Two years ago I started myself a tradition. Get up early on winter solstice and take a photo of the sunrise. It actually started because an old buddy of mine celebrates solstice instead of Christmas so I figured, what the heck, I'll get up and take him a picture.

Easy enough, and the results were worth it. I did it last year too and now here it was, time for my 3rd annual Winter Solstice photo.

Just as in the previous 2 excursions I woke up early, started the coffee and cleaned my lens. I checked the battery and checked the temperature. Five degrees. Getting a bit cool but no worries; I've been in colder conditions with camera in hand.

A quick run out to warm up the truck and open the gate, then I grabbed my camera and tripod, loaded up my hiking partner Cassie, and away I went.

There is a spot near here I have been trying to photograph for awhile now. It is rolling high prairie with a stand of trees and Pike's Peak in the background. I decided to go there.

Now, one nice thing about where The Homestead is located is that the trees shelter it from the prevailing wind. I was therefore a little unprepared for the blast that awaited me when I stepped out of the truck. Wow. It was steady and it was cold.

We hiked up the hill, Cassie racing ahead of me, her nose full of new smells to check out, her tail going off like that of a truly happy dog. The sun was just beginning to hit Pike's. The sky was clear, barely a cloud in sight. It was freaking cold and the wind bit at my cheeks.

I wasn't really sure how long I could take it. The scene didn't look promising; no clouds in the sky and the extreme conditions made it really hard to concentrate. Its tough to visualize a photograph when all you can really visualize is being back next to the fire.

I hopped around, shielding my face from the wind the best I could and trying to ignore the cold ache in my hands. I took a few shots, nothing exciting. I wandered over the hill, hoping something might present itself before my brain went completely blank. Man it was cold.

The sun rose and began to light up the prairie about me. I took a few more pics and began to head back to the truck. My hands were beginning to hurt and one thing I know from experience is that they would hurt a lot more when they began to thaw out.

Suddenly some whispy clouds began to form high over Pike's. I stopped and forced my self to concentrate. Set up the tripod. Check the aperture and shutter speed. Ignore your fingers, Mick. Higher shutter speed; this wind is crazy.

Turn off the stupid auto focus! Dang thing doesn't know what to do anyway, and the cold is making it guess in slow motion. Manual focus. Get the tears out of your eyes. Concentrate. Screw it, guess on the focus.

Take a couple of shots. Check the screen. Can't; its frozen over with condensed vapor from my breath. Oh well, looks good. C'mon Cassie! Let's get out of here!

By the time I got in the truck the clouds had transformed into one solid cloud, and then like that it was gone completely. Such are the transitions in the weather here on the Palmer Divide.

So anyways, here it is, my Winter Solstice photograph, 2008. Worth the pain and agony of my fingers coming back to life? I think so...