Minutes before sunrise, first light strikes the stunning escarpment along the eastern face of the Snowy Range and reflects in the beautiful calm waters of Lake Marie, in the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming.
I've been fascinated from afar with the Snowy Range for quite a few years now, but hadn't made it there until we took an extra day and headed that way last month after fighting the crowds in Rocky Mountain National Park for a couple of days.
What we found in this part of the Medicine Bow was even more awesome than I'd hoped. It's one of those places that's actually very accessible, but has the appealing, uncrowded feel and wonder of a far more remote location. A great trail system (that I need to explore much further) weaves among and between the stunning alpine lakes, meadows and rockfalls nestled beneath the soaring cliffs and quartzite mountains.
And speaking of quartzite, I'm not sure I've ever seen so much in one place. The Snowy Range is aptly named, not just because it gets a lot of snow in winter, but also because there is so much quartz in its exposed rocks that it appears almost snow-capped year round in many lighting conditions. Beneath the higher peaks, boulder fields of bright quartz blends scatter here and there among blue waters, firs and autumn-toned undergrowth. A beautiful and fascinating place.
Thanks for viewing!
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