Em's comment on the Fort Churchill blog reminded me I needed to get on the stick and post some of the other pics from the weekend. :) Em, you remembered exactly right about Hope Valley and the freak hailstorm we had earlier this year. This shot is from a little way up from the Valley. About 5 miles up Hwy 88, toward Carson Pass, is a small group of lakes, one of which is called Red Lake. One of our favorite hikes is up to Frog and Winnemucca Lake, which takes you up to about 9,000 feet. The far side of Frog Lake overlooks this lake, but we were lucky enough to get this view right from the side of the road. It was just moments after the sun rose above the horizon, lighting up the mist rising over the lake. You can see all the gorgeous aspens glowing with the orangy-yellow of morning alpenglow (that's the golden light we get here at high altitudes, right after sunrise and before sunset) and even the snow has the golden glow ... really gorgeous. COLD (I believe this was the morning that the temp thingy on the car said 19º).. but gorgeous. :) On the right is the mountain peak called Elephant's Back, which is located right along the hike to Winnemucca Lake. We love seeing this early snow .. hoping it's a great snowshoeing season!