Andrews Tarn

A few months ago, I released a song named, "Rain on the Tarn", and mentioned that I hoped to reach the subject location this summer.

Earlier this week, I hiked up through Glacier Gorge to Andrews Tarn, so I can count that desire fulfilled.

Andrews Tarn lies at around 11,500 feet elevation, just below Andrews Glacier, just east of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park.  This photo looks eastward away from the Divide and the glacier, towards the steep drop-off into the canyon below.

Andrews Glacier - not much more than a dirty patch of snow in late Summer - and getting smaller every year because of the effects of human activity on our climate.  Above the glacier is a saddle that is part of the Continental Divide - the line that determines whether water drains into the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.

Here's the tune - evocative of a different sort of day than the bright and windy conditions in these photos!

From the eastern lip of Andrews Tarn, looking down the talus slope, with a blue sliver of The Loch [elevation 10,180 ft] visible about a mile away.

Andrews Creek drains Andrews Tarn and joins Icy Brook running down from Lake of Glass to fill The Loch.

The middle reaches of Andrews Creek cascade over boulders below Andrews Tarn.

Andrews Creek takes a more leisurely meander through the lower reaches before joining Icy Creek.

Looking almost due south across The Loch from its northern shore.

At the foot of The Loch, with Taylor Glacier and Taylor Peak at center and right, respectively.

Glacier Creek below The Loch.

The Loch Vale Trail as it passes below the Glacier Knobs headed for The Loch.

High country summer - Part IV

More from in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. 

At the edge of Dream Like, with Hallet Peak as a backdrop.

A cascade at the brink - just below Lake of Glass, on the way to Timberline Falls.  The Loch in the distance below. 

Looking West towards the Never Summer Mountains, from above tree line on Twin Sisters.

Looking West from the flank of Twin Sisters.

A cascade edges the tailings of the old Eugenia Mine.

A Lustrous Copper, Lycaena cupreus, a denizen of the Alpine Zone.

Whipple's Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus.

Elkweed or Green Gentian, Frasera speciosa.

Elkweed or Green Gentian, Frasera speciosa.

Cinquefoil, Potentilla sp.

Close-up with a Sticky Geranium, Geranium viscoissimum.

Looking down Tyndall Gorge from just above Tyndall Glacier at around 12,000 ft.  The "glacier" is now reduced to a small dirty patch of snow by rising temperatures.  In the distance, Pool of Jade, then Dream Lake, and a glimpse of Bear Lake Road below.

Long's Peak and Glacier Gorge in the distance, and a glimpse of Dream Lake below, from the Flattop Mountain Trail.

A pair of bull elk, up high above the Summer heat.

Bull elk catch some early morning sun. 

The Continental Divide between Milner Pass and Mt. Ida.

Emerald Lake, with Hallet Peak and rocky spires rising above Tyndall Gorge.

Chaos Canyon below Lake Haiyaha.

Afternoon clouds fore-sage a thunderstorm as they gather above the helmet of Long's Peak.

Fallen tree.

High country summer - Part I

Some of my favorite photos from the first few weeks of summer in the Rocky Mountains. 

Mammals

The fox family [Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes] was back, with five kits.

"Silver fox" - an uncommon color variation of the Red Fox.

Young deer on the Black Canyon Trail. 

Tassel-Eared Squirrel [Abert's Squirrel, Ciurus aberti].  The C. aberti ferreus subspecies that lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is all black - all of the other subspecies have a white belly.

American red squirrel [Tamiasciurus hudsonicus].

Chipmunk. 

Elk [Cervus canadensis] move through the neighborhood early in the summer before they head up to the higher elevations.

Birds

 Pygmy Nuthatch

Wild Turkey [Meleagris gallopavo].  This image was shot before dawn, and therefore the colors are very muted.

Plants and Flowers

Pasque flowers kicked it off as early Spring bloomers. 

Sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa.

Sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa.

Landscapes

Sticky Geranium, Geranium viscosissimum

Trees grow in a crack in Button Rock.

Looking west towards Mt. Meeker and Long's Peak from Button Rock.

Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Fern Lake.

Aspens at sunrise.

The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Loch Vale, with Timberline Falls in the distance, right of center.

Panorama with Lake of Glass at left, and The Loch down below at right.

Clouds over the Continental Divide from near the top of Twin Sisters.

A view of "The Keyhole" - on the route to the summit of Long's Peak -  from Estes Cone.