Rocky Is Gorges

From high above Odessa Lake, The Gable catches first light over the Odessa Gorge. On a morning where forecasts predicted little chance for cloud cover at sunrise, conditions panned out and we had some beautiful light over RMNP. Ithaca, New York touts its Gorges, but I think Odessa Gorge and Rocky Mountain National Park can also lay claim to some beautiful locations as well. Technical Details: Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 VR S lens.
Just back from a great morning in Rocky Mountain National Park. One of those mornings where I had little expectations for sunrise based on the forecast. I’ve been either traveling or have been entertaining visiting family the past three weeks so getting any kind of flow going has been difficult. It’s been a combination of weather, late nights or early obligations that have contributed to disrupting my normally obsessive routines.

So even with the weather looking clear and warm this morning with little chance for a colorful sunrise, I gave it the old college try. My motto has always been you just have to consistently keep showing up and unexpected things will happen. With this in mind, I figured I hike up to the Lake Helene area to keep both my legs in trail shape, enjoy the beauty of summer in Rocky Mountain National Park, and maybe with a little luck, come away with an image or two.

I’ve fallen into the trap of looking at all my various weather apps that I use and concluding there is no chance for a dramatic sunrise or sunset so I might as well stay back in the office and work images, reply to emails or update my web site. One of the worst feelings in the world is watching an awesome sunrise unfold over RMNP from the comfort of my office. I hate when this happens and if its because I let the forecast hold me back, it can really ruin my week.

As I started up the trail this morning, it still looked clear. About a mile up the trail or so at one of the overlooks that look back east towards Bierstadt Lake, I could see a few clouds starting to form in the sky. I was actually kind of surprised how many clouds had started to move in over the park so quickly.

The bonus shot of the day. After photographing sunrise from overlook above Odessa Lake, I made a mad dash down the hillside to Lake Helene. In between being breakfast for the mosquitos, I was able to capture a few beautiful moments as clouds drifted over Notchtop and reflected in the rippled waters of Lake Helene. Technical Details: Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 24-120mm F4 S VR lens
I picked up the pace and arrived in the Lake Helene area about 15 minutes prior to sunrise. I particularly like this area because not only is it spectacular, the hike is great, but more importantly you have some choices on which direction to shoot depending on the clouds and light. You can shoot southeast over Marigold Pond if the light is good, north and northeast over Odessa Gorge or northwest directly towards Notchtop, Gabletop if conditions are more or less perfect.

When I arrived at the overlook over Odessa Gorge, the clouds were just about perfect. Densely packed puffy clouds hovered over Odessa Lake and The Gable. There were some decent clouds to the southeast and a few over Notchtop but the best light was going to be over Odessa Lake and Odessa Gorge from the overlook.

Viola!, a morning in which I had low expectations turned out to be pretty darn awesome in RMNP. Both my first shots over looking the Odessa Gorge were beatiful and after shooting first light there, I hustled down to Lake Helene and managed to capture a few images of the rippled surface reflecting Notchtop Mountain while dappled light and clouds reflected in the waters of Helene. Bottom line, you just need to get out and shoot, and like they say up in Ithaca, New York, Rocky is Gorges!.