I hiked up to Lake Haiyaha this morning to check on conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park. I broke trail and it was shin to knee deep pretty much the whole way. All the lakes above Sprague are frozen, those above Bear have a pretty thick coat of snow on top of the ice. There is still a small patch of open water on Sprague Lake itself, though that might be gone real soon. This image is pretty small and not the greatest composition. I was shooting 4x5 this morning and the only digital capture I have of the sunrise was this, while hand-holding the camera to meter the scene. Anyway, its winter conditions here so bring your snowshoes and enjoy the white beauty.
I posted it small because it was taken handheld at a slower shutter speed so it is really quite blury when viewed larger. Just prior to this shot, I took this one. on my tripod so you can view that one larger if you like. The real reason of my post however was not to show photos, but to let people know what the conditions are like.
Posted by Ken Wyatt on October 21, 2006 at 2:50 PM
Very nice Erik!
Posted by Paul Beiser on October 21, 2006 at 3:03 PM
Hey Erik,
I love that shot of Long's Peak, the cold blue shadows, the clouds over the peak with the right touch of color. Looks good enough to get the skiis on and do some turns!
Posted by Todd Caudle on October 21, 2006 at 5:03 PM
Beauty, eh? I love the blue.
Posted by Tony Bouchard on October 21, 2006 at 6:49 PM
Amazing how quick things change up there! When I was up at Bear Lake Thurday morning not a bit of it was frozen.
That shot of Long's Peak is terrific.
Posted by Don Grall on October 21, 2006 at 11:22 PM
Great report with some great shots.
Don
Posted by Momo Vuyisich on October 22, 2006 at 3:00 PM
Brrrrrrrrrr.
Posted by Dan Walters on October 22, 2006 at 3:41 PM
Great shot!
Posted by Rick Dunn on October 23, 2006 at 7:32 AM
Yeah, Brrrrr. Very nice, Erik - feels like December!
Awesome, blue, cold, winter shot that could pass for January!
Posted by Derek Sedillo on October 23, 2006 at 11:08 AM
Nice photo Erik!
As I had mentioned to you last week I had a conference at the YMCA in Estes Park Friday-Sunday. I was in RMNP Friday and Sunday morning for sunrise. Both days were white out conditions up at Bear Lake. Yesterday the temperature was 18 degrees at 6:00 AM but not as windy and cold as Friday with gusts up to 40 mph. I did find a few breaks in the storm Friday morning but haven't processed them yet.
Saturday morning looked the best, but I coudn't get into the park that morning. I did get some unique perspective shots of Longs at sunrise near the YMCA grounds/RMNP border after a hike up a ridge (near Bible Point).
Bear Lake wasn't frozen over Friday and by yesterday it was. But with all the sun in the forecast I don't think that ice sheet will last. I just kept thinking how cool things will look once the storm passes and the sun warms things up a bit. Bear Lake must easily have a foot of new snow.
There are still a lot of elk in and around the park as well. This week is looking like a good time for shooting up there.
Posted by Erik Stensland on October 23, 2006 at 11:25 AM
I look forward to seeing your photos Derek. I was out this morning and the clouds had blown off the mountains. They look spectacular, but the winds are blowing hard and cold!!! Here's my shot from this morning on the only bit of open water I know of and unless it warms up quick, it too will freeze.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on October 23, 2006 at 12:09 PM
Wow Erik,
What a difference a day makes
It looks like the storm is gone! The forecast shows clear, sunny days for the next 7+ days. I guess the question is, will it be warm enough to melt the initial ice layer most lakes have now.
I went to Lily Lake near Longs Saturday and it was iced over as well.
My pictures from Bear Lake on Friday morning were not that great. It was too cold to set up a tripod even when the sun broke out a couple of times and there was a lot of wind on the lake. But Moraine Park was better as the Big Thompson was still flowing and it was clearer/calmer down there.
I'll post a few after I get a chance to process them. I would really like to get to up Dream Lake when things clear if it thaws out a bit.
Also Rick's updated hotspots for winter in RMNP look good, especially the Twin Sisters trail view of the eastern face of Longs and Chasm Lake (which I am sure is frozen by now). I bet that would be an awesome sunrise location. It sounds like snow shoes are required and it is a pretty long hike.
Discussion
13 repliesI love that shot of Long's Peak, the cold blue shadows, the clouds over the peak with the right touch of color. Looks good enough to get the skiis on and do some turns!
That shot of Long's Peak is terrific.
Don
As I had mentioned to you last week I had a conference at the YMCA in Estes Park Friday-Sunday. I was in RMNP Friday and Sunday morning for sunrise. Both days were white out conditions up at Bear Lake. Yesterday the temperature was 18 degrees at 6:00 AM but not as windy and cold as Friday with gusts up to 40 mph.
Saturday morning looked the best, but I coudn't get into the park that morning. I did get some unique perspective shots of Longs at sunrise near the YMCA grounds/RMNP border after a hike up a ridge (near Bible Point).
Bear Lake wasn't frozen over Friday and by yesterday it was. But with all the sun in the forecast I don't think that ice sheet will last. I just kept thinking how cool things will look once the storm passes and the sun warms things up a bit. Bear Lake must easily have a foot of new snow.
There are still a lot of elk in and around the park as well. This week is looking like a good time for shooting up there.
http://morninglight.us/forum/06/oct23.jpg
What a difference a day makes
It looks like the storm is gone! The forecast shows clear, sunny days for the next 7+ days. I guess the question is, will it be warm enough to melt the initial ice layer most lakes have now.
I went to Lily Lake near Longs Saturday and it was iced over as well.
My pictures from Bear Lake on Friday morning were not that great. It was too cold to set up a tripod even when the sun broke out a couple of times and there was a lot of wind on the lake. But Moraine Park was better as the Big Thompson was still flowing and it was clearer/calmer down there.
I'll post a few after I get a chance to process them. I would really like to get to up Dream Lake when things clear if it thaws out a bit.
Also Rick's updated hotspots for winter in RMNP look good, especially the Twin Sisters trail view of the eastern face of Longs and Chasm Lake (which I am sure is frozen by now). I bet that would be an awesome sunrise location. It sounds like snow shoes are required and it is a pretty long hike.