Today I hiked to the top of the Bridge of Heaven, a high ridgeline over 4,000 feet above the town of Ouray. This is my favorite trail in the Ouray area, with breathtaking vistas of all the mountains and valleys surrounding Ouray. The weather was threatening to storm all day, but nothing ever came of it except of bit of chilly wind and a few stray snowflakes. Here’s a couple photos from the hike.

The tundra around 12,000 feet still needs some time before it turns green; the snow is melting fast though. Sneffels Range in the background.

I had fun playing around with the Olympus 7-14mm lens. I look forward to experimenting more with these kinds of close-up, ultra-wide perspectives. This image was shot at 7mm, f/18, and the front of the lens was probably only an inch or so from the leaves.

I got out for a nice hike this morning up to Weehawken Creek, just outside Ouray. Everything is so green up there; it seems summer is pretty much here in the mountains.

United States Mountain, as seen from Camp Bird Road near Ouray, Colorado.

Cascade Falls, Ouray, Colorado.

Sunset alpenglow on the Amphitheater over Ouray, Colorado.

This afternoon I got out for a four hour hike above Ouray. The trails around here are mostly dry, at least on all but the most northerly facing slopes. I did a nice bushwhack hike to the top of a peak that I always see from my house, complete with a slightly hairy scramble to the top of some big outcropped rocks. It felt so good to get out hiking in summer weather, especially after being cooped up at the computer for a few weeks. It always amazes me how much simple exercise improves my mental health.

P.S. – I boosted the contrast on this photo to make it a little more viewable… the camera doesn’t do so well in flat sunny afternoon light like this.