Maroon Lake to Crater Lake

[gnwatts]

My wife and I decided to check out the fall color in the best spot we knew, the Maroon Bells. It was also like disneyland, with a mass of people clustered along 100' of shore line @ 7:30 in the morning, freezing their asses off to get the same shot. So we decided to continue on to our objective 2 miles away, Crater Lake, at the base of the Maroon bells. We knew we would be walking through a spectacular grove about half way there, it was the most beautiful day hike I think I have ever been on. Not too many people, and the lake was perfect. Had lunch then beat the rain back to the car.


ZC0D3150 by greg watts photography, on Flickr



ZC0D3080 by greg watts photography, on Flickr



ZC0D3085 by greg watts photography, on Flickr



ZC0D3049 - Version 2 by greg watts photography, on Flickr

[ibenick]

Great shots.

[mattandersao]

[gnwatts]

Thanks Nick and Matt

[bowjunkie]

very nice I haven't been there for yrs

[homerj]

Awesome shots!

[canyonphile]

Loved your shot in the Fall Colors thread as well! Clearly, it was worth the extra hike to get these photos (and avoid the crowds). It's a great thing that most people aren't interested or willing to go a little further away to get a unique shot...so, those that do are rewarded .

The Maroon Bells are definitely a bit out of the way from me, but they are clearly one of the primo locations in our fair state to get great photos. I definitely have to go one year.

[gnwatts]

Thanks Ed, Homerj and Sonya for your comments.
The Maroon Bells are great but the area around it is equally spectacular. Yeah it's kind of a hoof from Durango, but then Durango seems like it's far from everywhere :)
Greg

[accadacca]

Beautiful captures.