A few years ago, I hiked up this hilltop near my home and was struck by the abundance and density of these vibrant purple flowers. I had never seen them before and have never since seen so many clustered in one place. I made a note of the time of year – late June and early July. On the following year, I returned around the same time for the same wonderful display. Later that year I returned in the fall (without the flowers) to capture the sunrise. You can see those photos here. Just a few days ago, I returned again, this time to capture the sage and sunrise.

Click here to see a few more photos.

Last week I gathered with a small group of friends. We met at 5 am. The plan was to hike the 3+ miles to the overlook to be there before sunrise to catch the pre-sunrise light. Unfortunately, we got off to a rough start. After hiking up hill for about 10-15 minutes, I realized I forgot my camera in the car. The others were kind enough to encourage me to go back while they waited. Twenty minutes later I was back with camera. An hour and 15 minutes later we were on the summit. I quickly set up my tripod and took the first photo you see below.

Click here to see a more photos from this location.