I found this image in a Colorado calendar many years ago, and it reminded me of being in the high country. Beautiful flowers, gorgeous mountains. I don't think it said where in the mountains it was, but I felt pretty sure the picture was of the San Juans. The page/picture has been tacked on my dining room wall for many years.
Somewhere along the way, I came across one of my books from the 1990s - Colorado's High Thirteeners, by Garratt and Martin, c.1989. I had an "aha!" moment when I took in the cover photo, a near perfect reversal of the calendar image. I'll bet the book image is the correct orientation, although I cannot be 100% sure. I have never hiked up this particular valley, and have not been to the San Juans more than a few times
. Anybody know the correct orientation? The book says only this is a photo of the Weminuche Wilderness, and that the photo is by Gary Koontz. I like the moon over the top of the sharp peak in the background.
Also, which set of peaks are we looking at here? Trail?
I found only one Weminuche Wilderness entry on SP. I suppose I might figure this one out with some time on the internet, but if someone knows this scene, that would save some effort.
It's a long ways to the San Juans from the Denver area. Most of my climbing was Front Range stuff, with some forays to the back ranges. In 1989, I moved to the SF Bay Area in CA to take a software engineering position, and have been out here since. The Sierras are awesome, but it's a big deal to get there too, comparable to the San Juans from Denver. Coast Range hiking is nice, and the Trinities are kind of like a small version of the Sierras. My girlfriend in Denver gave me the book, likely to tease me back for more time in CO...
Looks like one heck of a glacier or two came down that valley in the lower right of the calendar shot. Well-rounded floor.
Thanks,
Chuck
Larkspur, CA
