[ecurbh]

Part of it the polarizing filter I used on those pics, which removes excess reflections and clarifies the colors, but also intensifies the dark blue sky. And it is also the altitude... for that second pic, I was standing at the top of a pass at about 11,500 feet.

[RosieCotton]

I figured you had used a filter (gorgeous pictures, by the way...forgot to say that), but I hadn't realized the altitude makes a difference...that must be it!

Mmmm...altitude. ;-)

I'd love to visit the Rockies and the Cascades, someday. We don't have mountains like that here.