We don’t do things by halves here in Colorado.
Smoke from wildfires? Unfortunately.
Spectacular sky from incoming storm days later? You betcha.
From Spring Creek Basin’s western rimrock boundary looking southeast at the very end of yesterday.
Looking east from the same place. The storm was to the north – our left as we’re looking out over the basin here.
One of the most spectacular jags of lightning I’ve ever seen lit up that northern sky (not close, not nearly far enough away), and I took that as my sign to hit the road, which was still a bit of a hike down to the right. As I headed down the hill, so did the ponies I’d been visiting with. No fools, they (or me!).
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Ha. Time for everyone to take cover! Gorgeous light and shadow and landscapes in these photos, TJ!
That sky to the north was as dark purple-blue as I’ve ever seen a storm sky, but to the west, it was nearly clear(ish), so we got that amazing light. I did not want to leave! Nothing like a little splash of lightning to light a fire under your hiking feet. 😉
Beautiful pictures! Look like sifi!
They do, right? Straight out of my phone other than a tiny sliver of cropping/sizing and sharpening. 🙂
How magical despite the reason for it !
Our air has cleared a LOT since the rains started. I can still smell smoke from the south sometimes, but now it smells more like damp ash than an active campfire.