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Foggy Morning at the Monument

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.

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Grand Valley Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The same scene after it got a little lighter out.

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Dawn Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Pipe Organ and the Grand Valley filled with low clouds and fog.

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Pipe Organ by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

View down Wedding Canyon toward Sentinel Spire.

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Sentinel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The sun did make another brief appearance while I was at Grand View.

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East Entrance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Fog creeping up Wedding Canyon towards Independence Monument.

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Framed by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

It’s always pretty cool to watch the fog move up the canyons.

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Pouring Through by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Pipe Organ and Window Rock above the fog.

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Above it All by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Fog surrounding The Island.

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Surrounding The Island by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Lower Monument Canyon.

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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.

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Kissing Couple by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Over the Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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In the Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A view of Balance Rock from above as I started to drive back down.

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Balance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

View from the Fruita Canyon Overlook.

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Foggy Fruita Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Cliffs, clouds and the road below.

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Road & Cliffs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Rim Rock Drive disappears into the fog.

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Poor Visibility by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I passed this bighorn sheep in the thick fog as I was entering Fruita Canyon.

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Sheep in Fog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Foggy Morning at the Monument Photo Gallery

3 Comments

    • Randy Langstraat
      Randy Langstraat April 20, 2015

      Thanks Richard!

  1. Tom McCoppin
    Tom McCoppin July 25, 2015

    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

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