Aurora over the Sneffels Range
Leading up to October 10, 2024 a severe geomagnetic storm was forecasted after a strong solar flare erupted from the sun the previous day. The news was full of reports forecasting a KP8-level aurora that should be visible even as far south as the southern United States! Though we had plans to drive out to the desert that day, I figured that with such an optimistic aurora forecast and good weather I'd better make the most of this opportunity, so I decided spontaneously to hike and camp up high in the San Juan Mountains for a chance to view this incredibly rare event.
Mount Sneffels (14,156 ft) towers beyond the autumn tundra of Governor Basin - October.
Being in southern Colorado I knew the best views of the aurora would be looking north, preferably as high as possible with a view of some ragged peaks along the horizon. What better option than my home mountains of the Sneffels Range? I picked a destination to camp on a 13,200 foot mountaintop due south of the range.
Autumn has been dry and warm this year which was advantageous for accessing this high ridge, first by a rugged 4x4 road, then a scrambling hike up to the ridge and peak. I was pleased to find a nice flat spot in the tundra just steps from the round summit where I set up my tent, bundled up in warm clothes, cooked dinner, and anxiously awaited the evening. Would the gray clouds dissipate by nighttime? Would the aurora forecast actually come true? Would this effort be worthwhile after all?
After the sun set and the dusk skies darkened to a royal blue hue, I thought I could see some warmish glow in the sky. I set up my camera, took an exposure, and sure enough there was a pink aurora in the sky - and it wasn't even dark yet!!! This was going to be good. 🤩
A spectacular and extremely rare display of northern lights above the Sneffels Range in southwest Colorado during a solar storm in October 2024. Mount Sneffels (14, 156 feet) is on the left.
Once the sky got darker the northern lights were in full effect, with the classic green aurora further north along the horizon and pink and red aurora pillars shimmering high overhead. While the aurora weren't quite as bright as you see in these photos (due to the more sensitive camera sensor and longer exposures that gather more light) I could still clearly see them with my naked eyes!
For the next three or four hours I giddily shot photo after photo, amazed to be witnessing this phenomenon over my home mountains. Was this really happening? In southern Colorado? It was like a dream... so surreal and sublime being up high in the mountains on a calm night watching northern lights shimmering over the Sneffels Range.
Brilliant red aurora over Potosi Peak (13,786 ft).
Camping underneath auroras on a 13,200 foot high mountain in southwest Colorado.
Wispy clouds drift in front of glowing auroras over the Sneffels Range.
Sitting in my tent on a high mountain watching the auroras over the Sneffels Range.
Finally after the moon set around midnight, I crawled into my tent and sleeping bag as the aurora still glowed over the mountains, and I soon fell asleep passing from one dream into another.
Sunrise light illuminates Mount Emma, Gilpin Peak, and Mount Sneffels.
Of course since I was already up there I might as well wake up and shoot sunrise too, for a nice cherry on top of this fantastic evening!