless especially when you take the fire out of their rather flaming tongues with a 38-24 win.

Denver Broncos Eric Decker blows a kiss to Oakland Raiders fans after scoring on a 27-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders in the NFL game at O.com Coliseum in Oakland,Ca.

Respectful Oakland Raiders Black Hole fans pause for the national anthem prior to the NFL game against the Denver Broncos.

small sneaky biting flies and a culmination of great plays, good hits and a large dose of boring drills. Beyond the obvious coverage I always look for a little humor and some amusing situations. Here’s this camp’s musings.

Legs can only go so far

Elvis's arms appear to be fine

The ball boys might be wet but the balls are just fine

You couldn't ask for a nicer head coach

Paying attention helps immensely

Fans continue to wear strange things

Even officials working the practices have a hard time staying awake

Demaryius Thomas couldn't bare not working out

Fans took the heat at the Broncos first scrimmage

Brandon Lloyd is all dressed up and ready for the season

Never leave a helmet unattended

Ryan McBean loves practice, loves scrimmages and certainly loves the fans

Looks like a love fest but trust me it IS NOT

Even John Elway stretchess at practice

Never trust a kicker with a ball launcher

Forget practice. Demaryius Thomas is ready for the beach

Kyle has been around long enough he knows how to play catch

A mother Downy Woodpecker,left, teaches her youngster the finer art of outdoor dining.

I love this time of year in Evergreen.With temperatures in the low 80′s, the threat of snow is gone for darn near ninety days. And after 10 days of rain from a Gulf of Mexico monsoonal flow, the mountain meadows are a deep rich green, the wildflowers are bursting with vibrant colors and even the wildlife seem to have brilliant coats- the deer have a sandy-buff color, the elk are sporting a spice-market cinnamon hue and the bears appear to have an ultra- sheen to them.

Everywhere you look people are enjoying themselves in this summer prime. Less than two miles from the house is a network of open space trails-over six miles in all- where hikers, mountain bikers and runners come together forming a unique sound of happy feet. Across the way is an off-lead dog park that recently saw an upgrade of wonderfully-graded, crushed rock serpentine trails. It’s a place where dogs seem to come unglued with joy and their owners have a purpose to their steps.

A gentle breeze yesterday brought poetry to the wildflowers along the banks of the Buchanan Ponds in Evergreen (CO).

And most enjoyable is the sightings of all the new offspring. They all display an awkward sense with their gangly legs, funny wobbles and unkept feathers as the cling near the adults for security.

It’s all good. Good sights, good smells and good fun.

The Mt. Evans Freedom Run is serious business for some runners even if it’s only a 5k. A winning time of 15:50 is no laughing matter                           at roughly 7900 ft. of altitude. The 30th Annual race drew nearly a 1000 runners, walkers and strollers. And a few canines.

People all over the country have traditions and attend annual events for Independence Day. For myself and a lot of other Coloradoans, the Fourth of July just wouldn’t be the same without the Mt. Evans Hospice Freedom Run. Held for the past 30 years in our idyllic mountain community, this 5k run calls out to families, friends and serious runners alike.

Trust me this puppy can easily bring you to tears gasping for breath as every hill’s false summit just chuckles under your feet. The problem with the Freedom Run, especially for first timers, is the start is nestled innocently on a level spot atop a Hiwan neighborhood street. In the pre-race excitement as folks gather and chat with one another they forget about the hill they just walked up to get to the starting line.

Once the gun goes off, this swarm of  about 1000 exuberant runners of varying ages charges down that same hill, legs and arms flailing, to the first dog-leg right hand curve. It almost seems the entire pack is leading the pack! The race gradually descends once again toward an open meadow graced with several ponds. The short and mid distance sprinters  knife their way up front and you quickly see the soles of their shoes and their colorful running garb fade into the horizon. Then in order come the day-to-day runners, followed by the recreational joggers, the holiday warriors, the friendship teams, the family groups- which often times include mom or dad pushing a three wheeled stroller. Hey,you  got to get those kids acclimated sooner than later!

That group is trailed by the ” huff and puff” crowd, the dog-led runners, the race walkers and the casual walking participants. Surprisingly, most everyone has a smile on their face. Remember, it’s still early in this run.

After about mile one things begin to change. That free form gliding abruptly transforms into a “Stair Master” that “ain’t goin’ nowhere”! Each step forward just doesn’t seem to be as much fun as the step before it but you don’t give up- more fun ahead! This pattern,accented with swerves and curves, continues up and down. If it were not for the neighborhood folks cheering, playing live instruments,showering you with their garden hoses or offering up a cup of water or Gatorade, the last two hills would more than bury a soul. Eventually you crest and cruise down Hiwan Drive to Lewis Ridge Road that seems longer than it is supposed to be but it eventually carries you to the finish line and a jovial lot that loudly approve of your accomplishment.

If you happen to be looking for a new July 4th beginning or tradition put it on your calendar for next summer. I guarantee you will have fun and you’ll definitely remember you ran a 5k.

Well, I have failed miserably in that chapter of  the independent business owner’s manual 101 the past few months .  I don’t have any real excuse and I should know better. Shame on me.  That being said, here are a few reasonable explanations  that actually have happened to me in the course of the past few months that hampered my postings. You can have a chuckle over one or more of them and be confident in knowing I will be scrambling to make a serious effort to get back to planet earth.

• Writer’s block-I had good momentum going into late January but then the brain locked up

• Heavy editing- After covering Winter X Game 15 in Aspen I had several buckets of images to process, caption and keyword ( more like several thousand images)

• Shoulder surgery- I put off shoulder surgery until the NFL season was finished. A week after covering Winter X  Dr. Paul Hautamaa rebuilt my left shoulder. With my left hand and arm securely strapped to my mid-section, editing those buckets full of images came to a screeching halt. I did muster up enough dexterity with my left index finger to help type with the other hand. It did however resemble something like a one-fingered pianist.

• Building a new photo archive-Since January I have been collaborating with Ben Hays, Eighth Floor Creative, on a new photo archive and photo licensing site for the World Triathlon Corporation called Endurapix.

• General contractor and laborer- I have been struggling along for nearly two years remodeling my deceased father’s condominium in Lakewood, CO. Time, money, schedule coordinating and the will to rip things apart and put them back together has made this venture  a project  of skill, determination and patience.

Gosh, it was like old times.

His voice filled the air. His enthusiasm was phenomenal. Every eye was glued to the podium as No. 7 spoke his every word. January 5, 2011, was virtually John Elway Day.

It filled a void not heard, not witnessed nor experienced in a long time.

The man that bought glory to Denver and the Rocky Mountain region, Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, is back.

Over on the Denver Broncos blog, a recent writeup on the return of John Elway.

Over on the Denver Broncos blog, I recently selected 20 of my favorite images from 2010.

Posted over on the Denver Broncos blog, a small Christmas gift of Tim Tebow photos from his first NFL start last week in Oakland.

Merry Christmas!