Blanca Peak Moonrise Reflection
The moon illuminates the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado as it rises above Blanca Peak (14,351 ft / 4,374 m ). Blanca Peak is The Sacred Mountain of the East (“Sisnaajiní”) to the Navajo.
Clouds and Moonbeams
Each month I attempt to photograph the moonrise. Weather plays an important factor in my planning. Clouds can scatter the light from the moon, or completely block it from sight.
For this moonrise, the skies in Northern New Mexico were crystal clear and the air was cold and crisp. For some reason, I was motivated to photograph the moonrise over Blanca Peak in Southern Colorado that evening (March 1, 2018).
On the two-hour drive north, I watched the Sangre de Cristo, Taos Mountains, and Latir Peaks light up nicely in the golden hour. There was not a cloud in the sky. Things were looking perfect!
When I arrived in the San Luis Valley I was surprised to see clouds on top of Blanca Peak exactly where I had planned my composition! How did that happen?
It was windy that afternoon. At higher altitudes, the winds aloft were enough to form lenticular clouds on top of Blanca Peak.
As the moon climbed behind the thick lenticular cloud layer I could see its glow increasing. When it rose high enough to peak over the clouds the marshes of the San Luis Valley lit up brightly in front of me as I listened to a pair of Great-Horned Owls calling and the distant sounds of Sandhill Cranes heading to the ponds where they would roost safely for the night, away from the coyotes.
The Four Sacred Mountains of the Navajo
The four sacred mountains of the Navajo culture are shown on this map.
Navajo culture follows that the creator placed the Diné (The Navajo people) on the lands between four sacred mountains located roughly at the four cardinal directions:
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Blanca Peak Moonrise Reflection
“Blanca Peak Moonrise and Reflection” (c) Ed MacKerrow / In Light of Nature. ( 8670:5636, 3:2 )
