Attended a great ranger talk and walk this morning around Bear Lake, then hiked myself up to Emerald Lake, past Nymph and Dream Lakes, then back to Dream and over to Haiyaha. I think that's something like 5.5 miles, not counting the loop around Bear. Not an insane elevation change, something like 750 feet I think up to Haiyaha. I think I'm officially over any altitude sickness, today felt great. Up at Emerald Lake the afternoon thunderstorms rolled in, and there was plenty of rain and hail. Only lasted maybe 20-30 minutes, and then the sun came out and the colors glowed. Glorious.
I think this is a Gray Jay, but don't hold me to that.
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake with Hallett Peak
Nymph Lake
Some unnamed falls along the way to Dream Lake
Approaching Dream Lake, with Hallett Peak and Flattop Mtn
Dream Lake
I was offered the chance to photograph a cutthroat by a young man who had just released this guy. This was something I was hoping to manage to get a shot of!
Hallett Peak
Emerald Lake and Hallett Peak
Flattop Mountain with Emerald Lake
Hallett in the rain
Dream Lake after the rain
Along Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Little pond like area on the way to Lake Haiyaha
Lake Haiyaha
Boulders in Lake Haiyaha
Longs Peak views on the hike down from Haiyaha
View from the trail: lakes in the distance, L to R, Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, then Sprague Lake
The trail
One more view of Longs with the clouds obscuring the peak
