The hour right before sunset is known to photographers as “The Golden Hour.” That seems about right to me.
Like I said: Golden Hour.
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The one way trek from the Alpine Visitor’s Center to Milner Pass is 4 miles and it’s all downhill. That makes it perfect for those who want an easy 90-minute hike. Forest Canyon Pass sits at the halfway point, both in terms of distance and elevation. Tree line is about 12,000′ so the terrain is all open alpine tundra above, and all mixed pine-spruce-fir forest below. As I’ve said before, this is my favorite hike in all the world.
A lovely couple who run a head shop in Arkansas – they were on a week’s sojourn to the Rockies – took our picture. And we took theirs. His white beard was very striking (think: Mr. Natural), but I had on my red Cardinal’s cap, so there’s that. All in all, I got in over 21k steps yesterday, and surprisingly I don’t feel too bad this morning. So…. I guess I better get out there and hit it again. Another month and this place will be under a deep blanket of snow, so time’s a-wastin’.