Loch and Sky Pond

Left the Glacier Gorge trailhead at 3:30 yesterday morn to shoot the Loch at sunrise, then on to Sky Pond. Since it was my first trip there, it was a little tricky trying to scout a good location at the Loch when i arrived about 45 min before sunrise. I ended up climbing a couple hundred feet and found some cool trees on a rocky outcrop. The trail beyond was still partly snow covered, but the melted out spots are really starting to bloom. Here's Sky Pond.

This really cool tree which quickly became my favorite subject, above the Loch before sunrise.

Sunrise at the Loch

TImberline Falls. The trail to the right led me right through part of the Falls!

More from Sky Pond, clouds were really swirling.

One more from the Loch, my favorite from sunrise is on ESS shortly.

Great series Stan! Hopefully I can get a chance to go to Sky pond again before my San Juans trip. Oh by the way my favorite is the Timberline falls, really really cool!

Excellent series, Stan! I like sunrise on the Loch, and Timberline falls.

These are a great series Stan, I really like #6, the Falls and the one on ESS!. I agree, the best way to avoid the crowds in RMNP is to get up there pre-dawn!.

Dang! I like 'em all. Quite a rewarding morning.

Great set Stan. I actually like the composition in #3 better than the one in ESS.
You did well in finding locations before sunrise.

Was all the ice gone around Timberline Falls. I've been up there in the fall and that's a treacherous trail, especially coming back down!

Of these I like #3 the best too. Nice light, and you have those funky trees as an interesting foreground. I've been up there too and I agree with Bill. The trail around Timberline Falls demands some careful footing, especially before sunrise!

The ice was gone, BIll, but there was plenting of water pouring down the rocks, I was in up to my knees.

Great shots! Love both shots of the Loch with the great alpenglow. The twisted tree was a great find - it's very cool.

My husband and I hiked up beyond Timberline Falls last year in late July. I'm deathly afraid of heights so scrambling up (and especially coming back down) was quite a hair-raising experience for me - but I lived to tell about it

Great job Stan.... beautiful light and place...never seen that location in my life...but you have captured the essence of it looks like.... that tree is awesome too....

Timberline Falls gets the wow! response from me...

Stan the man! Good stuff.

Great series Stan. I was up there in June with granddaughter. Light was not right for photos. I will go back.

Wow, stunning set Stan!

Pretty sweet trip report, Stan.
#1 is my favorite, by far.
Great comp, light, and a feeling of standing right there.
Also one of the better Timberline Falls shots I've seen.

KAPOW!!!!! These are extra good. Well done.

Lovely rendition of The Loch Stan. I don't think people realize how difficult this boxed in place is to photograph until they get there.

You came away with some really nice stuff here, Stan. I like them all, but there's something about that Timberline Falls shot that really appeals to me. I'm glad you had such a productive trip.

Very nice sequence Stan. I love the silvery light from the Sky Pond image (#5).

Newbie question: what's ESS??

Some great shots Stan, looks like you had really good morning of shooting.

Thanks for the kind remarks, folks! I processed the last shots and theres a few more i may end up posting somewhere.
Stephen, ESS = Earth Sea & Sky Gallery here on NPN.

WOW, these are all terrific Stan! I also lvoe the tree. I think it makes for an interesting subject....very very nice!