18 Miles of Beauty: Sunrise Photography and Lunch in Grand Lake

[@donleu5213]

Thanks for this video. I have informed my wife that we will be doing this next year. As I have explained to her, if this is the only way I can get an Impossible burger in Grand Lake, then so be it. You videos are always informative and well done. I really look forward to them.

[@ErikStensland]

Don, I think that's the only way you can get an Impossible Burger so you'll have to do it. :)

[@BillyHatfield-wu3pm]

I really enjoyed tagging along with you on your hike to Grand Lake. Beautiful scenery along with your great information you provided. Thanks for sharing.

[@ErikStensland]

Thanks so much Billy!

[@rosedotco]

What an absolutely beautiful hike! Thank you for another great video.

[@ErikStensland]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@schnettatstl]

Thank You Eric for taking us along on this one, and for all the back and forth you did. It was a wonderful video and so very much appreciated. We've been up to Flat Top a couple times, and have always loved looking down that Tonahutu trail and wishing we could do it, but just getting to Flat Top and back was hard enough for us flatlanders. Thank you so much for this one.

[@ErikStensland]

It's a wonderful hike, though a bit long if you're already tired on Flattop. It's worth working up to though if you can.

[@029318736]

Thank you for your hard work filming the video. I will be at RMNP this Monday! So excited!

[@ErikStensland]

Hope you have an amazing visit. The leaves are looking wonderful right now.

[@SanJuanMountainBob]

Wow 18 miles with the elev gain is a bunch. Plus all the camera chasing you did. An absolutely enjoyable hiking video. I’m a new subscriber. I came across your channel through your website. Fantastic photography. I don’t know how ‘mature’ 😂 you are, but I know at my 69 years of maturity I sure am blessed to be able to do a lot of hiking in these Colorado mountains. Thanks for sharing God’s great creation in a wonderful way. I like your style. Blessings to you.

[@ErikStensland]

Thanks so much. I’m only 56 at the moment, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep doing this for many years to come. Thanks for following my channel. I hope you enjoy it!

[@johnkrumm6860]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@ErikStensland]

You're very welcome!

[@thomasclark8119]

Definitely the tundra looks like the place to be. But it’s great to see new little trees sprouting up from the aftermath of the Troublesome fire. Great hike, thanks for this video

[@ErikStensland]

I was very happy to see all those small trees growing down near Grand Lake. There were very few during the rest of the hike, but slowly they will come back. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RJ-wy6cx]

Again an excellent video and the best part is you're an awesome photographer on top of it thank you again we were just out there and it's good to see the backcountry from another person's viewpoint

[@ErikStensland]

Thanks so much! I really love it up there and am glad you appreciated the photos.

[@joetraynor5399]

At around 7 minutes where you talked about the east troublesome fire, driving down both highway 14 and 125 south of walden are very sad sights to see with the expansive damage. Any forest fire is no joke and the larger sizes are a downside of drying summers, but theres a lot more to it such as the expanse of pine beetle kill, forest mismanagement and a range of other factors that have played a role. Sad that we’ll never see those areas fully recover in our lifetimes.

[@ErikStensland]

There are definitely many factors that have led to our warming world and the state of our forests. It's hard to see, but hopefully we humans will slowly become wiser and more responsible in how we engage with the natural world.

[@PaulBeiser]

Fantastic Erik! What a spectacular morning - no wind! - you had, and what a day (and meal 😋). Many years ago, I did a hike from Milner Pass to Bear Lake, have you done this? Almost all in the alpine, so pretty. Thanks again, your videos are done so well. And love that unique Notchtop Photo!

[@ErikStensland]

Paul, it was a treat not to be blown around up there. That's definitely not the norm. I've never had the chance to do that entire stretch in one hike, primarily because my wife won't drive TRR and I can never get a ride. I've hiked 90%+ of that though over the years with out and back hikes from each side. Now, you make me want to get out and hike it. I'll have to find a way. :)

[@PaulBeiser]

@@ErikStensland You will love it, so much time in the Alpine! I did Lion Lake #1 today, I did not look at your book before because I knew I was going to be intimidated, better not to know, eh? 🤣🤣 Gorgeous day, had the place all to myself (on a Saturday!) and just took my time. I am now going to read about that hike in your awesome book 😉

[@ErikStensland]

Paul, I love it up there. Unfortunately you won’t find that hike in the book. Like many other hikes, the NPS suggested that I not include it due to the sensitivity nature of the terrain.

[@PaulBeiser]

@@ErikStensland Very interesting, tnx. There is even a trail sign for it. I can understand - after being there - the sensitive nature of the terrain. I would suspect it sees very few people (I was the only one there today, Saturday, peak viewing time for colors). I'm sure the last 2 miles is a Great Filter 🤣

[@ErikStensland]

That last two miles certainly is. It’s worth it though as you found out. How were the autumn colors up there. Is it worth a sunrise hike?

[@543dp3555]

Thanks for the apology at 1:42 about the incorrect camera setting. I thought that just happens to me. LOL! Another fantastic video. Please keep them coming. Thanks Erik.

[@ErikStensland]

Sorry about that! Sometimes I'm in such a rush that I forget simple things like accidently having auto ISO on. Oops!

[@emarintzer]

Another great video Erik! How long did this hike take you?

[@ErikStensland]

It took me a lot longer than normal as filming this video took many hours. Normally I hike this in about six or seven hours.

[@BonnieRavesloot]

Thank you for showing me a part of the park I'll never see in person. Truly spectacular in spite of the fire devastation. What a blessing to be able to see it all!

[@ErikStensland]

Glad you enjoyed it Bonnie!

[@sugarbushequinemarketing]

Hey Eric, your videos have always been good, but I love the many little touches of different angles and shots you've been adding lately. I know it's a lot of work to film something like this. Lots of backtracking and extra messing around with cameras, especially if you're hiking solo. This video was really engaging and felt like I was hiking with you. :)

[@ErikStensland]

Thank you for recognizing my efforts in this video. I really appreciate it! It is a ton of work and a lot of back and forth, but I enjoyed spending a long the day in the park.

[@sugarbushequinemarketing]

The power of b-roll! It probably added another mile onto your hike. I do some video editing myself, so maybe it's more noticeable to my eyes.

[@ErikStensland]

@@sugarbushequinemarketing, yes it was an additional 2.5 miles on this day and many hours more than simply doing the hike. I'm still so new at this so it takes me a lot of time. :)

[@sugarbushequinemarketing]

@@ErikStensland You edit them yourself? Premiere Pro is definitely a learning curve.

[@ErikStensland]

@@sugarbushequinemarketing Yep, I'm still learning this side as well. Premier Pro is definitely a beast. This whole video experience has been a long road of learning every aspect. I very much feel like I'm still at the beginning of this journey.

[@perryelder5045]

Just a stunning walk, how long did it take you with the walking back and forth vs. just straight through. Thanks!!!!!

[@ErikStensland]

Probably an extra three or four hours. It’s a very different experience when filming vs a normal hike.

[@perryelder5045]

@@ErikStensland what's a normal hike time

[@ErikStensland]

If I’m just hiking and not doing photography or videos, it will take me about six hours. It usually takes me two hours to get to the top of flat top and then the rest and additional four hours.

[@davidkruiswyk3362]

It’s a tremendous amount of work to shoot your hikes and produce the videos…all for our benefit. Grateful for your efforts.👍🏻

[@ErikStensland]

I appreciate it David!