My wife Jaclyn and I left our aspen enveloped campsite around three o'clock in the morning to start the short but very steep hike to Hanging Lake. I insisted that we get there to see the sunrise. She was less enthusiastic. It was cold, but we were sweating climbing up the steep rocks. The possibility of a mountain lion watching us struggle along the dark trail entered our minds on more than one occasion, but I had a goal. We made it to the lake just in time to see the sun come up behind a solid blanket of gray clouds accompanied by a cool mist. Better light would have made better pictures but there is no substitute for seeing Hanging Lake in person.