I decided to preserve tradition and wake up early for New Years Day to head out to Westcliffe for some sunrise photography. I always seem to have good luck at the Silver Cliff Cemeteries; there's just something about all those old headstones and the majestic Sangre De Cristo Range that really resonates with me. It's a spiritual experience. This year, I made fresh tracks through the snow so I was probably the first visitor there in at least a while, and it was bitter cold--at least ten below zero. But I stayed warm running around catching all sorts of cool angles as the sun rose and the Sangres lit up. Here's a sampler! (mouseover for titles)
New Years Morning 2013

The Assumption
This is the classic scene from the middle of the cemetery. I knew the moon would be setting to the west because I checked the sky charts the night before. Some lingering clouds from the overnight snowfall added to the mysterious mood. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

New Years Moonset
I found this new cool angle on the cemetery as the moon drifted behind some thin clouds. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sangres New Years Pano
I ran to the north side of the cemetery to take this panorama as a bit of color appeared in the clouds. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sangres Glow
Alpen Glow appeared on the peaks just before sunrise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

New Years Sangres
Closer look at the 13K foot peaks blazing in morning light. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

A New Beginning
I could barely contain my excitement as I pulled back to take this panorama of the range and cemetery! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Reverse Assumption
The entrance to the cemetery. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Backwards Assumption
A wider view of the Assumption Cemetery entrance as the peaks began to really light up. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

New Years Sunrise
As the sun rose, I noticed this great sun pillar develop from all the ice crystals in the sky! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

New Years Assumption
I scrambled though the foot of snow on the ground to get a good angle on a sun pillar. Assumption Cemetery, in SIlver Cliff COlorado New Years morning 2013. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sawatch Light
The alpenglow over the Sawatch range well to the west was intense! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Halo and Headstones
Then, this crazy arc/halo developed to the south! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Let There Be Lights
Then, I observed an extremely rare 46 degree sundog forming to the west--you can see it on the right side of this pano, along with the 22 degree arc! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The Whole Enchilada
Huge (12,000 pixel long) Pano of the whole southern sky--sun pillar, 22 degree arc, 46 degree sundog--WOW! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Bighorn
Bighorn grazing on Hardscrabble Pass on the drive baaaaaaack!
Happy New Year, Everyone! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.