Hermit Pass sunset

Clouds over the San Jauns left no chance for alpenglow or under lit clouds, but there was still some nice light in the window before sunset.

A second shot.

You do have some nice light here. I think the second works much better - stronger comp, nice graphical quality to it, and the shadows are opened up enough to reveal the detail.

The perspective in the first shot really tangles the mind - it looks like that lake is at a 20-degree angle. I've seen it that way in many images; kinda wild.

I like the first one because of the perspective. I think in the right light (alpen glow, magenta clouds), it would have been stunning.

I prefer the simplified second image Mel. I felt my eyes wandering looking for something to hold onto in the first one. I'm sure it is level, but that is a wierd angle.

The 2nd image is definitely stronger, the 1st has too much shadow area in the foreground and background, probably a much better choice at sunrise than sunset. How's the road up to the pass? Is it better or worse than the South Colony Lakes road?

I have not gone up South Colony in a long time so I don't remember how they would compare.

This trail would probably rate a 5 on Colorado's 10 scale. There is nothing technical and most of the road is pretty wide. But there are a few tall rocks that could touch your undercarriage or differentials if you choose a bad line. Like most Sangre roads its paved in bowling ball sized rocks that make it quite bouncy. Airing down your tires helps considerably. In my jeep on 33" BFG mud tires I set my pressure at 14psi and disconnected the front sway bar. At a reasonable but quick pace I covered the 8.5 mile distance from the turn off to the top in about an hour on my first time up. It took about 10 minutes longer coming down in the dark.

Nice Mel, looks like a good time. I miss that pass, we use to go up there almost every trip I made out west. Drop the air in the tires and settle in for a nice ride up... Great stuff.

What road takes you up to the pass from town?

There is a sign for Hermit Lake or something like that as you go south on the highway from Westcliffe. I believe the road number is 160.

Also a word of warning about airing down tires for this trip. I could not find an air compressor at any of the gas stations in Westcliffe/Silvercliffe. You need to have your own air compressor (which I do). Unfortunately on this evening my compressor malfunctioned resulting in a slow ride back to Florence.

Mel-

Thats a definite bummer, I can't remember what station we used to stop at and air up, but I thought one of them had a compressor.
Do you go across the wet mountains on your way back then?

Mel, I've got a similar image to #1 which for some reason distorts the lake and makes it look like the water should all run out. I thought I had my camera level, but using the wide angle lens may be the cause. I do like #2 a lot.

Mel - #2 is fantastic. The comp is great and that little bit of detail in the shadowed ridge really seals the deal as Rick mentioned.

Nice, Mel... I like #2 better also, but I also think there are some very interesting things going on in #1. And great light in both. Thanks for the introduction to Hermit Lake, too, looks like a cool area.

I wasnt far from there yesterday--course i went the old fashioned way and burned about 5000 calories in the process. Great shots, love the light and perspective here.