During the long winter months, there are times when I’ll sit around daydreaming about some of my favorite hikes and locations in the park during the summer months. Rushing streams, the sweet smell of the pines, and alpine wildflowers growing between the rocks and scree of the tundra will fill my head. The anticipation waiting for these locations to thaw out and for the summer to roll in becomes palatable. 
The hike up to Lake of Glass and Sky Pond is one of those hikes I sit and day dream about over the winter. It’s one of my favorite in Rocky Mountain National Park as it is with countless visitors to Rocky who trek to this beautiful location each summer. The area comprising Glacier Gorge and Loch Vale and Andrew Glacier was once owned by Abner Sprague. Sprague guided tourists from all around the world who stayed at his lodge which was located next to Sprague Lake through this beautiful area. Even before this beautiful cirque was purchased by the National Park Service from Sprague, the locals and guides understood the majestic beauty of the area.
So when summer finally does arrive in Rocky Mountain National Park, a hike up to Sky Pond for sunrise is always high on my priority list. Last week I finally had the opportunity to make the trek to Sky Pond for sunrise. Even better was on the particular morning of the hike the weather conditions were looking very promising. It had rained hard the night before and when I departed the trailhead at 3:40 AM the skies above the divide were still covered with clouds while to the east of the Colorado high plains there were good size breaks developing.
The hike was uneventful but beautiful as always. The ‘super moon’ would make periodic appearances through the cloud cover shining white rays of moonlight down on The Loch and the Cathedral Wall. I wasn’t sure how much snow to expect as I neared Timberline Falls. I figured there would still be some good patches of snow hanging around the shaded areas of the trail but my main concern was being able to safely navigate the scramble up and over Timberline Falls.
Below Timberline Falls there were two decent size patches of snow still enduring as holdovers from the long winter. They were both easy enough to cross over and one at the base of Timberline Falls the scramble to the top was also clear and free of snow. Arriving at the Top of Timberline Falls and the east outlet of Lake of Glass I was met as I often am in this location with a strong breeze. It did not appear the Lake of Glass would be living up to it’s name this particular morning.
Breeze and all, the conditions were looking just about perfect for sunrise. I arrived at Lake of Glass shortly after 5:00 AM. When I arrived the skies over the lake were already beginning to take on the pre glow pastels of sunrise. Photographing the sunrise from along the rock outcropping on the south side of Lake of Glass, I quickly packed up my gear and sprinted over to Sky Pond to photograph the Sharkstooth while the light was still good. Within a few minutes the clouds obscured the peaks and sun disappeared behind the clouds.
By the time the sun ducked back behind the clouds, I was able to photograph both Lake of Glass and Sky Pond in beautiful light. I’ll take the hike to Sky Pond and Lake of Glass anytime but one’s legs feel a little less sore and a little more springy on the hike back out after such a beautiful and productive morning.
One of my favorites too. The scramble up timberline is often still icy slick this time of year before sunrise. I have gone a little later in the year to get more sunrise light on the Petit Grepon and Sharkstooth which also works well.