This sunrise hike has been on my bucket list for a time. The trek began at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, more than an hour before sunrise. It's a mile hike with snow shoes up to this location at Dream Lake. As we hiked up, the winds were blowing and I started to second guess my journey up the dark path guided by a tiny glimmer of light from my headlamp. When we finally reached the lake, the winds were up to 40 mph, blinding my view of Hallet Peak seen here on the left. The wind was so strong, the small pellets of snow were like darts hitting my eyes, I could hardly keep them open. I tried taking shelter by some trees and rocks. I even debated whether I should just head back down the mountain. However, I kept thinking, you made it this far, just brave it out. As the sun came over the horizon and started to change the color of the clouds, I found my spot on the ice and set up my tripod. I just hoped I could keep my camera steady with the gusting winds. As the colors changed, I became entranced with the unfolding scene in front of me and barely noticed the gusting wind, the blinding snow and my hands stinging from the cold. This was the moment I had dreamed about and had envisioned for so long. A morning I will never forget!
This is an immediate fav -- a beautifully constructed landscape with so many interesting features. And to think how early you must have gotten up and how cold it must have been makes it all the more impressive.
@kiwichick Thank you Lesley! It was something that had been on my bucket list for a while!! I talked my husband into making the trek with me and got him out of bed, despite the raging winds that morning, lol! It was an obstacle I was grateful to overcome and the reward was well worth it!
December 11th, 2014
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@cybelle Oh, wow! Thank you so much Cybelle!
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri!
@homeschoolmom Thank you Lisa!