On the drive over, glancing up at the suddenly hazy sky, I wasn't sure if we'd get much for a pretty sunset. But as I passed the viewpoint along Alton Mt. Rd. I was reminded that the sight of the lake and mountains would be worth the hike either way.
The recent heat wave had finally broken a day or two ago, and the conditions were perfect for summer hiking. Low humidity and temps in the mid-upper 70's this evening kept us comfortable. And as we neared the summit of Pine Mt. (for the seventh time this year - actually less than I would have guessed, as it seems we do it all the time), we were greeted by one of the most impressive displays of meteorology we've seen on this summit.
Pine is known for beautiful sunsets, but this one might be the best we've witnessed yet. The sunset seemed to wrap around the entire sky in a 360 display of feathery clouds and a rainbow of colors. We lingered in awe for record time, snapping pics and flitting back and forth between viewpoints. It's been a while since I've taken so many photos on Pine, and it was difficult to narrow down my favorites to less than a dozen. Each one seemed more gorgeous than the next.
Of course, as amazing as some of the pictures are, nothing compares to seeing it with our own eyes. Standing on an open summit, refreshing breeze in our hair, the glow of sunset all around us, ever changing with each passing minute, the human eye picks up nuances in color and emotion that a camera simply cannot.
Pine Mt. is one of the most rewarding hikes in the area, with a big "bang for your buck" as a relatively easy & quick climb with fantastic views. I highly recommend it. Until you can hit the trail yourself though, feast your eyes on what you're missing up there...
I invite you to vote on your favorites. Help me narrow down the best pics a little more! Leave a comment with your top picks.
7/27 Pine sunset, 1.6 mi, 36/52 min, 299 ft.
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