An Icy Sunset

[ProCaliberTraveler]

On Friday I spontaneously decided to drive to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for a sunset shot at the famously twisted and dead tree on top of the White Mountains.

However, the last 1.5 miles or so of road leading up to the tree is still icy and unplowed. I had driven up to the vista point here in similar conditions in my trusty Toyota Camry without chains, but decided to not go further. I find that driving on snowy/icy roads is similar to sand; don’t heavily use brakes, keep going, no sudden movement.

I was the only person up there that evening. The sunset REALLY popped, which caused me to laugh. You all can see the magnitude of the snowstorm early this past week and how much snow fell. Probably my favorite part of the show was how the snow caught the warm light of the sunset.

 

[AlanLichty]

Neat series. My favorite is #2 with the added glow to the snow afforded by the viewing angle. The last image is quite nice as well.

Looks cold.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Really nice series. It was wise to stop before you slid off the road

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice series. Another nod to the 2nd one.

 

[JimFox]

I know that view point, it's a pretty cool one. It's too bad you weren't able to get to the Sentinel Tree, it's indeed a special one. I have never really tried going up there in the winter time, do they normally plow it up to the gate by the visitor center?

 

[ProCaliberTraveler]

Neat series. My favorite is #2 with the added glow to the snow afforded by the viewing angle. The last image is quite nice as well.

Looks cold.

Thanks, Alan. It was 28 degrees up there with a slight breeze.

Really nice series. It was wise to stop before you slid off the road

Thanks, Ben!

Nice series. Another nod to the 2nd one.

Thank you, Jameel.

I know that view point, it's a pretty cool one. It's too bad you weren't able to get to the Sentinel Tree, it's indeed a special one. I have never really tried going up there in the winter time, do they normally plow it up to the gate by the visitor center?

This was my first time driving up there so soon after a large snowstorm, so I don't know the answer to your question. I assumed that the road would be clear because it's still open. Lesson learned.

 

[BlackRockArt]

On Friday I spontaneously decided to drive to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for a sunset shot at the famously twisted and dead tree on top of the White Mountains.

However, the last 1.5 miles or so of road leading up to the tree is still icy and unplowed. I had driven up to the vista point here in similar conditions in my trusty Toyota Camry without chains, but decided to not go further. I find that driving on snowy/icy roads is similar to sand; don’t heavily use brakes, keep going, no sudden movement.

I was the only person up there that evening. The sunset REALLY popped, which caused me to laugh. You all can see the magnitude of the snowstorm early this past week and how much snow fell. Probably my favorite part of the show was how the snow caught the warm light of the sunset.

View attachment 54086View attachment 54087View attachment 54088

Michael, even you did't go all the way to the top, the view is splendid, love all three shots.

Oliver