Alabama Hills, California.

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!" — John Muir

I can't help but think of these words whenever I experience sunrise in the Eastern Sierra. Captured from Alabama Hills, this photograph showcases the first rays of sunlight illuminating the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada, painting their rugged faces in brilliant shades of red and orange.

Waking up early is rarely easy, but moments like this make it worthwhile. There's something extraordinary about watching an entire mountain range transform with the arrival of the morning sun. I wonder if this is what John Muir had in mind when he described the Sierra as the Range of Light.

Captured from Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California.