Sun Rays Over Chaos Crags

This moment was as awesome in person as it looks here!   There had been smoke in the North State from fires, but reports showed very little particulate for this morning.  My plan for being at Manzanita Lake at sunrise had me getting up at 4:15am.   Truck packed, breakfast heated in the microwave, I was off.  Upon arriving I put my headlamp on, started getting my gear out and realized I couldn’t see any stars.  Boy, was I mad!  After all the planning and executing, it was going to be another smoke-filled day.  After a few deep breaths to let it go, I realized...I just took deep breaths!  It was moisture, not smoke!  My emotions took a 180% switch.  Suddenly, I just wanted to get in position.

My research had the sun coming up just to the left of the mountain, and this morning it did so with almost no color.  At the time I remember being surprised, but with this many clouds, not worried.  After enjoying the evolution of this sunrise, it came to this point.  An experience that was both dynamic and peaceful.  So many things had to line up in my life so I could be standing on the shore at that moment.  Even more had to go right in nature for this to be created.