Mandy and Nick | Dream Lake Engagement
Savannah Chandler Photography | Estes Park Engagement Photographer

 

Last October, I had the pleasure to Meet Angelique and Shane up in Rocky Mountain National Park for their fall engagement session (which you can check out here).  They were genuinely one of the sweetest couple’s I’ve ever met.  It just so happens that their friends are equally as awesome – like Mandy and Nick.  Mandy and Nick are planning a fall 2018 wedding in Conifer, Colorado (which I can’t wait for).  I was ecstatic when they agreed to meet me at the crack ass of dawn to hike up to Dream Lake for their engagement session.

Dream Lake is SUCH an amazing location for an Estes Park engagement session.

The hike is only just over 1 mile there, not too much elevation gain, and it’s open year round.  I did advise them to brink Yak Tracks, which I’m incredibly glad I did as the Mountain was a little slick from the cooling and warming we’ve been experiencing this winter.

We gave ourselves 30 minutes to make the trek up to Dream Lake, which is typically about right (especially when I’m schlepping 30 LBS of gear 😬).  We got there, and the wind greeted us with some forceful gusts.  Who needs a Microderm abrasion when you can climb to an Alpine Lake in the winter and have the snow crust take at least 2 layers of your skin off.  Mandy and Nick were troopers to say the least – they braved the roughly 40MPH winds whipping at us for photography’s sake.  And when you’re as adventurous as this couple is – the wind/snow crust flying at you makes for genuine laughs and smiles.

After a few minutes of Alpenglow up at Dream Lake, we headed for lower ground to get out of the wind.  Once we passed the corner leading to the lake, the temperature was a good 10* warmer and the wind was nearly non-existent.  Ahhh, good old Colorado Mountains.  Changing weather with every step.  For the last of sunrise, we captured some views of Longs Peak – the tallest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park.

As we made the rest of our descent down the trail, we made a few stops capturing the Colorado winter sun.

Thank you for adventuring up the Mountain with me, Mandy and Nick.  I am incredibly excited to celebrate your wedding with you this upcoming August! <3

Savannah Chandler Photography
Estes Park Engagement Photographer | Colorado Wedding Photographer
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide

Interested in a Hiking Session?  Contact me HERE to chat and for more details!