Have Your Cake

It's hard to keep hiking by The Loch when it looks like this. This is the view I had from the western edge of The Loch this particular morning. This was just to nice to pass up even though photographing this scene caused me to miss sunrise from Sky Pond. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
It’s hard to keep hiking by The Loch when it looks like this. This is the view I had from the western edge of The Loch this particular morning. This was just to nice to pass up even though photographing this scene caused me to miss sunrise from Sky Pond. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

It’s been an age old issue in landscape photography since it’s inception. When conditions are dynamic but changing should you settle on one location or perhaps move to another location that may yield an even better image. Even more difficult, should you make an attempt to photograph two locations in a hurried fashion?. The second approach leaving one essentially attempting to try and both have your cake and eat it. The risk may pay off in multiple images in conditions that are rare and often no duplicated, or of course it may backfire and leave you scrambling around with nothing to show for frenetic efforts once the dust settles.

Generally speaking I advocate taking a more methodical, contemplative, mindful and less hurried approach to photography. There are times however, when spectacular conditions combined with equally spectacular locations transcend one’s contemplative approach and we throw caution to the wind and let our excitement overrun our sensibilities.

I’ve run into this quandary often when out photographing in the field. Conditions for dynamic landscape photography look perfect. The stars are aligning in your favor. The earlier morning hike to an alpine lake 4 miles from the trailhead looks like its going to reward your hard work in getting to the remote location long before sunrise.

Of course there’s that pesky little voice inside your head that both harbors doubt,questions your original intent and begins suggesting different or more favorable destinations. For me, I may find myself questioning whether my original location is really going to be ‘the shot’. Maybe a seed of doubt has now been planted, maybe that next alpine lake another mile higher will be even more dramatic. And for those now concerned for my health, don’t worry this is all part of the creative process for me. It’s my discussion with my muse, it’s my attempt at rationalizing something that most rational people wont attempt to accomplish. Somewhat counterintuitive as it may seem, it can actually be a way for me of being more immersed in the moment. I’m sensing, feeling, moving all the while attempting to anticipate how the ‘moment’ is going to unfold before my eyes and camera.

I found myself in this very situation a few weeks back. The plan was to get to the Glacier Gorge trailhead early so that I could be up at Sky Pond for sunrise. Arriving at the trailhead a little after 4:15 AM I found the skies over Rocky Mountain National Park still covered with clouds. Skies to the east over the plains of Colorado were clear so the conditions were shaping up to be perfect for this four and half mile trek up to Sky Pond. Sunrise was around 6:15 AM, so this particular morning so I had a good amount of time to make it to my destination but not so much that I could dilly dally along the way.

The consolation prize. Lake of Glass and Taylor Peak at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
The consolation prize. Lake of Glass and Taylor Peak at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

I set out from the trailhead with my headlamp lighting the way feeling pretty good about my prospects. Clouds drifted overhead and the wind was still as I bounded along the trail. I made it to western edge of The Loch in good time. I stopped briefly to survey the eastern horizon to confirm there were still nice breaks in the clouds. Sure enough it looked great, maybe too much so. It was not even 5:30 AM but the pre dawn colors had already begun to explode in the sky and The Loch was still as glass. While I was set on photographing Sky Pond, the little voice inside my head said ‘you have to photograph this!’. Anyone who has attempted to photograph Loch Vale enough times knows windless mornings are rare, and windless mornings with beautiful clouds even more so. I glanced at my watch and attempted to reason with myself. If I was going to photograph from Sky Pond and give myself enough time to setup, I really needed to keep moving. I’ll be quick I figured, Just a few exposures and I’ll be on my way.

So I quickly setup my tripod and camera and started making images of this beautiful and tranquil scene unfolding before me. Photographers of course know that photographing in predawn light often requires very long exposure times. So even ‘a couple’ of exposures was taking much longer that I had anticipated. But I could tell from reviewing the display that these images were worth making. My five minute pit stop quickly turned into fifteen minutes and I forced myself to pack up and start heading up the trail towards my original destination.

It was now 5:40 AM and I was still one and a half miles from my final destination. The sky looked great, the clouds looked great and I was beginning to strongly question my decision to stop at The Loch. The last 1.5 miles to Sky Pond include a fairly steep ascent from The Loch as well as a scramble up and over Timberline Falls. I knew I was cutting it much too close for comfort at this point. Worst case scenario I figured I would stop short of Sky Pond and shoot Lake of Glass just below Sky Pond. So I pushed onward at a very fast pace huffing and puffing as I ascended the steep switchbacks just below Timberline Falls.

As I started the scramble up the side of Timberline Falls, the sky was really starting to explode with color. There was no way that I was going to be able to get to the western edge of Sky Pond for sunrise and the last thing I wanted to be doing was hiking along the trail as an epic sunrise unfolded over the peaks and lakes. As I crested the top of Timberline Falls and arrived at Lake of Glass it was apparent that I would have to setup here if I wanted to catch first light.

While I was unable to get to Sky Pond for sunrise, the lighting remained good enough for a few short moments when I finally did make my way to the lake. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
While I was unable to get to Sky Pond for sunrise, the lighting remained good enough for a few short moments when I finally did make my way to the lake. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

Tired and sweaty from the final push up Timberline Falls I setup along the shore of Lake of Glass just as the sun started to illuminate Taylor Peak and the Cathedral Spires. Sunrise was beautiful and if only for the fact that my original intent was to be at Sky Pond for sunrise I was quite pleased with my results from Lake of Glass.

I again packed up my camera gear and hiked up to my final destination along the western edge of Sky Pond. The clouds that had made sunrise so beautiful earlier had now obscured the sun. There were still a few breaks in the cloud cover so I again setup and waited to see if the sun would make a brief appearance as it rose in the sky. Shortly thereafter the sun illuminated for one last time the bottom half of The Cathedral Spires before again being blocked out by the cloud cover for the remainder of the morning.

What a morning it had been. A little more excitement and hustling around then I had anticipated but I felt good about the images I had created. It felt like not only did I have my cake, but I was able to eat it as well. While there’s a small part of me that wonders what sunrise would have been like at Sky Pond if I had not stopped at The Loch and Lake of Glass I’m pleased with my how the morning turned out. The next time I’m heading to Sky Pond however, there will be not pit stops made along the way regardless of what that little voice suggests.

Change In The Air

The dramatic and unsettled weather we have been seeing over Rocky Mountain National Park this week is a sign that Summer is on it's way out and Autumn is quickly moving into Rocky. This morning the unsettled weather could be seen over Specimen Mountain and the headwaters of the Poudre River. Fog, clouds and wind roll over the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park and even hints of red can be seen in the Tundra above tree line. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
The dramatic and unsettled weather we have been seeing over Rocky Mountain National Park this week is a sign that Summer is on it’s way out and Autumn is quickly moving into Rocky. This morning the unsettled weather could be seen over Specimen Mountain and the headwaters of the Poudre River. Fog, clouds and wind roll over the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park and even hints of red can be seen in the Tundra above tree line. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

Another busy week photographing Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather has been unsettled resulting in lots of interesting and dynamic images. Each morning this week has brought forward unexpected conditions and lighting, all different, each dramatic in their own way. I personally cant recall another stretch when we’ve had so many continuous days of dramatic weather and changing conditions.

The changing weather conditions are certainly a harbinger of summer ending and autumn quickly settling in over the park. Everywhere you look you can see signs of fall approaching. A few aspen leaves here and there have turned, the tundra above tree line is turning red, the Elk rut has begun in ernest and bugling can now be heard in the meadows and valley, and more importantly snow fell on the Alpine Visitor Center along Trail Ridge Road for a short period on Thursday. So even though its not even the end of August, as the weather and conditions attest, change is coming quickly to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Turn Around

We've had what seems like and exceptional run of beautiful sunrise and sunsets over Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. Additional moisture in the atmosphere appears to be helping in keeping things colorful when the sun rises or sets over Rocky. Use this change in the weather to take advantage of alternative view of iconic locations in the park. This morning for example I was able to capture a strikingly colorful sunrise over Dream Lake looking eastward as opposed to the iconic view looking west towards the peaks. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
We’ve had what seems like and exceptional run of beautiful sunrise and sunsets over Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. Additional moisture in the atmosphere appears to be helping in keeping things colorful when the sun rises or sets over Rocky. Use this change in the weather to take advantage of alternative view of iconic locations in the park. This morning for example I was able to capture a strikingly colorful sunrise over Dream Lake looking eastward as opposed to the iconic view looking west towards the peaks. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
been spending quite a bit of time in the field these last 3 weeks. I’ve made it a priority to get out and photograph as much as I can this summer. Summer is my favorite season in Rocky Mountain National Park. In my opinion you just cant beat hiking to alpine lakes, the smell of the pines when hiking through the forrest and the sounds of brooks babbling over rocks.

Since setting aside this time in the field to shoot, two things have become apparent to me. First off, perhaps all the time I’ve been able to spend photographing Rocky has skewed my recollection, but as far as I’m concerned we’ve had some of the best sunrise and sunsets on a consistent basis that I can even remember. Not to jinx my string of good luck, but it seems that we have consistently had beautiful sunrises filled with colorful clouds three to four days a week. In the past I can remember going eight or nine straight days with nary a cloud in the sky, especially during our drought years in the early 2000’s. Without a doubt this is tied to the increased moisture thats been present over Colorado the last year or so.

The second thing thats apparent, and is something I stress often is the need to assess and photograph locations both looking towards the peaks and mountains, as well as looking away from the peaks and mountains. For example, some of the best color in the sky occurs over the eastern plains of Colorado during sunrise. While it’s tempting to always want to point your camera towards the mountains, don’t neglect the opposite view.

This morning for example I used this principle to photograph sunrise over Dream Lake. While this image did not include iconic Hallett Peak or Flattop Mountain and in fact did not include any of the prominent peaks associated with Dream Lake, I came away with one of my favorite images of a subject I shoot often. So go ahead and take advantage of both the colorful sunrises and sunsets, but also take advantage of the opportunity to try something new when photographing in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Exploring The Ute Trail

Sunrise over Longs Peak and Forest Canyon from the Ute Trail. Hiking away from Trail Ridge Road will give photographers some of the best views from the alpine tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details:  Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Sunrise over Longs Peak and Forest Canyon from the Ute Trail. Hiking away from Trail Ridge Road will give photographers some of the best views from the alpine tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Being above tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of those special and unique experiences that come with exploring the park. While there are many places in Colorado where one can get above tree line, Trail Ridge Road allows easy access by car and trailheads found along Trail Ridge Road such as the Ute trail allow visitors and photographers the ability to get out on the alpine tundra and explore the world above tree line.

The Ute trail in particular is popular with visitors and it offers some of the best views of Rocky Mountain National Park and many of its high peaks. Because of this its a favorite location of mine to photograph, especially in the summer when the conditions are favorable, which at over 11,000 ft above sea level is often easier said then done.

It is often told that the Ute trail was one of three crossings of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park used by Native Americans prior to the arrival of European-American settlers and travelers to the region. While there is no doubt the Ute Indians used this area for travel and game hunting the name itself is mo it’s more likely the route was named by the Colorado Geographic Board as a tribute to one of the two native tribes, the Ute and Arapaho whom inhabited this area prior to the discovery by early European-American settlers.

Another view from above tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Ute Trail. The sun is seen peeking just above the horizon at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Another view from above tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Ute Trail. The sun is seen peeking just above the horizon at sunrise. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

The Ute trail is a very interesting area to explore and it’s geographic orientation allows for good lighting and photography in both the mornings and afternoons. Whenever hiking above tree line in Rocky, one should be mindful of the weather and avoid being out on the alpine tundra if there is any chance whatsoever of lighting from electrical storms. Lighting storms above tree line are no joke and people are struck and killed by lighting almost every year in Rocky, especially in areas of the park above tree line.

If one is looking for opportunities to photograph some of the finest alpine scenery in all of Colorado, hiking along the Ute trail can make for a very rewarding day. Even a short excursion along the Ute trail will allow one to move away from the crowded and busy overlooks along Trail Ridge Road such as the Rock Cut and Forest Canyon overlook. So be it sunrise or sunset one the Ute trail is one of the best vantage points a photographer can choose to capture some of Rocky Mountain National Park’s best scenery.

The Other Side

Many photographers overlook the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The west side of Rocky requires a little more work then the east side of Rocky but it's well worth the effort. Here Cascade Falls and the North Inlet tumbles down the many rocks and boulders that make up this large waterfall on the west side of the park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Many photographers overlook the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The west side of Rocky requires a little more work then the east side of Rocky but it’s well worth the effort. Here Cascade Falls and the North Inlet tumbles down the many rocks and boulders that make up this large waterfall on the west side of the park. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
The west side of Rocky Mountain National Park is one of my favorite locations in all of Colorado for photography. While I spend eighty percent of my time photographing the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, the logistics of photographing the west side are much more difficult and therefore I do not get to spend as much time as I would like on the west side of the park. Whether real or perceived, the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park has a distinctive and different feel and flavor to it then does the east side of the park.

The west side of Rocky feels more primal. It’s forests appearing darker and more expansive than other areas of the park. There’s more moisture on the west side of the park so water is more plentiful and cascades and falls seem to be around every bend in the trail. Much of the west side of Rocky is hidden from view. With a few exceptions driving Trail Ridge Road past Fairview curve and the Kawuneeche Valley gives you only brief glimpses of the jagged and towering peaks located on the west side of the park. In fact for most visitors, driving through the Kawuneeche Valley is more about spotting Moose or Elk in the meadows then it is about admiring the mountain scenery on the west side of the park.

Baker Mountain towers over the Kawuneeche Valley and the Colorado River only a few miles from it's starting point. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
Baker Mountain towers over the Kawuneeche Valley and the Colorado River only a few miles from it’s starting point. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

I make every attempt to spend time exploring the west side of the park when possible. Last week I had the opportunity to spend part of the week in Grand Lake so naturally I spent a few mornings on the west side of the park photographing some locations I’ve been eyeing for sometime.

Both Cascade Falls along the North Inlet trail as well as the Colorado River through the Kawuneeche Valley have been on my list for quite sometime. While I’ve attempted images at these locations before, I had yet to really come away with anything worthwhile. Luckily for me the conditions were very favorable this time for both dramatic lighting at sunrise as well as cloud cover and overcast conditions later on which where perfectly conducive for waterfall photography.

As the problem always is with these kind of opportunities, one only has so much time to explore and photograph all the locations on one’s list. So while I’m already plotting out my next outing over to the west side of Rocky, I’ll still be spending the majority of my time closer to home on the east side of the park.

Sixteen Years Of Trying

Over the last sixteen years, I've made many visits to Two Rivers Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to photograph this beautiful location. All the conditions finally came together for me on Tuesday when a combination of an electric sunrise and no wind finally allowed me to capture an image of Two Rivers Lake I had been attempting for years. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Over the last sixteen years, I’ve made many visits to Two Rivers Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to photograph this beautiful location. All the conditions finally came together for me on Tuesday when a combination of an electric sunrise and no wind finally allowed me to capture an image of Two Rivers Lake I had been attempting for years. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Did you ever have an image you were trying to capture for years but have yet to have the conditions and the timing work out in your favor?. You visit the location as often as is possible yet you just don’t seem to be able to capture the image as your perceive and put your stamp on it? I believe most landscape photographers can relate to this sentiment. Essentially you become Captain Ahab and the location your photographic white whale.
I could not have asked for better lighting this morning at Odessa Lake as the Little Matterhorn welcomes the sun. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
I could not have asked for better lighting this morning at Odessa Lake as the Little Matterhorn welcomes the sun. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

Some of us are probably better than others at moving on to other locations and subjects, but I suspect many photographers like myself are often driven by compulsion and need to continue to create an image from a given location until they capture an image similar to what they had perceived.

There is a strong likelihood that we may never capture an image as we have imagined, but when the stars finally align and your determination and grit and compulsions pay off, the feeling can be grand. I have a list of locations that I continue to visit time and time again attempting to improve on prior attempts.

For some of these locations I have images that I’m very pleased with but have a nagging desire to further improve on previous attempts. Some locations I have no images whatsoever. Some of these locations I’ve attempted to photograph span the entire length of the sixteen years I’ve been practicing landscape photography.

This past week a culmination of being at the right place at the right time combined with a little bit of luck helped me metaphorically spear a few of my own personal white whales. A meet up with some friends from back east allowed me to spend sometime in the Aspen area. While I’ve photographed the Maroon Bells numerous times before, I’ve never had anything but mostly clear skies at sunrise. This time however, I was able to photograph the Maroon Bells on consecutive mornings with dramatic lighting.

Both Saturday and Tuesday I had great luck in Rocky Mountain National Park at both Odessa Lake and Two Rivers Lake. I’ve had difficulty in the past being at both these locations when the conditions were dramatic. After many visits to these locations over the last sixteen years, these last visits finally allowed me to capture images I had been envisioning for years. So my perseverance paid off, now its time to keep moving on down the list!.

Drop under light illuminates North and South Maroon Peak from Maroon Lake. I've spent many mornings along the shores of Maroon Lake but I've never been lucky enough to be here to witness a sunrise like the one this particular morning.Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Drop under light illuminates North and South Maroon Peak from Maroon Lake. I’ve spent many mornings along the shores of Maroon Lake but I’ve never been lucky enough to be here to witness a sunrise like the one this particular morning.Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

Poudre Lake And Milner Pass

The headwaters of the Cache La Poudre river while a beautiful location, can be a trick one to photograph due to a lot of man made intrusions and the fact that Trail Ridge Road runs along the north side of the lake. A silhouette of the lake on a morning in which smoke from forest in the Pacific Northwest colored the sky enabled me to capture an image of Poudre Lake while excluding many of the distractions. Technical Details: Canon 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
The headwaters of the Cache La Poudre river while a beautiful location, can be a trick one to photograph due to a lot of man made intrusions and the fact that Trail Ridge Road runs along the north side of the lake. A silhouette of the lake on a morning in which smoke from forest in the Pacific Northwest colored the sky enabled me to capture an image of Poudre Lake while excluding many of the distractions. Technical Details: Canon 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
If there is one particular combination that can put a damper on landscape photography it’s clear skies combined with smoke from wildfires. While it’s always about working with the light to compliment your subject, I find it to be quite difficult to work with a hazy atmosphere caused by smoke, especially if the skies are clear.

Unfortunately, late in the week smoke from large fires burning in Washington State managed to drift over Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. The smoke was thick and seemed to have embedded itself right along the Front Range which meant I would need to scrap my plans to hike into the backcountry and remain flexible.

In the predawn hours I drove up over Trail Ridge Road hoping I might be able to get up and away from the smoke embedded below. No such luck would be had, the smoke was still thick and plentiful on Trail Ridge. The smoke was thick enough so that my headlamps on my truck almost appeared as if I was driving through fog.

I was starting to be resigned to the fact that this just might not be my morning when I noticed some think waif like clouds forming in the skies. This gave me a little more hope as I figured I just might be able to get some color in the sky aided by some of the smoke particulates.

Down towards Milner Pass I headed. Either Poudre Lake or Lake Irene would be my destination depending on where the clouds were situated. Driving by Poudre Lake and over Milner Pass the clouds were looking quite nice. An orange glow to the north and east hung over the outlet to the lake.

A quick stop at Lake Irene was all I needed to see that Poudre Lake held much better potential with the clouds setup favoring the headwaters of the Poudre. Arriving back at Poudre Lake the skies were taking on colorful hues. I’ve always found Poudre Lake to be difficult to photograph because Trail Ridge Road runs right along the outlet to the lake and it’s difficult to keep it from becoming a distraction in an image. The conditions this morning were perfect for a silhouette of the lake which easily remedies the issue of having the road in the photograph. So even though I could do without the smoke and haze the conditions allowed me to create an image I previously had little luck pulling off.

Journey To The Sky

There are few places I’d rather watch sunrise unfold then from high above Loch Vale at Lake of Glass. While there is some dispute as to whether this lake should be called Glass Lake or Lake of Glass there is no disputing this is one of the most beautiful locations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The sunrise this particular morning only added to the drama and beauty of Lake of Glass as the breeze prevented the waters from living up to their namesake. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L
There are few places I’d rather watch sunrise unfold then from high above Loch Vale at Lake of Glass. While there is some dispute as to whether this lake should be called Glass Lake or Lake of Glass there is no disputing this is one of the most beautiful locations in Rocky Mountain National Park. The sunrise this particular morning only added to the drama and beauty of Lake of Glass as the breeze prevented the waters from living up to their namesake. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm F4 IS L

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 famous 'Sharkstooth' formation glows with the new mornings sun as it reflects in the waters of Sky Pond. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 15-35mm F4 IS L
The famous ‘Sharkstooth’ formation glows with the new mornings sun as it reflects in the waters of Sky Pond. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 15-35mm F4 IS L

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.

Timberline Falls tumbles over the boulders just below Lake of Glass. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L
Timberline Falls tumbles over the boulders just below Lake of Glass. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS L

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.

Wandering Trail Ridge Road

Sunrises from the top of Trail Ridge Road exemplify the Rocky Mountain National Park experience. Here the skies over Forest Canyon explode with color as wildflowers grow between the rocks and boulders found above treeline. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Sunrises from the top of Trail Ridge Road exemplify the Rocky Mountain National Park experience. Here the skies over Forest Canyon explode with color as wildflowers grow between the rocks and boulders found above treelike. It’s a short season on Trail Ridge Road so it makes mornings like these even more special. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Nothing quite says summer in Rocky Mountain National Park like a drive across Trail Ridge Road. Once the road opens up for the season, It’s on the to do list of most visitors to Rocky and the road itself is considered to be one of the icons of the park. Trail Ridge Road which is the highest continuous paved road in the continental United States is the highlight for many visitors to the park.

The winding, curving roadway not only gives visitors and photographers spectacular views of the mountains but also lets one experience the harsh but beautiful world that survives above tree line. Topping out at 12,183 ft above sea level, a good eleven miles of the road runs above or near tree line which in Rocky Mountain National Park occurs around 11,500 ft. Trail Ridge Road with its steep drop offs lack of guardrails and shoulders can turn even the best drivers into white knuckle drivers who end up gripping the steering wheel like their trying to squeeze juice from an orange.

So while I generally prefer to be out on a trail when heading out to photograph the park, the short window that Trail Ridge Road is open each season makes spending time traveling the road each summer a priority. July in particular is a great time to explore Trail Ridge Road. The alpine tundra will have turned green, much of the snow will have melted and wildflowers will sprouting and growing on the tundra and between the rocks.

Just enough drop under light illuminates Specimen Mountain and the sky above. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L
Just enough drop under light illuminates Specimen Mountain and the sky above. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16-35mm F4 IS L

I spent a few days last week on Trail Ridge Road and was lucky enough to catch two stunning sunrises. Rocky Mountain National Park has been pestered by smoke from fires in the far north of Canada the last week. With the weather pattern changing and the winds shifting to a more southerly and westerly direction, the smoke from the Canadian fires quickly was moved out of the park. Wildflowers are blooming all over the tundra and the alpine sunflowers are growing the thickest I’ve seen them in the last 10 years or so.

The conditions right now on Trail Ridge are great. Plenty of green, plenty of wildflowers, still some good snow cover on the highest peaks. Many of the Elk have migrated above tree line from the valley’s below so there is plenty of large wildlife to observe. So enjoy Trail Ridge while it’s open, accessible as beautiful as it will be all season.

Lily Lake Morning

While I don't often enjoy rushing through a morning of photography and instead would like to be able to take my time, thats a commodity we often don't have enough of. A quick trip to Lily Lake for sunrise before rushing back to airport to fly back east worked out better than I could have hoped for. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
While I don’t often enjoy rushing through a morning of photography and instead would like to be able to take my time, thats a commodity we often don’t have enough of. A quick trip to Lily Lake for sunrise before rushing back to airport to fly back east worked out better than I could have hoped for. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24mm TS-E F3.5 L II
been a whirlwind week for me. I’m currently back on the east coast visiting with family as well as taking some time early in the mornings to get out, explore and photograph landscapes that are very different from my usual Colorado haunts. Waterfalls, beaches and lots of green stuff to shoot here in New York which makes for a nice change of pace.

I flew out to New York from Colorado just after 9:00 AM on Saturday. Before I left I had to get one more morning sunrise in Rocky Mountain National Park. I was limited to where I could go shoot because I would only have a short amount of time before I needed to hustle to Denver International Airport to make my flight. With sunrise at 5:30 AM I figured I would have just enough time to get somewhere for sunrise but of course hiking long distances was out of the question.

I find it easy to overlook some of the areas of Rocky Mountain National Park that don’t require long hikes or huge efforts to access come summertime. It’s fun opening a map of the park and finding far away lakes to explore and photograph but sometimes this approach leads me to neglect some of my favorite, more easily accessible locations.

Restrictions placed on your photography oftentimes can be the most beneficial. It can keep you focused and forced to work within your limitations. So with all that said, Lily Lake made for a perfect spot to spend a truncated morning in Rocky. Of course having an amazing sunrise made it all the more worthwhile and made the rush back down to the airport to catch my flight.