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 II

More photos from summer in the Rocky Mountains. 

The view back towards Forest Canyon and Trail Ridge Rd. from the summit of Mt. Ida.

Mills Lake, Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park.

A Bighorn ram forages above the tree line.

A creamy lump of quartz sits among the boulders near Mt. Ida.

Panorama from the top of Twin Sisters Peak.  Mt. Meeker and Long's Peak at left, Estes Park at right.

Equipment from the abandoned Eugenia Mine, on the way to Estes Cone.

An Elk bull looks down on the tree line.

Panoramic view from the top of Estes Cone.  Rt. 7 below left, and Mt. Meeker and Long's Peak at center.

Longhorn beetle.

Hatchling praying mantis on a young pine cone.

These cicadas use their wings to make a distinct snapping or clacking sound high in the trees.

Some moth species fake death by extending their abdominal segments and wings, revealing brightly-colored areas, and remaining motionless.

Looking west towards the Continental Divide from near the summit of Twin Sisters.

Wild rose in bloom.

Indian paintbrush.

The Colorado State Flower, Columbine.

New fruit on a conifer.

Painted sky at sunrise.

Young black bear on the trail.

Columbine blossoms in blue and white.

A glimpse of Emerald Lake from the Flattop Mountain trail.