Please click on image to see a larger version.

In the high country of Colorado (United States), the fall colors are usually splendid enough. But when you add an early–season snowfall to the mix, you have a landscape that – to the first–time visitor at least – just might cause sensory overload. That’s how I felt hiking on this late September morning, reveling in the glorious spectrum of colors in the pure mountain air. Tyndall Creek is a lovely glacial stream that begins at the base of Tyndall Glacier high up in Rocky Mountain National Park. Winding its way down along the trail from Emerald Lake past Dream Lake, it eventually joins Glacier Creek and runs into the Big Thompson River near Moraine Park. Stopping on a bridge right over the creek, I composed this scene looking downstream. The mountains you see in the distance include some of the park’s highest, including (from left to right) Storm Peak, the twin summits of Mount Lady Washington, and Longs Peak (partially obscured by clouds), which rises to 14,259 feet above sea level. As with all my images, it was an honor and blessing to have witnessed this scene at that moment. My only regret is that I could not include in the photograph the unforgettable sounds of that rushing creek coursing down from the heavens.

The photo was made using a Canon EOS-1V body, EF 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens, and Fuji Velvia 100 film.