w7xman
Active member
I simply cannot put into words how much I look forward to this week of the every year, the time when the alpine tundra briefly transforms itself into a stunning and striking array of colors. Deerhair Sedge and Blueberry scrub are the prime attractions, but everything from the cinquefoil to the diapensia put on a beautiful coat.
I took off with a bunch of coworkers, past and present on a mission to make crag camp our base camp for 36 hours or so. The hike up was beautiful...sunny, clear, a crisp feel of autumn on a cool morning, and dry trails lined with turning hobblebush and birch.
The first 2.7 up the amphibrach was quick and easy, but the spur trail was a sharp contrast. Then the view of King Ravine...stunning! The birches a few days behind schedule this year, but really glowing near the top.
Some of our group took off to Adams, I hung out behind to go to Adams 4 at sunset. The resulting colors with a strong backlighting on the tundra is simply indescribable. Bushes that look pretty, but a bit drab...glowed red. The sun lowered between cloud layers, and a sundog added to the drama at points. I have a few photos to edit through..but this was my favorite:
This shot was taken on Lowes Path, below Adams 4, just above the cave along the trail. We then hiked down lowes further, grabbing shots along the way, and made our way over to Crag Camp by headlamp.
I woke at 5AM hoping to get sunrise from the ridge over the Great Gulf, but fog limited that. A dream for next year.
The tundra will fade this week as the valleys become aglow...even overnight the colors became richer in the forests north of the notches.
A trip full of wonderful memories that will last until next years alpine foliage week!!!
I took off with a bunch of coworkers, past and present on a mission to make crag camp our base camp for 36 hours or so. The hike up was beautiful...sunny, clear, a crisp feel of autumn on a cool morning, and dry trails lined with turning hobblebush and birch.
The first 2.7 up the amphibrach was quick and easy, but the spur trail was a sharp contrast. Then the view of King Ravine...stunning! The birches a few days behind schedule this year, but really glowing near the top.
Some of our group took off to Adams, I hung out behind to go to Adams 4 at sunset. The resulting colors with a strong backlighting on the tundra is simply indescribable. Bushes that look pretty, but a bit drab...glowed red. The sun lowered between cloud layers, and a sundog added to the drama at points. I have a few photos to edit through..but this was my favorite:
This shot was taken on Lowes Path, below Adams 4, just above the cave along the trail. We then hiked down lowes further, grabbing shots along the way, and made our way over to Crag Camp by headlamp.
I woke at 5AM hoping to get sunrise from the ridge over the Great Gulf, but fog limited that. A dream for next year.
The tundra will fade this week as the valleys become aglow...even overnight the colors became richer in the forests north of the notches.
A trip full of wonderful memories that will last until next years alpine foliage week!!!
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