Lake Isabelle ~ June 30th, 2007                                                                                Next Photo >

Location... Lake Isabelle lies along the Isabelle Glacier trail above Brainard Lake in the very popular Indian Peaks Wilderness about 50 miles west of Denver, CO. Incredibly, this was my first trip to Lake Isabelle even though I've lived in Colorado for most of my life. Its an easy hike with wonderful views and abundant wildflowers.

The Route... I arrived at the Long Lake Trailhead at 4:40am, organized, shouldered my pack, switched on my headlamp, and was on the trail in about 10 minutes. But I knew that I would have to keep a quick pace to make it to Lake Isabelle before sunrise. Its not a difficult trail, at about 2 miles and roughly 400 feet of elevation gain, but I only had about 30 minutes to get there in time for the good light (if there was to be any). As it turns out, I made it just in time, huffing and puffing up the last 1/4 mile of switchbacks.

I found a nice vantage point, set up my tripod, broke open a snack and begin to watch the light warm across the continental divide.

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