Rocky Mountain National Park - Longs Peak
Longs Peak
Longs Peak is a part of the northern Front Range Mountains in Colorado. It is 14,259’ tall, and the northern most fourteener in Colorado. It is also the highest peak in both Boulder County, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Cotton Candy Over Longs
Taken one day after a spring snowstorm dropped a couple of inches of snow on Rocky Mountain National Park. The warm weather quickly replaced the cold, and melted all of the snow at lower elevations. The snow had not melted on the higher peaks, leaving the contrast of spring and winter. It was a warm morning, and the elk were everywhere. I saw several herds that morning, with one blocking the road for some time as I drove down Beaver Meadows road. They finally moved on and I made it to the trail head at Beaver Meadows in time to set up and watch this beautiful sunrise.
Longs Glow
It’s incredibly hard to describe the sense of peace and calm one feels when watching the sunset at Bear Lake. I captured this photo one September evening, while waiting to take some Milky Way photos after dark. The weather was perfect, a cool 50 degrees about a week after an early September snow storm. It was the last time I would get to visit the park before the 2020 wildfires ravaged the sky, and filled the park with fire and smoke. This evening, the sky was mostly clear, and a few clouds looked like cotton candy as the sun set.
Spotlight on Longs
Stormy late springs skies backdrop Longs Peak, while the sun shines its last light on the mountain peak. The day brought lots of snow flurries and sunlight, but towards the end of the day the storm clouds were winning the battle. The sun fought back with one last ray lighting the peak of my favorite mountain in the park.
Spring Delight
Watching the morning sun cast a light on the Flatirons is such a serene experience. There are a lot of great places to do this. one of my favorite spots also gives a great view of the alpenglow hitting Longs and Meeker. This was taken at the end of a cold and rainy month of May. It was the first warm spring morning of the year, with temperatures in the low 70s. The birds were singing and no one was around except me and my dog. The perfect way to welcome another Colorado summer.
Winter Alpenglow
A cold winter morning after a fresh snowfall. As the sun rose, the landscape turned a bright pink for just a moment. Longs Peak doesn’t stay covered in snow like this for long, as the winter winds begin clearing the peaks shortly after the snow stops. This morning I was glad the winds had not yet picked up and I was able to capture the soft pink hues the sun was casting on the mountain. Seeing the mountain behind the Flatirons in Boulder really demonstrates how massive it actually is.
Alpine Galaxy
This image was taken in September 2020 shortly after an early season snowfall. As it grew dark, I was amazed at how the fresh snow on the mountains was brought to light by the shining stars. The Milky Way was easily visible with the naked eye. I was all by myself on the lake this night, and to say I felt small would be an understatement. Looking up at the sky, staring at all of those stars, wondering what else was out there. I was also struck by how this view of the sky was common for our ancestors. Now we have to travel to a handful of places where our modern way of life doesn’t interfere with this view of our galaxy.
Longs Delight
The sun broke through the clouds to turn the clouds and mist a bright shade of pink. I had to wait a good 20 minutes for a herd of Elk to clear the way, I was lucky to make it in time for this scene. Getting up at 3am didn't seem like a good idea when the alarm went off, but the serenity was worth it.