• Hikemaster...

    StonesPeak002.jpg Hikemaster Scott's trip to Stones Peak with former hikemaster Billy began 2.5 hours before this 5 AM photo of Knobtop Mtn's summit with a routine hike up Flattop Mountain from Bear Lake. image by hikemaster2

  • First ligh...

    StonesPeak004.jpg First light of day, from over 12,000 ft. Stones Peak is the large rounded summit to the right. To reach it, nearly 10 miles of hiking is required, including passage across the entire ridgeline seen here to the left. image by hikemaster2

  • Daylight b...

    StonesPeak006.jpg Daylight begins to takeover in the high country. Stones Peak (left) still sits in shadow. Low clouds and fog hug the lower elevations to the east towards Estes Park for a few hours in the morning. image by hikemaster2

  • Gorgeous e...

    StonesPeak009.jpg Gorgeous eastward view towards Estes Park (can you see Lake Estes in this image?), with low clouds adding an element of mystique to this gorgeous scene. Hikemaster Scott and Billy will descend into this canyon nearly 12 hours later in the day.. image by hikemaster2

  • From the b...

    StonesPeak010.jpg From the base of Sprague Mountain (12,713 ft), obstacle on the way to Stones, reveals Mount Alice (left) and Snowdrift Peak (right). Hallett's Peak is out of view to the left, and far away---the hikers traversed a whole lot of tundra to get here! image by hikemaster2

  • Those earl...

    StonesPeak014.jpg Those early morning starts are rewarded with images like this: the sun peaks over the fog, as the hikers look eastward with hopes for a warm sun. It was frigidly cold up here (windchills in the 0-20 degree range). image by hikemaster2

  • There come...

    StonesPeak021.jpg There comes the sun. By hike's end, Hikemaster Scott and Billy will be plenty warm, but at this moment, they were both garbed in full-blown winter gear. VERY cold in the wee early morning hours! image by hikemaster2

  • Warm sunsh...

    StonesPeak022.jpg Warm sunshine tries to counteract the frigid wind chill at the base of Sprague Mountain and the head of Spruce Canyon. It would take a while for things to warm up! Thankfully, the hikers were well-prepared for freezing temperatures! image by hikemaster2

  • Hikemaster...

    StonesPeak027.jpg Hikemaster Scott stands in awe of the gorgeous early morning sky, as viewed from along the Continental Divide, north of Flattop Mountain (and the other "tops"). image by hikemaster2

  • Hikemaster...

    StonesPeak028.jpg Hikemaster Scott stands at the base of Sprague Mountain, with Snowdrift Peak in the backdrop to the southwest. Scott climbed Snowdrift with Hikemasters Matthew and Tony earlier in the summer and thoroughly enjoyed that hike too! image by hikemaster2

  • This south...

    StonesPeak029.jpg This southward image shows much of the high country of RMNP. Billy climbs the side of Sprague Mountain and fights the cold and thin air. That's a LONG LONG tundra hike north from Flattop Mountain behind him! image by hikemaster2

  • Light begi...

    StonesPeak033.jpg Light begins to shine on the high peaks of RMNP far to the south. Do you see RMNP's highest summit, Longs Peak (14,259 ft)? Hallett's Peak (where the hikers came from) is just below and right of Longs--a long way over there! image by hikemaster2

  • Oh Wow! T...

    StonesPeak037.jpg Oh Wow! The mammoth rock in the backdrop is Stones Peak, today's destination (RMNP's 24th highest summit, and 2nd highest that Scott hasn't climbed as of this writing). Rainbow Lake below, very rarely seen by any of RMNP's visitors! image by hikemaster2

  • To get to ...

    StonesPeak038.jpg To get to Stones (right), one must first get across Sprague Mtn (left). This makes Stones a very long and hard hike! Below, you can see Sprague Tarn (below) and Irene Lake (above). Hikemaster Scott and Billy will visit both upon descent later. image by hikemaster2

  • Enormous e...

    StonesPeak040.jpg Enormous expanse of tundra stretches to the south of Sprague Mountain. How many of RMNP's big peaks can you identify in this image? No less than 8 of RMNP's 20 13,000+ peaks are visible here! image by hikemaster2

  • From near ...

    StonesPeak042.jpg From near Sprague Mountain's summit, this southeast view reveals Longs Peak (upper right), Sprague Glacier (steep snow), and Sprague Tarn (lower right), and Rainbow Lake (middle left). This is pretty spectacular scenery! image by hikemaster2

  • Beautiful ...

    StonesPeak043.jpg Beautiful silohouttes of peaks to the east, playing games with light and shadows. Some pretty lakes lie far below. Can you identify Twin Sisters? How about Estes Cone? (Hint: Both are near the upper right.) image by hikemaster2

  • Castle Roc...

    StonesPeak049.jpg Castle Rock (climbed on June 15, 2008 by Hikemaster Scott) sits directly in the lower center. Hikemaster Scott and Billy will go around this rock en route to the Fern Lake trail later. Gorgeous cloud formations! image by hikemaster2

  • Longs, Hal...

    StonesPeak051.jpg Longs, Hallett, Pagoda, Chiefshead, McHenry's, Powell, and Taylor Peaks all rise at the upper right, while the gorgeous scenery just south of Sprague/Stones dominates the foreground. image by hikemaster2

  • Sprague Gl...

    StonesPeak052.jpg Sprague Glacier is one of the small handful of glaciers remaining in the park. Billy says that this is a healthy glacier, as seen by the steep snow and ice that is clinging to the cliffs on the side of Sprague Mountain. image by hikemaster2
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