On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Good Morning All,
On The Road and In Your Backyard is a weekday feature spotlighting reader submissions. From the exotic to the familiar, please share your part of the world, whether you’re traveling or just in your locality. Share some photos and a narrative, let us see through your pictures and words. We’re so lucky each and every day to see and appreciate the world around us!
Submissions from commenters are welcome at tools.balloon-juice.com
Let’s start this week with something inspirational – have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!
Today, pictures from valued commenter Wag.
A couple of months ago I submitted photos from a climbing trip to the Crestone mountains in southern Colorado. At the time, I teased that I wold have more photos from our follow-up trip to another pair of neighboring 14,000 foot peaks. As promised, here are the follow-up photos
After a brief climb above the lake, we rounded a corner and our objectives for the day came into view. We first planned to climb Challenger Point, the peak on the right, followed by a descent to the saddle and a climb of Kit Carson on the left. Our return climb forced us to retrace our steps of Challenger.
This next shot is taken from the summit of Challenger, and shows our next objective, Kit Carson, along with Crestone Peak, which we had climbed a few weeks before. Our route up KC involved a traverse along the long straight ledge that is visible parallel to the Challenger ridge line, followed by a brief descent around the corner, and a significant scramble up to the summit.
From the climb up KC we had this amazing view across to Crestone Peak, with Crestone Needle peaking out behind.
?In this photo, you can see many of Colorado’s 14,000 foot tall peaks. From left to right, Humbolt Peak, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Mt Lindsay, Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point, Little Bear Peak, and in the distance, Culebra Peak.
All in all, it was an amazing day. 15 miles with an elevation change of 6,250 ft.
The night before the climb we slept in the tiny town of Crestone. Dinner at the local brewery was crazy– a locally sourced free range Yak burger, along with great beer. We woke the next morning at 4 and we were on the trail shortly thereafter, hiking through the dark for several miles to reach Willow Lake just after sunrise. Note the waterfall on the far side of the lake that cascades straight into the lake.
Thank you so much Wag, do send us more when you can.
Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.
One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form or Send an Email
Mary G
Wow, you’re in good shape; 6,250 ft. altitude chance would have me in an ambulance. Glorious mountains and great photos, thanks Wag.
arrieve
Wow. Not something I will be doing but those are magnificent pictures.
JPL
Great pictures! Even at a younger age, I was never tempted to hike in the dark.
Steve in the ATL
@Mary G: I concur on all points!
p.a.
Wow.
Also too… yakburger!
debbie
Love them all, but especially the composition of the last one with the reflection!
satby
I’ll join in the universal reaction of wow, and Mary G’s reaction of “that would put me in an ambulance”. Beautiful pictures, especially that last one. Well done you!
waratah
The photos are great. I really liked the first photo with the sunlight.
The snow reminded me that it was probably chilly up there. My husband thought it would be fun to camp in Rockies in late May and there were pockets of snow every where. One night was enough to go to a little warmer. I had a daughter that kept accidentally falling in the freezing cold water of the creek and I never was able to get warm no matter how many layers.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Gorgeous! Reminds me to get back to Colorado!
A Ghost To Most
Very nice pictures. Blanca Peak is a 14er off from most of the others, and the 4×4 road up it is considered one of the most dangerous in the state. This is because of a traverse of a narrow ridge with big drops on both sides. Many who risk it will run their winch cable to the far side, just in case. I doubt I will ever risk it.
Wag
@A Ghost To Most:
Blanca is on the list for next summer. We plan on hiking the road instead of using a 4×4.
HinTN
@debbie: I agree, the reflection is exquisite. Thanks for talking us there @Wag.
A Ghost To Most
@Wag: We tend to do both. Drive up as high as we can (or is prudent), then hike around. We see a lot of goats that way. We love the goats.
Spanky
I see a lot of commenters already posted all I wanted to say.
Wow.
I doubt that this 64 y.o. desk jocky will ever climb a 14K peak, but I could get jazzed about Crestone and Willow Lake!
Tazj
Beautiful pictures, thank you!
Miss Bianca
Hey, you can see my house from there!
Well, maybe not, but we can certainly see the other side of the Needles from here! Maybe I’ll have to get off my ass and finally learn to take some good photos so we can get the view of the Sangres from the other side! : )
ETA: So, is yak meat any good? We had to try to round up a couple of those suckers who were feral and loose on my friend’s property. One of them we were able to retrieve, the other charged my friends a couple times and ran off, a Menace2Society. Finally got shot, and we were supposed to get some of the meat for our pains, but that never happened. Guess I’ll have to make it down to Crestone one of these days!
Wag
@Miss Bianca: The burger was excellent, and the beer at the brewery in Crestone is good. Definitely worth a trip.
J R in WV
I have rock collected near the top of Mt Antero, a 14er with gemstones on top. All I got was a small rock with smokey quartz xtals on top, which is better than a poke in your eye.
When we came down we realized how stupid you quickly get when above 80% of the atmosphere! We drove a pretty loaded up Ford Ranger 4×4 up the old mine road built for the Climax Mine up there. Views! Rushing snow melt water, end of June, snow banks all around any scrap of shade. Adventure!!
ETA: I have purchased gemstones like beryl from others more persistent, claim owners mining gemstones.
Wag
@J R in WV:
Very cool! Antero is a great source for gem quality amethyst crystals, if you’re lucky
Wag
@A Ghost To Most: The goats are amazing