Day Four – Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado National Monument

As I mentioned yesterday, I wanted to head up to Dream Lake for sunrise to catch the morning light glow on the face of Flattop Mountain.  On the way up, I was welcomed by a Black Bear walking across the road in front of me.  Thankfully it was a few miles from where the hike began so I wasn’t going o be seeing him again.  After the mile hike up to Dream Lake, I set up shop and tried out a few different shots and here is what I came up with.

After heading back down from the lake and back to the hotel for breakfast, I had to say  goodbye to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.  I think I got a good amount of usable shots in the four days at the park, although I really did not get any good shots of the fiery aspens that set the hillsides ablaze.  There really wasn’t a composition I felt worked and the lighting was always too harsh to get something that I really could use.

Leaving Estes Park, I headed westward towards Utah, the land of red rocks.  I decided to stop on the way in Grand Junction, Colorado to stay and check out the Colorado National Monument.  I have heard great things about the landscape there and thought why not check it out.  The only problem with it being that all the formations and overlooks faced east, which means I couldn’t get the rocks glowing red at sunset.  I ended up getting only a few usable shots, none of which I am that excited about.  I’ll post one just to show what it looks like…I actually like the one in black and white more.

Tomorrow, I’m heading to Moab for what should be a great time at Arches and Canyonlands National Parks…