the lofty world of mount evans

the major shock is the bitter cold of the early morning outings, the vicious winds, and that hypoxic altitude which makes every step into a lead-footed trudge. (add 20 pounds of camera gear and the trudge becomes a shuffle.) but the rewards balance out these woes: splendid sunrises, crisp and clean air, and nature scenes a-plenty.

we convene in bleary-eyed groups at 4:30 each morning. a caravan of cars weaves up the narrow, pockmarked road to 14 000 feet as the sky emerges from darkness. gradually the terrain gains shape in the wan light: steep peaks decorated mostly by boulders and less so by a few hardy plants. to the west, the layered peaks are an inky blue and the sky just barely lighter.

but to the east the sky is a pastel-colored wonder of peach and gold. within 10 minutes of sunrise, a blinding white light drenches the alpine tundra. welcome to the lofty world of mount evans!