A few days ago I went backpacking to Wetterhorn Basin, in the Uncompahgre Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. On one morning I left my tent at 2:00am and climbed Wetterhorn Peak under the light of the full moon, arriving at the summit just as the first dawn light was breaking on the horizon. After watching and photographing the glorious sunrise from the summit, I relaxed up there by myself for another couple hours before making my way back down into the wildflower-filled basin.

A rainbow appears amongst the rugged peaks of the Uncompahgre Wilderness, after a late afternoon thunderstorm. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Wetterhorn Peak lights up with sunset alpenglow after a July monsoon thunderstorm. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Dawn light illuminates the San Juan Mountains, as seen from the summit of Wetterhorn Peak, in the Uncompahgre Wilderness - July. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Sunrise over the San Juans, as seen from the summit of Wetterhorn Peak. At 14,015 ft. the summit rocks of Wetterhorn are lit by the sunrise alpenglow light before the earthshadow has even dropped below the horizon! Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Sunrise alpenglow illuminates the peaks of the Cimarron Range, as seen from the summit of Wetterhorn Peak, 14,015 ft. Coxcomb Peak and Redcliff are the two taller mountains to the left. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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A nearly full moon sets over Potosi Peak and the Sneffels Range. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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Pink paintbrush amongst yellow wildflowers. Photo © by Jack Brauer.
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