Engineer Pass, Colorado

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Travel 17 Comments

Engineer Pass, Colorado.

Looking up towards Engineer Pass, Colorado.

We have moved down to Gunnison Colorado and are now trying to figure our way around this new area.  I think we are a tad early for the fall colors, which is good as it gives up more time to scout around this beautiful region.  Yesterday we explored down a couple of long dirt roads towards Engineer Pass and then Cinnamon Pass, both were a couple of great looking areas above the cool little town of Lake City, Colorado.  We look forward to returning as the colors progress.

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Current Conditions Rocky Mountain National Park Fall Colors

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Rocky Mountain N. P., Travel 16 Comments

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

As you can see, the fall colors in the high elevations are beginning to change nicely – this was from Saturday morning.  The lower elevations still have a lot of green – if I had to predict, I think this upcoming week will be a lot better with next weekend possibly being the best.  Monday’s predicted cold front could add some nice snow on the mountains and could speed the change up a bit.  I’m getting excited for the fall colors!

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado photos.

Sky Pond

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Rocky Mountain N. P., Travel 6 Comments

Sky Pond, with Lake of Glass in the distance, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Sky Pond, with Lake of Glass in the distance, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Our original plan was to spend the night in this beautiful setting, but Park rules don’t allow back-country camping in this area.  There is a single back-country campsite about two miles from here, but it had been booked long ago.  So, we hiked up, waited for a sunset that never developed, and then hiked out with the last three miles by headlamp in the dark.  Although we couldn’t spend the night, it was still a great trip!

By the way, the waterfall in yesterday’s post, Timberline Falls, is just below the distant lake, Lake of Glass.

I have come the conclusion that hiking in the dark is not that much fun – you miss out on the scenery as you stare at the dirt and rocks in your light-beam five feet in front of you for boring mile after mile – I begin to feel like I’m driving.  And, even through it seems like you are going fast, we have found we are a bit slower in the dark.  But, had there been a great sunset, it would have been so worth it.  Actually, it was worth it anyways.

Sharktooths rising above Sky Pond, RMNP, Colorado.

Sharktooths rising above Sky Pond, RMNP, Colorado.

To this far side of the lake was about a five mile steady climbing hike to almost 11,000 feet.  Just as I was feeling pretty good about how quickly we made it to this high country destination, I noticed 4 people repelling off one of the Sharthtooths!  Geeze, our hike was probably barely a warm up for them.

The top photo was .8 of a second at f/14 and ISO 100 and a polarizer and two stop graduated neutral density filter.  The bottom image was a blend of two photos, one for the sky, one for the rest.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado photos.

Bull Elk

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Rocky Mountain N. P., Travel 12 Comments

Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

The are lots of elk here!   In my opinion, this a a better place for photographing elk then even Yellowstone or Jasper.  And the rutting behavior is sure fascinating to watch.  Large bulls round up a groups of cows, only to be repeatedly challenged by other bulls, sometimes losing their cows, other times not.  The process is repeated all day long, played to the amazing bugle sounds ringing out from each of these magnificent animals.

This guy almost crossed right here where he is looking – it would have been an amazing setting with the stream and mountains in the background!  Instead, he walked right towards me and crossed so close I couldn’t include him in the frame with my 100-400 at 100!  Who would have thought I would have needed my wide-angle lens for these guys.

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Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Rocky Mountain N. P., Travel 13 Comments

Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

This was the result of a early morning hike in the dark -I think it was definitely worth it!

Janine was given a bit of a bad time for not being up for our first morning here in Colorado at Mount Evans – all in fun of course.  To be fair, my super model has been there every morning and evening since, I thought I should add some photo proof!

Janine at Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Janine at Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

I used a two stop hard edge graduated neutral density filter for both images.  The top image was captured at ISO 100 and f/11 for .5 second.  The bottom one was ISO 100, f/16 for .8 second.  I stopped down a bit more for the lower image since my subject was much closer – I needed more depth of field.

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