Longs Peak from the Scenic Route, Lyons to Estes Park

Longs Peak overlooks Boulder like a giant guardian towering from on high, looking down from Rocky Mountain National Park It looks different every day, every hour of every year and from every angle. This shot is part of a drive from Boulder to Estes Park taking the “scenic route.”  Route 36 is the “short way” from Lyons to Estes Park and to the main Park entrance IF you take the right, (ignoring your screaming phone navigator) you might find the 20 minute drive taking an hour. FAR longer than the normally slower longer “scenic route.” The scenic route takes Route 7, part of the Peak to Peak Highway.  Construction on the “regular route” on Hwy 36 slowed things down to a virtual halt.  Wild Basin is a park entrance off Hwy 7, otherwise known as Peak to Peak Highway. Wild Basin is  a dead end, but a cool short drive. Many trailheads have their origin from Wild Basin, which is a loop in the park off Hwy. 7. Hwy 7 is the beginning of the “Peak to Peak” Highway, which runs South through Nederland, Blackhawk, and Allenspark, and is justly famous as the drive in Boulder County for seeing the Aspens turned to their Fall Gold color.

Wild Basin Approaching Estes Park by the Scenic Route

If you are in the right place at the right time, you can see the sun setting through a notch on the ridge to the South and East of Longs Peak. These pictures show the sun setting through the notch. THANKS to the photographer who was set up when I parked, and who pointed out what he was shooting (the notch), and not what I thought I was going to shoot (the sun setting behind Longs Peak).

The Sun Approaches the Notch in the Ridge

The Sun Drops Into The Notch

The Sun Sits in the Notch

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com