Welcome!

Welcome to the home of Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers!

White Sands Nat'l Park - Late afternoon sun tints the gypsum sands in pastel colors.
White Sands National Park – Late afternoon sun tints the gypsum sands in pastel colors. © Wiliam Horton

Formed in 1973, Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers, Inc., is an organization of professional and aspiring communicators, dedicated to sharing the outdoor experience. Through writing, photography, broadcast media, and artistic expression, members provide information about the recreational and natural resources found in the Rocky Mountain West. Become a part of our creative community.

  • Plans for conference 2021 are continuing — mark your calendars for September 26-29 in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
  • Participate in our annual contest — 2021’s deadline has come and gone, and the winners will be announced at conference in September.
  • Meet some of our members — see what we’re up to.

We need your inspiration, participation, and support. YOU are the organization!

2020 3rd Place
Photo Award Winners

Click on a photo to view a larger image, and scroll through the set.

Trout Comes A-Courting © Virginia Staat - 3rd Place Image from Last Conference
Gruchys meadow © Judy Lehmkuhl - 3rd Place Scenics
Arctic Gentian © Frank Zurey - 3rd Place Flora
Tern with a catch © Beto Gutierrez - 3rd Place Fauna
Pond explorers © Judy Lehmuhl - 3rd Place People in Nature
Oldest church in Iceland in Holar © Maryann Gaug - 3rd Place Historical
El Mercado en Peru © Ron Belak - 3rd Place Cultural
Iridescent cloud © Judy Lehkuhl - 3rd Place Natural Phenomena
Leaping baboon © Dan Bernskoetter - 3rd Place Altered/Composite
Thunderhead Forming © Frank Zurey - 3rd Place Black & White
Museum sunset © Judy Lehmkuhl - 3rd Place Novice
Trappers Lake Float © Ron Belak - 3rd Place Published Images

Recent news

A Bad Man But a Great State Park

Text and photos by Don Laine

first grease rack - concrete. Pancho Villa State Park.
The first grease rack – made of concrete. Pancho Villa State Park. © Don Laine

General Francisco “Pancho” Villa was not a nice person, but the Mexican bandit-revolutionary, certainly without meaning to, played a major role in helping the United States prepare for its entrance into World War I.

Today, those traveling in southern New Mexico can drop in to Pancho Villa State Park in the border town of Columbus to learn about Villa and see some of America’s first mechanized military equipment. If your timing’s right you might also see blooming cactus in spring and do a bit of bird watching in winter. 

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White Sands Welcomes RMOWP

Playing in the cool gypsum sands, White Sands National Park
Playing in the cool gypsum sands of White Sands National Park. © Don Laine

RMOWP’s annual conference is just a few weeks away (Sunday-Wednesday, September 26-29) with a good time for all planned in sunny Alamogordo, New Mexico.

In addition to photographing the glistening white gypsum sands of White Sands National Park, we’ll discover the real Wild West at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. A must-see in the area, that we hope you’ll explore on your own, is Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, with more than 21,000 ancient petroglyphs. Other local attractions include the New Mexico Museum of Space History for a glimpse of the beginnings of America’s space program, the Tularosa Basin Museum of History, and of course the Toy Train Depot. Due to the ongoing pandemic, some of these attractions may have limited hours when we’re there, but we’ll try to get current information closer to the conference. 

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RMOWP 2021 Conference Set

Ready to trek across the sparkling white sands of White Sands National Park? Then mark your calendar for September 26-29 for RMOWP’s 47th conference in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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