Saturday, April 18, 2015
After a storm moved through western Colorado and left a lot of precipitation behind the past few days it looked like it was going to finally clear this morning, so I woke up early and drove up to the Colorado National Monument shortly before sunrise to take a few photos. I never did get the sunrise that I was hoping for, but the valley below was filled with low clouds and fog which is always fun to watch and photograph.
There was a brief moment when the sunrise did turn a few clouds pink, plus the lights from Grand Junction were glowing through the clouds from below. Mount Garfield and the Book Cliffs have a thin coating of snow on them from the storm.
Grand Valley Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The same scene after it got a little lighter out.
Dawn Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Pipe Organ and the Grand Valley filled with low clouds and fog.
Pipe Organ by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View down Wedding Canyon toward Sentinel Spire.
Sentinel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The sun did make another brief appearance while I was at Grand View.
East Entrance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Fog creeping up Wedding Canyon towards Independence Monument.
Framed by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
It’s always pretty cool to watch the fog move up the canyons.
Pouring Through by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Pipe Organ and Window Rock above the fog.
Above it All by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Fog surrounding The Island.
Surrounding The Island by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Lower Monument Canyon.
Monument Canyon Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View past the Kissing Couple. The fog in this scene really makes Sentinel Spire stand out in the background.
Kissing Couple by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Over the Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
In the Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A view of Balance Rock from above as I started to drive back down.
Balance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View from the Fruita Canyon Overlook.
Foggy Fruita Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Cliffs, clouds and the road below.
Road & Cliffs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Rim Rock Drive disappears into the fog.
Poor Visibility by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I passed this bighorn sheep in the thick fog as I was entering Fruita Canyon.
Sheep in Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Really strong stuff, particularly the first image.
Thanks Richard!
Randy…beautiful photos! I am not in any way as experienced or proficient as you, but one of my favorite photos (that I have taken) is of a cloud bank next to Guadalupe Peak and El Capitan (Guadalupe Mountains Nat. Park in Texas). The clouds were being “sheared off” by a strong North wind- it was stunning. When I started writing this, I thought there might be a way for me to attach the photo, but I can’t figure it out…oh well! Thank you….I enjoy your blog so much! Tom McCoppin, Lake McQueeney Texas