PHOTO ESSAY: Twin Lakes, Into the Looking Glass
Last week someone told me to go to Twin Lakes to see the fall foliage colors. Then I saw Salida writer and photographer Joe Stone’s Twin Lakes photos in The Mountain Mail, and on Facebook.
The first chance I had to go was several days later; I feared I had missed the height of the colors, but I went anyway. The Twin Lakes are tucked into the San Isabel National Forest, about a 45 mile drive from Salida.
On the way, and on Highway 285, vehicles started braking, stopping and pulling over to the side. This was confusing from a distance, but as my car slowly approached the commotion, I saw a baby moose and its mother not far off the other side of the highway. They were stunning.
I parked, grabbed my camera, and ran across the highway unscathed. But alas, the pair had made their way downhill into the woods and could barely be seen. So no photo. However, that is my first moose sighting ever, other than the zoo. Exciting!
As I approached Twin Lakes, I took note that the sun was too high for great lighting. I also noted that the vibrant reds that were featured in Joe Stone’s photos were gone – replaced with bare branches. Nonetheless, I turned into the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, and took some photos along with a myriad of other tourists. Then I drove down the road, parked at the bottom, and walked up a hill.
There was one other photographer there. I crested the hill and gasped, “Oh my God!” The lake was still, and presented a mirror image of the mountains and sky with puffy clouds above it. It was breathtaking. It doesn’t get better than that. My images don’t do it justice.
After many shutter shots, it was time for lunch at the Twin Lakes Inn. Matthew Roberts, the former chef from ‘Laughing Ladies’ in Salida, is the Inn’s resident chef, so I knew the food would be unique and yummy.
Lunch did not disappoint. I ordered the BLT Salad, a misnomer for a salad comprised of a baby ice berg lettuce head, pancheta lardon, smoked paprika tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles with gorgonzola dressing. It met my light lunch requirements perfectly!
After lunch I traveled towards Independence Pass, and Aspen.
But I found no scenes to photograph that matched the Twin Lakes, perfectly reflecting, just like a looking glass…
… until I took a side road by the lake, on the way back to Salida…
P.S. Bob and Carole… (you know who you are…) take note for next year.
