The frigid and powerful Avalanche Creek cuts through the dense rock and pristine forests of Glacier National Park, Montana.

Pictured here is Avalanche Creek, roaring with ice-cold snowmelt in Glacier National Park, Montana. The water gets it amazing blue color from silt that comes from the glaciers that feed Avalanche Lake. This photo was taken in early morning. The morning light coupled with the dense forest kept the light very low, permitting a long exposure to really bring out the color and power of the stream. Luckily there was very little wind, allowing most of the forest foliage to remain crisp! Looking back on it, I’m lucky to have pulled myself away from this scene fairly quickly instead of lingering too long, because finishing the hike and getting at Avalanche Lake by dawn was a truly magical moment.

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