Triumph and vindication...

 

Oh, well, let's not go overboard. I did get up at 2:30 Tuesday morning and stepped out of my motel room. The sky was full of stars!  Game on! I loaded the car and took the hour drive down to Maroon Bells (you have to be there by 5:20 or 5:30 or the close parking lot is full).

By 6:00 or so, the first faint blushes of sunlight touched Maroon Peak. I admit that Maroon Bells is a one-trick pony, but it is a helluva trick! Best of all, the two stormy days had put new snow on the peak!



Beautiful, subtle colors! Unfortunately for me, I hardly noticed because after an hour  in this deep freeze I was freezing to death. Heavy gloves, wool short, muffler and heavy jacket simply didn't work as the three and a half hours ticked by. B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-...

Ah, but the colors got better by the minute as the Sun slowly rose.

About now I was shaking, and couldn't use  my hands. The next time somebody says 'global warming' to me I'm going to pop them. Hmm. Maybe I'll just suggest they go to Maroon Bells at Dawn in September...

Then the sunlight got to my spot, and within a few minutes I had to peel off all the cold-weather gear. It was really balmy, especially when the wind stopped. After a half hour I even regained the use of my hands!

I have the complete sunrise sequence, which will eventually go up on YouTube and my web site. I could only stay there until 10:00 A.M, because I had a nine-hour drive back to Vegas.

Meanwhile, this gives you an idea of why this is the most photographed site in Colorado.