Photos

For most of the hiking trail on the Opabin Plateau, you alternate between the upper limit of the subalpine and the lower limit of the alpine. Stands of larch are broken up by open meadows. But once you reach trail's end at Opabin Lake, you've left any semblance of subalpine growth behind. This is alpine territory: no trees, stunted and stubby plants, and lots of rock.

For some reason, this view over to Hungabee Mountain (left) and Mount Biddle (right) makes me think of the Himalayas. These are little runts compared to those lofty peaks, but a hint of the ruggedness and harshness is still there.