13,795 foot Arkansas Mountain takes center stage in this view from Jacque Peak, looking south. Mount Buckskin is on the far left. These mountains are members of Colorado's Mosquito Range.

The mountain partially out of view on the left is Bartlett Mountain, which over the decades has been leveled, primarily for its molybdimum deposits, a hardening agent for steel. The leftovers of the operation are then deposited in the valley below at the bottom of the picture, one of Colorado's biggest Superfund sites. As demand decreased, the Climax Molybdimum mine was closed, but demand has returned and the mine will be restarting in the near future.

It's amazing and terifying that a mountain can be leveled by man's activities, but this is the reality. Before you get too judgemental, remember that many aspects of your lifestyle were made possible thanks to the sacrifice of Bartlett mountain. That car you drive, that computer you use, that kick-ass sound system you own, that skyscraper or building you work in so you can climb mountains on your days off...anything that involves steel in your life, was made possible by the sacrifice of this mountain and others like it. And so it will continue, for it is the way of things.

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Digital photo by Aaron Johnson, June 10, 2006