The lazy melancholy atmosphere of autumn has arrived in the high country… the tundra is golden brown, the air has a crisp edge, and the marmots have either burrowed into their holes or retreated to lower elevations. Yesterday we went out for a quick overnighter at Columbine Lake, in the San Juans of Colorado, to savor some time up high before the winter snows cover the tundra for another nine months.
Sunrise light on Lookout Peak (13,661 ft.) above Columbine Lake – September.
Absolutely mesmerized by your photographs! Are there any specific 20-30 mile hikes you would recommend? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hi Tyler, thanks for your message and compliment! For a hike of that length in the San Juans, I’d point you to the Weminuche or Uncompahgre Wilderness areas. Both areas have a plethora of potential long trail combinations. Just pick up the Trails Illustrated Topo maps for those areas and you can map out a route to your liking. You can’t go wrong, it’s all spectacular!