Three Lakes Loop

Being in Crested Butte this week made a hike very likely. Bluebird skies on Tuesday sealed the deal. A quick perusal of the 65 Scenic Day Hikes book pointed me to Three Lakes Loop -- just a 40-minute drive and three-mile trek. Destination set, I headed out around noon.

The sunlight in early afternoon was as harsh as I've ever tried to shoot in.  And when you don't carefully clean all the dust off your filter, you get even more lens flare than normal.

The trail guide stressed the importance of checking out a waterfall just past Lost Lake.  And I'm thrilled that it did.  They were completely in shade this time of day so I had no contrast issues.  The water was still flowing briskly.  And ice was just starting to form, adding some terrific visual elements.

I must have stayed here for half an hour, trying to get just the right angle to capture the beauty to which I'd been led.

This is my favorite of the bunch -- motion from the falling water, crisp detail in the ice crystals, and even a splash of color from the algae still growing on the rocks.  And I didn't slip on any ice getting to this vantage point, which was a nice bonus.

Spots like this one are probably my favorite thing about hiking this time of year.  The early stages of winter's grasp starting to tighten can be mesmerizing.

An avalanche scar opens up the view on one stretch of the trail to showcase Lost Lake Slough, Marcellina Mountain and the Ruby Range.  During peak foliage this must be stunning.

A short side trek to Dollar Lake is worth the time.  And if you don't take the time, it's really only a two-lake loop.

A small school of what I assume are trout swam lazily through the clear water.

My first time here, I thought this was Lost Lake.  But it's technically Lost Lake Slough.  I'm surprised it doesn't have its own name, instead being referred to as the byproduct of another body of water less than half its size.

The sun had started to drop when I finished the loop around 3:00, but was still high enough that I couldn't get a decent shot with both Beckwith peaks in it.  So here's just East Beckwith Mountain.

Driving back to Crested Butte along Kebler Pass Road, I stopped to capture the color and reflections in some beaver ponds.  If I'd been paying closer attention I might have gotten a shot of the resident beaver, too.  He noticed me first, dove under water with a splash and then gave me an indignant tail slap before entering his lodge.

And speaking of his lodge...

I waited here for a bit hoping he'd come back out.  But like most wildlife photography opportunities, it was a one-time deal.

For a time of year I generally consider to be one of the least attractive from a landscape standpoint, this was still a beautiful little hike!