It’s baaack! TundraCam, that is

Oh frabjous day! My beloved TundraCam is back on line. It’s been out of commission all winter. But that can be forgiven for a remote controllable live camera mounted high on a tower that’s high on a ridge that’s just plain high (11,600 ft.) — and accessible only via mountainous, unpaved roads/trails. Worse, its “mothership” is the University of Colorado in Boulder, roughly 25 miles away. Up on the ridge you’ve got wind, hail, snow, heat and cold, etc. — you know, typical high altitude stuff. But you can also spot hikers, marmots, elk, an old mine entrance, lakes, neighboring peaks (including Pikes and Longs if you know where and when to look), sunsets, storm clouds, etc. And because it’s a research station, you’ll see all kinds of little structures/experiments scattered across the nearby slopes, tethered by their accompanying cables.

I’ve written a lot in the past about this camera, precisely because it is high and it is controllable and you just never know what you might see up there.

Start by clicking “Control” in the bottom right corner. If it’s yellow, it means an administrator is using the camera and you’ll have to wait a few. You can change the view just by sliding the dots along the top and sides. (Left edge is up and down. Top is right and left. Right edge zooms.) Allow time for a response, since there’s quite a distance involved. And remember, others may be using the camera.

Below the tower is a Quonset hut used by, presumably, university employees and students. Also, there’s an anemometer mounted at the base of the tower, if that’s of interest. And remember that after the sun goes down, you’ll probably see only the lights of Boulder and other cities along the front range, and maybe an occasional headlight down in the valley near Nederland.

Wish this camera had been operative when the Aurora Borealis was doing it’s thing … but then, the night mode would have been on, so no color.

Anyway, have fun.

Maybe this will help orient you:

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Previous posts about the TundraCam:

Tips for TundraCam viewers
Welcome back, TundraCam (2014)
Welcome back, TundraCam (2009)
Marmots on Niwot Ridge
Elk on Niwot Ridge
Busy days on Niwot Ridge
Mystery on Niwot Ridge
High-altitude Colo. webcam up and running again