RMNP in October

I am going to RMNP this Friday for a morning shoot. I haven't decided where to go yet and am looking for recommendations. Snow is forecasted for tommorrow and Wednesday and I don't plan on snow shoeing or ice climbing But a little snow never bothers me. My last adventure in RMNP included a pretty heavy snowfall while hikeing around Alberta Falls/Bear Lake.

So far I am thinking about:
Dream Lake - been before
Boulder Brook Trail - never been
Chasm Lake - never been
Chasm Falls - never been
Other options???

I hear Chasm Lake is nice but on the long and strenuous side (leave at 3:00 AM to catch morning light, etc...).

Any ideas or recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

I was in RMNP a couple days ago and the lakes in the Bear Lake area had not started freezing yet. If it snows then a shot with snow on the trees & a reflection in virtually any lake will be terrific. You could try Dream Lake, Nypmh Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Bear Lake, etc. Sprague Lake is also nice if you haven't shot there before.

I've thought about hiking into Lake Helene/Two Rivers or OdessasLake this fall, but they are quite a bit longer hikes than the Bear Lake area lakes. I start 1.5-2 hours before sunrise for Lake Helene.

I haven't been there recently but I suspect that Chasm Lake will be pretty hard to reach by now - it's at nearly 12000 feet.

Thanks Tony,

Dream Lake is probably my first choice since I haven't been up there in a while and have never seen it after a fresh snow.

I think you are right about the longer, higher elevation hikes such as Chasm Lake this time of the year. If it snows as forecasted things will probably get a bit dicey @12,000'. I would rather go there my first time when weather is a little better during an earlier time of the year (summer). Then at least I will know what the hike involves.

I just checked the weather and the forecast has changed to snow on Friday as well. So it looks like things will get very interesting in the park. I am just hoping for low winds which make for better reflections. Here is a shot from last month after some heavy snow in the AM:
http://photos.imageevent.com/dereksurfs/fall2006/huge/CRW_4706DPP2.jpg

Thanks for your input.

I was at Dream Lake and Lake Haiyaha yesterday. Very little snow in the area. There were a couple slick spots in the shade, but that's about it. Brought my YakTrax to try out for the first time, but didn't end up needing them. Dream Lake was just starting to get a little ice around the edges.

Chasm Lake is a very strenuous hike, and you're right, you need to get going really early. Not sure about conditions there right now. I was there at the beginning of November a couple years back, and it was almost too cold to shoot. That was pretty miserable. Much more enjoyable in the summer.

I am just this minute back from The Loch and it was snowing and very windy most of the time today, Monday.

Hope this helps,

Bill

Thanks Bill,

I will have to keep an eye on the weather. I'll be at a conference in Estes Park from Friday thru Sunday. So I may be able to break away for an early AM shoot if the wind calms on Sat. or Sun.

It seems like if there is storm activity it is also accompanied by solid winds most of the time.

This forum is great! You guys are are right on the spot to share your first hand experiences from the field.