Winter finally made an appearance this past week in Rocky. We finally had some colder temperatures and even some snow to cover the ground. Winds have continued to remain a nuisance though, and lucking out on a ‘calm’ morning sunrise has been tricky.

Frankly, there has not been much in the way of opportunities to photograph the past few months. I’m always itching to get out in the field and shoot and a bad day in Rocky Mountain National Park is better than a good day pretty much anywhere on the planet so it never hurts to visit the park to see what opportunities may present themselves.

With about 2 inches of light snow and some frost and glaze on some of the trees, the willows, aspens and pines caught my eye just inside the park boundary in Beaver Meadows. Frosted barre aspen trees with snow covered Ponderosa Pines as a backdrop caught my eye just as the sun we lighting the crystalline aspen trees in the foreground. Finding color this time of year can be difficult but the combination of warm and cool hues made for some interesting compositions.

The winter willows mixed in with the aspen trees of Beaver Meadow add some nice contrast and color the otherwise cool blue scenes of mid winter. As we start to make our way into mid winter here in RMNP, lets hope we have lots of upcoming opportunities for snow and winter landscapes as its been a sparse season so far.

Windy, dry and warm are the three words that describe the winter Rocky has been having this year. Still no change in the weather pattern so its been more of the same in the park most mornings. Partially frozen streams, lots of brown grasses and mountains with dabs of snow. Not exactly how one would envision winter in Rocky Mountain National Park but you have to take the bad with the good at this point.

The 10 day forecast still shows more of the same in regards to the weather, but somewhere deep down, we have to hope this thing whipsaws back the other way and we get a really snowy and wet end to winter and spring and get things back on track. This is certainly one of the strangest Colorado winters I’ve photographer but I’m hoping I’ll look back on this season and chuckle if the weather pattern does indeed turn soon.

Until then, I’ll keep getting out and enjoy the one benefit we’ve had with all this windy, warm weather in RMNP, the colorful sunrise and sunsets. If you can find some shelter from the wind, we have really had some amazing colors in the sky to photograph. Weather its fire red skies from Lenticular clouds or neon pink skies from high cirrus clouds, the mornings and evenings have been stunning. You can only photograph the hand your dealt, but I’m hoping that next hand will have a lot more moisture soon.

It’s always interesting starting off a new calendar year as a photographer. You reflect on all you past travels and images from 2025 and are eager to improve on and expand your portfolio into 2026. I always have a ton of plans and ideas for what I want to photograph in the new year so I’m always itching to get out.

The post holiday hangover, parties, events and of course attending to business needs and other family obligations can make it easier said then done hitting the ground running as the year turns over. On top of that, the weather this time of year may also not cooperate and frankly it can be a difficult time to photograph in Rocky Mountain National Park. High winds, peaks covered in clouds and swirling snow squalls and lots of long shadows can challenge any photographer.

So while I make a few failed attempts, keep my eye on the weather and hope for one of those electric neon sunrises, it usually means waiting or missing out longer than you want. It took me nine days into 2026 but I finally captured my first image of 2026 on Friday.

A little light snow over Rocky on Thursday, something we are desperately in need of coated the landscape Friday morning. Clouds over Colorado’s high plains blocked the early morning sunrise but some nice dappled light broke through about 15 minutes after sunrise. Ypsilon Mountain and the Mummy Range had clouds hugging their ridge lines and vertical faces but there was just enough light and clarity to make for an acceptable image.

With the high winds quickly picking up and about to strip the trees of the remaining snow, some beautiful warm sunlight broke through and illuminated the Mummy Range and Ypsilon Mountain. 2026 is now off and running and I cant wait to see what this year has in store.