Stephens Peak sunrise 26 May 2025

Two climbs in as many days—couldn’t resist. This morning marked the second 3:30am wake-up in a row, and I was headed back to Stephens Peak, a spot I haven’t visited in a few months. With upper-level clouds rolling in overnight, there was a buzz of anticipation that we might be in for an epic sunrise.

And it delivered.

As I reached the summit, the sky blossomed into an eclectic menagerie of pinks and greys, kissed with a touch of gold. The colours reminiscent of a flock of galahs.  It felt like standing in the middle of a moving painting—each minute a different brushstroke across the horizon. The air was cool and crisp, charged with the quiet energy of early morning.

Off in the distance, I could see a steady procession of headlamps winding their way up Tomaree Mountain—other early risers drawn by the same irresistible promise of first light. There’s something communal about those pre-dawn climbs, even when you’re walking alone. You’re part of a shared pursuit: to be there when the world wakes up and the light cracks open the day.

Every sunrise is different, but this one reminded me—again—why I keep doing this. Why I set the alarm, lace up in the dark, and chase that fleeting moment when nature puts on her finest show.

#StephensPeak #SunriseChasers #EarlyMorningMagic #NatureFix #TomareeHeadlamps #BackOnTheTrail