Loveland Pass Quick Stop

The Story:

As I wrote about earlier, I had been visiting my brother who was on a trip to Colorado.  Much of my drive to Denver was marred by a deluge of rain, so on my return I made it a point to take full advantage of my favorite weather: scattered cumulus puffy clouds and agreeable temperatures.  The only catch is that I had to make the twelve-hour drive in one day, so I picked out one area of Colorado to take with leisure; I drove US 6 west out of Golden until it joined Interstate 70, and then again as it diverged at Loveland Ski area up to Loveland Pass.

I set out early enough to give myself some time for the diversion, and appreciated the scenery through Clear Creek Canyon Park.  This was an area I had not been through, but I have identified it as a place worth exploring on a future trip.  As you might imagine, in that area US 6 follows Clear Creek; I noticed what appeared to be several amazing trailheads mixed among the steep faces and tunnels. The fun really started at the Loveland Pass section, however.  Shortly after exiting, one encounters one of the great public road hairpins; it has sheer drops on one side and rugged rock faces on the other with a great view below.  This makes for a great lead-in to the pass itself.

When I arrived at Loveland Pass, it actually took me a bit by surprise.  The parking lot is rather small with little fanfare.  Luckily I was able to find a spot; I set out to explore a bit with my camera.  I did not have time for any lengthy hiking, but I was tempted.  The atmospheric conditions were great, and the sights were spectacular.  I allowed myself to wander for a bit longer than I had initially anticipated.  Correspondingly, the drive back would take me late into the night.  In retrospect, those few extra minutes were worth it.  Standing near the Continental Divide I happened to notice the green mountainsides leading up to white caps, topped by structured clouds.  It is a scene and image I could probably not recreate if I tried. I am, however, willing to give it a shot.

The Shot:

This was one of several similar shots consisting of ridge lines topped with clouds.  The combination of forested areas and the winding road draw me in.  The rest of my Loveland Pass shots do not catch the eye accordingly.  I shot the frame at ISO 400 and really overexposed the clouds originally.  I do not remember why I did that, but luckily the detail was there during processing.