In the 1880's, a miner lived in this cabin.
His view was of a high-altitude lake.
Crystal Lake reflects differing colors
depending on the sun, sky, and time of day.
depending on the sun, sky, and time of day.
At nearly 12,000' in altitude,
at the end of August,
the air is thin and cool.
at the end of August,
the air is thin and cool.
Silver ore was once mined from the rocky hillside.
Lake trout, still prevalent, may have provided him dinner.
Surely, the views helped feed his soul.
Helen and I spend the day hiking to Crystal Lake from my house.
The town of Breckenridge is in the valley below, about 6 miles away.
The talus slopes are a challenge to navigate.
We climb, trying to find a second lake.
Finally, we have a picnic instead!
In the time we explore,
Crystal Lake turns from green to turquoise, to pale blue, to sapphire.
Gentians, which herald the coming of winter, bloom in the meadows.
The town of Breckenridge is in the valley below, about 6 miles away.
Crystal Lake turns from green to turquoise, to pale blue, to sapphire.
Gentians, which herald the coming of winter, bloom in the meadows.
 |
| Arctic Gentian |
 |
| Mountain Gentian |
Pikas, small mammals related to rabbits,
gather greens, storing them in neat rows under a rock overhang -
another sign that snow will soon fall.
As we pass along the lake shore,
we see clumps of mountain goat hair stuck to the willow bushes.
Paw prints of wild animals etch the mud.
Snug in my own house by nightfall,
I think about the Miner huddling in his cabin
at the edge of the black lake:
under inky skies
a resting soul hovers
by the darkened lake
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