Gina and Scott love the mountains and thought no better place to celebrate but Rocky Mountain National Park. Of course, I tend to agree being a mountain wedding photographer and some of the best mountains in Colorado are in RMNP. Also helps everything is pretty convient to get to even for those unlikely hikers.
This wedding ended in such a incredible way. I will remember it for a long time to come. More on this later.
The day started out as you would expect, an incredibly beautiful Colorado day. Sun is out and its just a bit cool high up in the mountains. Pretty perfect if you ask me. After spending some time along the river and seeing the alluvial fan, we follow the light into the trees. My favorite trees... Aspens!
We then head to Bear Lake but really our destination is to Dream Lake. We stop along the way for some photos but I really want to get up there for sunset and ride it out to see what nature is going to do. We get a little sidetracked and have some fun along the lake and nature decides no alpen glow for you today we so head down.
The light begins the fall FAST. I mean oddly fast. Part of this is due to the time of year and the changing time for fall, the other part was we were having fun and I was so hopeful for some amazing light glow. Gina has some boots on that turned out to be a real pain and were starting to hurt her feet. So as its getting dark and were heading down she is trying her hardest to push through to make it back to the cars.
We pause along the trail and its that dark/light time where your eyes play tricks on your and its hard to see detail but you can still plainly see. I see something light colored walking towards us and its short. Maybe 4 feet tall at its back and its slinking along, not bouncy like a coyote or dog or wolf. Its more of a glide. I start to make noise and its walks past us alongside the trail. Scott comes up to me as Gina is finished fixing her socks and I tell him to not move as we both briefly see and hear it walk by ever so quietly. I was making enough noise to let it know where and what we were but not so much as to make it fearful or scared. We make it down safe and sound and we all talk though it. After some research the following day I am pretty darn certain that it was a Mountain Lion. I am so thankful we walked towards each other as they generally only attack from behind and when they do, you don't know about it till its too late.
It was a extremely scary and awesome experience for us all. Next time, better shoes and leave earlier!
I am available for all of Colorado and destination weddings, elopements, and engagements. I love to wander.
Colorado Wedding Photographer | Colorado Mountain Wedding Photographer
Fall | Rocky Mountain National Park | Wedding
