Wolf Creek Pass scenic overlook; the verdant growth and green belie the narrative that the West is burning up with wildfire conditions and scorching heat. Here, at least, conditions are ideal.
A hastily snapped photo of Bristol Head, taken from a moving car.
Approaching the summit.
Among the clouds.
Under the full glare of the Colorado Sun, hiking up the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park seems like visiting the world's largest beach and never seeing the ocean. And like the beach, sand gets everywhere, especially when kicking up in rooster tails that spray you with a backwash as you try to slow yourself down with an arm or leg as you breeze down a steep slope on the back of a well-waxed sandboard.
Nevertheless, the surrounding views of still lushly green montains, and the nearby creek flowing at the base of the dunes are worth the hike.
Summer evening hiking has many attractions: few people on the trails, shade from the direct heat of the sun, and soft evening light as the sun slips below the rim of the horizon.
Monday night Hayley and I hiked the American Fork Canyon trail to Silver Lake, and then up to Silver Glance Lake. This early in the season, wildflowers were still vibrant and emerging, and there was little dust from the tread of many feet upon the trail.
Here you can see a panorama shot of Silver Lake Glance, a high alpine lake located at approximately 10,000 feet, and various photos of the trail and the wildflowers.
Here is the small waterfall/stream feeding Silver Lake Glance; it's already diminished to a trickle from its usual babbling flood. Certainly, this is evidence of a dry year.
