Beauty beyond the pictures

Where were you the last time you saw or experienced something of such beauty that you couldn't imagine recapturing it? It could be the face of a newborn babe or the delight on the face of a child as he/she put forward the latest creation for you to admire. Those are cherished memories.

Nature imprints different but amazing beauty. When we hike in the high meadows (about 11,500 ft.) above Black Lake, I cannot capture, either in words or with my camera, the expansive beauty that enfolds and inspires me. A better camera (or photographer) could provide a clearer representation. Perhaps a panorama might do it justice. And others might find the giant rock formations, slabs and sharp mountain peaks to be intimidating or too barren. The grasses hadn't turned colors in the first section we reached, and the upper ones, as you can see, were turning, but not into the red we enjoyed last year. The skies were blue and the day earlier so the light was rich--outside the shadows leveled by the rock layers.

These meadows are favorites of my hiking companion and me. At this point in our lives, only special places pull up the energy and endurance needed for the 12+ mile hike and 2000+ elevation gain, much of it in the last mile or so. The feel of being there, mostly without another human being in sight, in the midst of such grandeur is exhilarating--even on a day when my energy wasn't high. We didn't go on to Frozen Lake, our intended destination, since it was obvious that snow and ice awaited us there. On other years or days, we would have pushed on. This year when we reached the lovely tarns, we decided to eat lunch and enjoy the beauty surrounding us. The named lakes at the edges of these meadows are barren. The tarns, lovely.

If you look at the pictures from the one just above the narrative, that is where we began our tromp up and around the meadows. The second, with Long's Peak in the background, was after we had climbed around and up above the rock wall in the 1st photo. The tarns are across from the Spearhead (pointed rock), and the photo of me is facing the opposite direction from the tarns. Does that make you feel as if you are situated with us eating lunch? Unlikely. However, it's the best I can do.

Here's to making memories that can be pulled to enjoy on days when we need inspiration! Thanks for sharing mine.