Cascade near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Take a Closer Look...Montane Life Zone
Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 1, 2011
1. Take a Closer Look...Montane Life Zone Marker
Inscription.
Take a Closer Look...Montane Life Zone. . When artists and photographers portray Colorado’s mountainous beauty, they usually capture the classic views of evergreen forests, stands of quaking aspens, and meadows of brilliant wildflowers. The montane area above 8,000 feet contains just such views. Ponderosa pines tower over south-facing slopes an thick forests of Douglas firs blanket north-facing slopes. During the summer, Colorado’s state flower, the blue columbine is abundant in many shady glens. Almost 2000 elk in the Pikes Peak herd range through the open meadows and forests of this elevation. Other common mammals include pine squirrels, porcupines, mule deer and black bears. Listen for chickadees, flickers, blue Stellar’s jays and many other bird calls carrying on the mountain breezes.
When artists and photographers portray Colorado’s mountainous beauty, they usually capture the classic views of evergreen forests, stands of quaking aspens, and meadows of brilliant wildflowers. The montane area above 8,000 feet contains just such views. Ponderosa pines tower over south-facing slopes an thick forests of Douglas firs blanket north-facing slopes. During the summer, Colorado’s state flower, the blue columbine is abundant in many shady glens.
Almost 2000 elk in the Pikes Peak herd range through the open meadows and forests of this elevation. Other common mammals include pine squirrels, porcupines, mule deer and black bears. Listen for chickadees, flickers, blue Stellar’s jays and many other bird calls carrying on the mountain breezes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.
Location. 38° 55.301′ N, 105° 1.549′ W. Marker is near Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. It is in Cascade. It is on Pike's Peak Toll Road. The marker is located at the Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cascade CO 80809, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range and in Pikes Peak Region. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Well-traveled Water (here, next to this marker); Test Your Bird I.Q. (here, next to this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 809 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 10, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
