Mountain Photography

by Jack Brauer

Trip Reports: Icy Ice Lakes Basin, Colorado - November 2009

The light snowfalls amounts in the San Juan Mountains this November provided a good opportunity for me to do a quick overnight backpacking trip to Ice Lakes Basin.  This spectacular basin is a popular location for summertime hiking, but not many people visit in the snow.

The rising moon casts lunar alpenglow on the peaks of Ice Lakes Basin in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado on this chilly November night.  The 30-second, high ISO exposure enhanced the light and stars beyond what our eyes could see.  Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.

Here’s the obligatory illuminated tent shot! Even though I was warm and cozy inside in my -30º sleeping bag, I hardly slept a wink due to the erratic gusty winds all night. The wind must have been coming in pulses, or else it was swirling around like mad in the basin, because it would be calm and quiet, then a blast of wind would pound my tent, over and over again every 30 seconds or so for the whole night. I knew the tent was fine, but still the noise was disconcerting enough to keep up awake most of the night. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.

A gorgeous sunrise over snowy Ice Lakes Basin, November. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
Fine Prints available.