The great crumbling buttress of Little Giant Peak (left) is seen here in this photo looking south up Arrastra Gulch, 2 miles northeast of Silverton. This is one of three approaches for climbing the mountain. Along the way are the ruins of several long abandoned mining camps, including the prosperous mining town at 12,000 feet called Silver Lake. These mining camps thrived 100 years ago, but they now lay silent amongst the peaks that provided their brief posterity.

All routes to Little Giant are loose and steep, typical of the climbing conditions located in the San Juan Mountains.

More information on SP: Little Giant Peak, Dives Basin Route

San Juan Mountains, Fall, 2006.

Digital photo by Aaron Johnson