500px provided description: To get to Maroon Bells, everyone who knows, suggests one would have go before sunset to capture the sunset colors and get a parking spot, This means leaving Denver at 1:30am , drive over Independence Pass in pitch darkness through rain and snow , and getting to Maroon Bells half filled parking lot at 5:10am. Once there, one would be on the edge of the water sitting or standing shoulder to shoulder , tripod to tripod, with 50 other photographers in 46 degree weather to wait in the dark for an hour and a half before there's any hint of sun light. This does not sound sane to a normal person and it was crazy. Crazy turned miserable when the wind picks up and drops the temperature another 5-8 degrees. Winter gear and hand/toe warmers are highly recommended. Some were smart and made coffee on the beach, I brought hot water from home. When there was a semblance of sunrise at 6:57am, the expected epic scene of the sun creeping and casting soft purple, pink, red, and other similar hues did not happen this morning because of the constant clouds and wind.

Was is worth it to make to trip and take the same pictures as all other photographers before me has done? I would say the experience was worth it and the pictures I took are from my camera. When day broke, being immersed in the fall colors and surroundings were pretty amazing. After being in Colorado since 1994, this is one off my bucket list and it was all worth it. [#Colorado ,#Aspen ,#Marble ,#Carbondale ,#Crystal River ,#Fall Colors ,#Maroon Bells ,#Beaver Lake ,#Lizard Lake ,#Crystal Peak ,#Treasure Mountain ,#Hat Mountain ,#WhiteHouse Mountain ,#Beaver Lake Reservoir]