In the Silence Before Sunrise, Black Lake Hike, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Good morning, sleepyheads!

Wow! It turns out I am not the only one who woke up this early. My alarm informs me it is 4:00 a.m., and time to start the day. By 4:35 a.m., I am already at the Glacier Gorge trailhead, scrambling to find a parking spot. Yes, you heard me, it is still pitch black and nearly all the spots are taken. Go to sleep, people! :)

Since I have no plans to hike in the dark (what is the point?) I take the time to enjoy a cup of coffee, have breakfast, and make lunch.

By 5:30, I am set and ready with the first break of the day. What magic the first light brings to the Rockies! The silhouette of the mountains offers a stunning glimpse of what is to come. It is absolutely breathtaking! I will tell you now, that I could not capture the energy in my photos. You will just have to take my word for it—or better yet, experience it yourself.

I breathe deeply and freely as I find my solitude in nature.

My first stop is Alberta Falls. I love her cascading flow through the granite rock walls, creating her own power with strength and grace. I stand there for a while, mesmerized by the sound that ripples through the silence.

I hike slowly, taking in every step of this new day’s adventure.

When I reach Mills Lake, I stop in my tracks. I close my eyes for a moment, then open them again—standing still in amorous awe.

As I deepen my spiritual journey, I feel closer to God and the beauty of the universe.

I raise my eyes to the soft skies above me and begin a simple prayer of gratitude:

“Dear God of the universe, I am not sure how or why I deserve to be hugged by your love and protection, but this life of mine has turned out to be beyond anything I could have imagined. My deepest gratitude for your beauty in every moment—whether in the landscapes you have created or the people you have sent my way. May the same love and peace I feel in my heart find its way into every heart.”

(From Book 2, Traveling with the Wind to Find MY Soul, Page 9 – Afterthought: I believe we all deserve the right to live a peaceful life. No soul is more deserving than another. We are all connected, sharing an equal claim to the beautiful magic of the universe. I deeply honor all religions, beliefs, and expressions of faith. If someone finds comfort and strength in a stone, I will gladly respect that—so long as it is not being thrown at me. As I continue on this journey, I hold onto the hope that each step, each connection, and each act of kindness can ripple outward, helping to create the peace I wish to see in the world.)

I take off my backpack and sit on a rock, simply absorbing the play of light on the mountains while the reflection dances across the quiet lake. What a gift.

I continue upward, passing Jewel Lake with its shimmering surface, just like a jewel. The world around me makes me feel so happily alive. The only sounds are the birds and the flowing water in the distance.

I keep hiking uphill, which is still manageable for the average hiker, until I reach beautiful Ribbon Falls. Here, the terrain becomes a bit more challenging with snow still covering parts of the trail.

I press on, determined to reach Black Lake. Nestled around gray glacier rocks and fed by melting snow, Black Lake greets me with a stillness and depth that feels sacred. In the distance, the sound of a waterfall echoes into the gentle ripples of the water. Again, the beauty of feeling tiny in a giant world fills my heart with gratitude.

I know that if I continue, I will reach Frozen Lake. I am tempted, but I am already 5.5 miles in, and now I need to listen to the part of me that honors the power of letting go.

On the way back, the sun dominates the sky and the softness of the early light is gone. Still, the landscape holds its breathtaking beauty, just in a different light.

What an amazing hike! Being “forced” to start so early has become a blessing in itself.