A Weekend of Sun and Fog at Donner Lake

This was a quiet weekend at home in Truckee back in mid-November 2016. Saturday was a pretty classic, clear autumn day around Donner Lake, which ended with a nice, warm-colored sunset over the ridge.

The next morning was a complete surprise. I woke up to the whole area socked in with thick valley fog. Down at the shore, the sun was just a pale glow trying to break through the mist that was sitting right on top of the water.

I went for a walk through the trees as the sun got higher. For about an hour, the light was incredible, with these sharp rays cutting through the fog between the tall pines. Everything was still and cold.

By mid-morning, the sun won out and burned off all the fog. It cleared out completely, leaving behind a perfectly calm lake under a clear blue sky. A few clouds lingered on the mountains in the distance, but it turned into a beautiful, crisp day.