Finally above treeline!
Avalanche Peak Track, New Zealand. One of the two routes up Avalanche Peak, this challenging trail is best taken going up! At this point one emerges from the dense forest to this awesome view. Wholesale erosion of the terrain, generating massive amounts of sediment to clog the downstream drainages, eventually the Waimakariri River in this case. New Zealand is on a tectonic plate boundary, and these mountains are rising rapidly and breaking down a little more slowly. Dappled light lends a sense of depth.
Finally above treeline!
Avalanche Peak Track, New Zealand. One of the two routes up Avalanche Peak, this challenging trail is best taken going up! At this point one emerges from the dense forest to this awesome view. Wholesale erosion of the terrain, generating massive amounts of sediment to clog the downstream drainages, eventually the Waimakariri River in this case. New Zealand is on a tectonic plate boundary, and these mountains are rising rapidly and breaking down a little more slowly. Dappled light lends a sense of depth.