Couple of weeks ago instead of opting for the San Juans in search of the perfect wildflower shot like every other Tom, Dick and Harry. I choose to stay a little closer to home such as 'Crusty Butt'.... oh I mean Crested Butte. I had a couple of places in mind for this trip, one was returning to an old area that I had visited once before and other was somewhere new. My first little excursion was to be that of Copper Lake which lies in the southern section of the Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness Area just outside Gothic. Back home researching my trip I knew Copper Lake would serve as a great base camp area for my needs of sunset and sunrise shooting.
Wow, I must have been day dreaming on this hike because before I knew it, a couple hours had past and I was already at my destination of Copper Lake which was five miles in from where I had left my car. Not knowing what the Colorado weather is going to do I always opt for setting up my tent straight away when I get to my final destination. Then want usually follows is my rest and recovery plan....my afternoon siesta.
My first and only goal of this one nighter was to get a shot of White Rock Mountain from unnamed ponds in late afternoon light anything beyond that was to be a bonus. 50 minutes after leaving camp and criss crossing the mountainside I got to my destination, I purposely left camp early just incase I came across something interesting but nothing panned this time. So now I am have about 1.5 hours until I get the shot I want, the sun is beating down pretty good now for being in the mountains and the mosquito’s are really coming alive. So my only option is to put on my rain pants and jacket and cover the remaining parts of my body with bug spray and a hat and seek out some shade. When I first arrived it was pretty clear but I got lucky because by late afternoon the weather had brought in some nice dramatic dark clouds. First goal achieved! By the time I got back to camp I knew there was nothing really I wanted to shoot for sunset so I opted for some sleep.
Something like 3:00am the alarm clocks goes off, and I am like didn't I just fall a sleep. I know things could be worse I could be heading for work in the city but no I am choosing to go for a morning stroll in the dark up to East Maroon Pass. I couldn't find much on the web or books about East Maroon Pass so I was not so sure what I would end up with, I reached the pass pretty quickly which was good because I had plenty of time to figure something out for sunrise. I wouldn't say its earth moving scenery up there but there area some nice views to be had. I found a nice tarn just off and above the pass; this was to be my morning location.
Back in 'Crusty Butt' now, time to shake out the legs so I go for a short 1 hour bike ride up and around Mount Crested Butte, all I can say there are some big beautiful homes tucked away high on the mountain side. No evening photography for me tonight as I plan to meet my girlfriend in town. In the meantime I run into a well known Colorado photographer for dinner aka the 'Cloud Man'.
3:30am and the old trusty alarm clock goes off. This adventure into a new area starts with a short drive off to the Trailhead with my girlfriend and her two huskies in tow. We had not even been on the trail 20 minutes when the heavens start to open up and we have to throw on our rain gear. At this point we decide to keep on heading up the trail in the dark; a little rain isn't going to hurt. 10 more minutes go by and it starts lightning and thundering very close by so we head into the edge of tree line for shelter and hoped to sit out the bad weather. Over an hour goes by and its still coming down but not by much plus I am getting a little cold at this point so I say we should move on up a little to warm up my girlfriend being a real trooper says ok. We hike a little further and yet again we sit at tree line waiting out the weather, its starting to get light now and the rain is easing up we push on up. The scenery around us at this point is just becoming wow mainly due to the weather pattern that is happening around us. We get to the summit and spent a good couple of hours taking pictures and being amazed as the clouds role all around us. I know I have just been blessed by the all might 'Cloud Man'. That’s all I am going to say about this morning checkout the pictures.
Sunset was spent at our car camp location, which was fine by me because the conditions were pretty sweet. Hoping for more of the same I did the same hike solo the next morning, but this time no cool weather, not a single cloud, oh well.....1 for 2 is good for me. Thanks for reading, here's a link to some more pictures from this trip. More pictures.
Posted by Paul Martin on August 8, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Wow, that was one heck of a trip -- awesome series of images, Jody. You were most certainly blessed with sweet clouds and light. Way to avoid the crowds in the SJ's
Posted by Doug Andrews on August 8, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics.
Posted by Eric Vaughan on August 8, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Great collection of images!
Being an old duffer, I envy your mobility and being able to get to these wonderful places. I really appreciate seeing all the 14-teeners and being in the clouds.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Kurt Bowman on August 10, 2009 at 12:16 PM
beautiful collection of shots Jody. I really like all the low lying clouds you encountered. Thabnks for sharing this!
Discussion
33 repliesCouple of weeks ago instead of opting for the San Juans in search of the perfect wildflower shot like every other Tom, Dick and Harry. I choose to stay a little closer to home such as 'Crusty Butt'.... oh I mean Crested Butte. I had a couple of places in mind for this trip, one was returning to an old area that I had visited once before and other was somewhere new. My first little excursion was to be that of Copper Lake which lies in the southern section of the Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness Area just outside Gothic. Back home researching my trip I knew Copper Lake would serve as a great base camp area for my needs of sunset and sunrise shooting.
Wow, I must have been day dreaming on this hike because before I knew it, a couple hours had past and I was already at my destination of Copper Lake which was five miles in from where I had left my car. Not knowing what the Colorado weather is going to do I always opt for setting up my tent straight away when I get to my final destination. Then want usually follows is my rest and recovery plan....my afternoon siesta.
My first and only goal of this one nighter was to get a shot of White Rock Mountain from unnamed ponds in late afternoon light anything beyond that was to be a bonus. 50 minutes after leaving camp and criss crossing the mountainside I got to my destination, I purposely left camp early just incase I came across something interesting but nothing panned this time. So now I am have about 1.5 hours until I get the shot I want, the sun is beating down pretty good now for being in the mountains and the mosquito’s are really coming alive. So my only option is to put on my rain pants and jacket and cover the remaining parts of my body with bug spray and a hat and seek out some shade. When I first arrived it was pretty clear but I got lucky because by late afternoon the weather had brought in some nice dramatic dark clouds. First goal achieved! By the time I got back to camp I knew there was nothing really I wanted to shoot for sunset so I opted for some sleep.
Something like 3:00am the alarm clocks goes off, and I am like didn't I just fall a sleep. I know things could be worse I could be heading for work in the city but no I am choosing to go for a morning stroll in the dark up to East Maroon Pass. I couldn't find much on the web or books about East Maroon Pass so I was not so sure what I would end up with, I reached the pass pretty quickly which was good because I had plenty of time to figure something out for sunrise. I wouldn't say its earth moving scenery up there but there area some nice views to be had. I found a nice tarn just off and above the pass; this was to be my morning location.
Back in 'Crusty Butt' now, time to shake out the legs so I go for a short 1 hour bike ride up and around Mount Crested Butte, all I can say there are some big beautiful homes tucked away high on the mountain side. No evening photography for me tonight as I plan to meet my girlfriend in town. In the meantime I run into a well known Colorado photographer for dinner aka the 'Cloud Man'.
3:30am and the old trusty alarm clock goes off. This adventure into a new area starts with a short drive off to the Trailhead with my girlfriend and her two huskies in tow. We had not even been on the trail 20 minutes when the heavens start to open up and we have to throw on our rain gear. At this point we decide to keep on heading up the trail in the dark; a little rain isn't going to hurt. 10 more minutes go by and it starts lightning and thundering very close by so we head into the edge of tree line for shelter and hoped to sit out the bad weather. Over an hour goes by and its still coming down but not by much plus I am getting a little cold at this point so I say we should move on up a little to warm up my girlfriend being a real trooper says ok. We hike a little further and yet again we sit at tree line waiting out the weather, its starting to get light now and the rain is easing up we push on up. The scenery around us at this point is just becoming wow mainly due to the weather pattern that is happening around us. We get to the summit and spent a good couple of hours taking pictures and being amazed as the clouds role all around us. I know I have just been blessed by the all might 'Cloud Man'. That’s all I am going to say about this morning checkout the pictures.
Sunset was spent at our car camp location, which was fine by me because the conditions were pretty sweet. Hoping for more of the same I did the same hike solo the next morning, but this time no cool weather, not a single cloud, oh well.....1 for 2 is good for me. Thanks for reading, here's a link to some more pictures from this trip. More pictures.
RichieV
Simply amazing, JG. Probably the best series of clearing cloud shots I've ever seen.
Being an old duffer, I envy your mobility and being able to get to these wonderful places. I really appreciate seeing all the 14-teeners and being in the clouds.
Thanks for sharing.
You're on fire...these are amazing. Really excellent.