I knew that the trail would be going through thick forests and valleys most of the way which would make it almost impossible to get any good dawn photos. This, of course, gave me the perfect excuse to sleep in until 5:00 A.M., stop for coffee and donuts, and enjoy a nice drive up to the trailhead by the light of the rising sun.
Despite the later time, it was still relatively dark and chilly on the first section of the trail as it followed the creek through the depths of a steep valley. The trail wound through thick stands of lodgepole pine whose dark vertical trunks provided an almost cathedral-like feel to the woods.