With the hot summer that we have been having this year, we have not had the mass of wild flowers that we have had in past years. Yesterday I made a trip to Shrine Pass to seek out the wild flowers. In previous years there have been prolific wild flowers in this area. Heading west out of Denver, the weather became more overcast. By the time I got to Shrine Pass, there was a slight drizzle at the top of the pass. Not to be discouraged, I headed down the pass. Several forest roads run through the area so I picked one that looked interesting and stopped. Walking up the road, there were a few wild flowers along the creek that flowed beside the road. I decided to try some in-camera multiple exposures on one of the flowers.
Wild Flower Multi-Exposure At Shrine Pass
Nearby was a Cow Parsley plant that was flowering. Another multi-exposure treatment.
Cow Parsley Multi-Exposure
The Eagle Creek flows down the pass. I enjoy making images of flowing water, so this was an ideal location.
Eagle Creek Below Shrine Pass
Since this was my first trip to Shrine Pass, I decided to explore the area some more, so I drove down the pass. The road ends in the quaint and interesting town of Redcliff. I drove a little further, reaching highway 24. This last week there was a huge pothole that developed in the road above a disused railroad tunnel; the road has been closed for repairs.
By this time it was getting late so I headed back up Shrine Pass to a spot that I had eyed earlier. I climbed up towards the aspen forest until reaching this flat boulder.
Boulder At Shrine Pass
In the valley below, low clouds were slowly making their way up the pass. Climbing on the boulder, gives a great view in the incoming clouds.
Incoming Low Cloud At Shrine Pass
After weeks of hot cloudless skies, the low cloud was welcome. Here we see the cloud above the pine forests.
Low Cloud In Pine Forest
Waiting while, the clouds eventually reached the aspen forest above me.
Aspen Forest In Low Cloud
With the approaching sunset, light was dropping fast, bringing an end to a great day.