Posted by Derek Sedillo on April 29, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Hey guys/gals,
I just wanted to give you an update. I took the family to the park yesterday for some hiking, outdoor fun and scouting. I couldn't talk my wife into leaving at 3:00 AM to catch morning light. Oh well, somehow that idea wasn't that appealing to her with our three small children.
So I didn't have good light for shooting(mid day & really bright). But I took a few snapshots to document the conditions.
First we hiked to Alberta Falls to check out the melt off around the falls. The trail still has 80% snow cover - up to 5' in spots. The falls are now flowing, but still partially under snow. Kinda cool looking, especially with the right light I can imagine. Here are a couple I snapped off just to give you an idea (too much light and flare I know): http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p510759021-5.jpg http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p182427055-5.jpg
Then we had lunch at Bear Lake - still completely frozen with some very subtle signs of thawing. There is still a lot of snow on the trail here as well: http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p617323869-5.jpg
We briefly drove by Sprague Lake. It is 'completely' thawed with little to no snow around it.
Lastly we spent some time in Moraine Park watching the 'hundreds' of elk eating and lounging around. That was the most elk I have ever seen in one place - pretty cool right now.
The two things that were the most striking were:
1. The huge differences between the higher elevations around Bear Lake compared to Sprague and below.
2. The lower elevation 'greening' of everything is really kickin' in this year. On the way back we saw wildflowers on the sides of the road in and around Boulder.
Now with all the precip. in the forecast summer and wildflowers are looking up along the front range. Hmmm... The open areas around Boulder and the Flat Irons should be blooming soon.
Erik - I was planning on stopping by your new gallery. But the kiddos were zonked out after dad took them all over the place checkin' things out. Maybe I'll catch you next weekend if I go again.
Posted by David Svilar on April 29, 2007 at 6:51 PM
Was up there yesterday too and the above report is accurate. I know people like shooting above Bear Lake... Nymph Lake is still completely frozen, but Dream Lake is already thawing out and seems to have some really nice opportunities at the east end of the lake.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on April 29, 2007 at 7:44 PM
David,
I had a feeling other photogs made it up there this weekend as well. If you caught any decent light please feel free to post a shot here or in a new thread.
Here is a mid day snap which demonstrates the melt off which is starting to ocur. But It doesn't look like enough for a reflection yet. http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p741265669-5.jpg
Did anybody else head into the park this weekend?
Posted by Tony Bouchard on April 30, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Anyone have an update on the following:
1) Cub lake trail
2)) Bierstadt Lake
I took this one well above Nymph Lake last Thurs, looking back into Glacier Gorge.
Do you happen to know if it has still been cold enough at night to snow in the high country ( Bear Lake+)? The forecast shows thunderstorms in EP. But I don't know if that still means more snow in the high country. Hopefully the daytime highs will be enough to continue the thaw process.
Discussion
8 repliesI just wanted to give you an update. I took the family to the park yesterday for some hiking, outdoor fun and scouting. I couldn't talk my wife into leaving at 3:00 AM to catch morning light. Oh well, somehow that idea wasn't that appealing to her with our three small children.
So I didn't have good light for shooting(mid day & really bright). But I took a few snapshots to document the conditions.
First we hiked to Alberta Falls to check out the melt off around the falls. The trail still has 80% snow cover - up to 5' in spots. The falls are now flowing, but still partially under snow. Kinda cool looking, especially with the right light I can imagine. Here are a couple I snapped off just to give you an idea (too much light and flare I know):
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p510759021-5.jpg
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p182427055-5.jpg
Then we had lunch at Bear Lake - still completely frozen with some very subtle signs of thawing. There is still a lot of snow on the trail here as well:
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p617323869-5.jpg
We briefly drove by Sprague Lake. It is 'completely' thawed with little to no snow around it.
Lastly we spent some time in Moraine Park watching the 'hundreds' of elk eating and lounging around. That was the most elk I have ever seen in one place - pretty cool right now.
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p423291587-5.jpg
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p639161889-5.jpg
The two things that were the most striking were:
1. The huge differences between the higher elevations around Bear Lake compared to Sprague and below.
2. The lower elevation 'greening' of everything is really kickin' in this year. On the way back we saw wildflowers on the sides of the road in and around Boulder.
Now with all the precip. in the forecast summer and wildflowers are looking up along the front range. Hmmm... The open areas around Boulder and the Flat Irons should be blooming soon.
Erik - I was planning on stopping by your new gallery. But the kiddos were zonked out after dad took them all over the place checkin' things out. Maybe I'll catch you next weekend if I go again.
I had a feeling other photogs made it up there this weekend as well. If you caught any decent light please feel free to post a shot here or in a new thread.
Here is a mid day snap which demonstrates the melt off which is starting to ocur. But It doesn't look like enough for a reflection yet.
http://derek.zenfolio.com/img/p741265669-5.jpg
Did anybody else head into the park this weekend?
1) Cub lake trail
2)) Bierstadt Lake
I took this one well above Nymph Lake last Thurs, looking back into Glacier Gorge.
It looks like the big melt off is on!
Do you happen to know if it has still been cold enough at night to snow in the high country ( Bear Lake+)? The forecast shows thunderstorms in EP. But I don't know if that still means more snow in the high country. Hopefully the daytime highs will be enough to continue the thaw process.