Mountain Photography by Jack Brauer
Trip Reports: Continental Divide Trail - South San Juans, Colorado
This last week, the first week of August 2008, I hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) through the South San Juan Wilderness with two of my friends. It’s a 60+ mile trek from Cumbres Pass near Chama, New Mexico to Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We ended up hiking an average of 13 miles per day, finishing in 5 days.
The South San Juans are well-suited for this style of long multi-day trekking, since the mountains are remote with poor access, and the trail is mostly on high tundra with the logical camping spots being few and far between.
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Sunset reflection in one of the numerous lakes on the broad tundra highlands near Flat Mountain. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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Aimee and Parker hike past a small tarn along the Continental Divide Trail. During the first few days, the trail passes over several huge, broad, flat plateaus spotted with hundreds of little lakes. Off in the distance in this photo, you can see the higher peaks of the northern South San Juans, which we would soon be hiking through. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Sunset above Blue Lake, with Conejos Peak in the distance. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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Strange "rippled" clouds reflected in Blue Lake. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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Alpine wildflowers in the lush basin of the Middle Fork Conejos River. In the background you can see the broad lush green alpine valley characteristic of this part of the range. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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A threatening dark cloud chased us for ten adrenaline-fueled miles across the exposed high tundra section from Summit Peak to Elwood Pass. Luckily we made it to the safety of the trees near Elwood Pass before the clouds unloaded their rain and lightning. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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An ominous cloud hovers above the mountains near Summit Pass. It rained heavily this entire night. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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Morning in the Rio Grande National Forest. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
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Looking back at the South San Juans from the high ridgeline above Silver Creek. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.
