As I write, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and it seems like a pleasant morning. Just yesterday, to the west, the first snow has fallen from Red Feather Lakes in the north to Twin Lakes in the south. But today like many days this week, clouds blanketed the horizon to start the day, blocking sunlight from reaching Bear Valley here in Denver, and Red Rocks Park in Morrison, Colorado, to the west.
Downtown Denver is illuminated briefly when the sunlight catches the skyscrapers.
Yesterday, I was at a meeting with Denver City Council member, Kevin Flynn, when he mentioned that Loretto Heights is the crown jewel of the neighborhood, with community services, attractions, an event center, as well as the schools still connected with the campus.
Loretto Heights, a gothic tower underneath clouds and a narrow band of light at sunrise.
Last Thursday, however, I rode my bike to Rooney Valley next to the Hogback in order to catch the sunrise. The red skies matched the color of Red Rocks when the sun was still just over the horizon.
Red Rocks and Green Mountain, with the Hogback and Rooney Pass in between.
On this morning, the light shone briefly on the amphitheater and park. While the mountain peaks and plains were in shadow, the rocks themselves were warmly lit by the brief appearance of the sun.
From Bear Valley, a brief illumination highlights Red Rocks.
Last Thursday, I was much closer, and had the trail almost all to myself to reach the Hogback.
The rocks cast soft shadows due to the shrouded sunlight and glowing clouds.
The sun tried gamely to shine, but low clouds on the horizon blocked the attempt. The colors on the clouds just before the scheduled sunrise were stunning.
Bear Creek Lake glows under the fiery sky at the ersatz sunrise.
The highway started to fill up, as the glow permeated the Soda Lakes recreation area that’s part of Bear Creek Lake Park.
A local highway, C-470, passes next to the local beaches, now closed for the season.
With the coming equinox and summer nearly over, the scenery is still “greenery” but that will soon change.
180° panorama of the sunrise over Bear Valley, with US Highway 285 in the center.
Last Thursday, the sunrise never penetrated the clouds. But they burned off in the middle of the morning, before returning in the form of thunderheads and rainclouds in the afternoon.
Development north of Morrison Road fills in the last parcels east of the Hogback.
For a brief moment this morning, the sunlight spilled from between the clouds and the horizon.
Narrower than a panorama, this viewpoint is still considered a “wide angle.”
I was lucky to catch the sun in this, all-too brief moment. But thanks to the drone, I’m able to catch the sun’s first appearance from nearly 400‘ in the air, long before I can see the sun pop above the horizon from my position on the ground.
The sun continued to rise, taking it above the clouds. My drone descended to catch the light.
On these two sunrises, I felt like I was in my own little world.
360° panorama of Bear Valley just before the sunrise.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! And as a bonus for doing so: I want to share that there will be an important announcement coming soon. You read it here, first!
