Colorado Columbines in a Starkly Beautiful Setting!

The hike to Sky Pond is one of my favorites. Together with the Lake of Glass, it sits in a glacier-carved bowl separated from the world below by a cliff and a three-tiered waterfall. Up in that bowl, life is absolutely magical! In addition to the two lakes - a second waterfall, lush alpine gardens, and spectacular views make the experience especially memorable. Yesterday I discovered these stately Colorado Columbines up there, backed by "The Sharksteeth" in a starkly beautiful setting.

Photo: Colorado Columbines and The Sharksteeth, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, July 16, 2015