In late September I spent four days doing various hikes around Capitol Peak, a rugged fourteener in the Elk Mountains of Colorado.
Capitol Peak
September 2010 | Elk Mountains, Colorado
Capitol Peak Alpenglow
Sunset alpenglow on Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass.
Snowmass Alpenglow
Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass at sunset.
Meadow Mountain Sunset
Poofy clouds and sunset light in the Elk Mountains. Meadow Mountain is at the center, with the Maroon Bells behind.
Beaver Lake Rainbow
A double rainbow reflects in Beaver Lake, near the town of Marble, on a rainy September morning.
Golden Capitol Peak
Golden sunset light shines on the north face of Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft.
Snowy Capitol Lake
Capitol Lake and the first snows of autumn. Capitol Peak's summit is still shrouded in clouds.
Snowy Spire
A rugged spire near Capitol Lake, covered in the first snows of autumn.
Maroon Bells Sunset Light
Sunset light and distant cloud shadows paint the Maroon Bells fourteeners in the Elk Mountains.
Capitol Peak Sunset
A spectacular sunset behind Capitol Peak (14,130 ft.) as seen from the summit of K2 (which is actually more of just a subpeak [13,664 ft.] on a huge ridgeline of Capitol).
Dusk Over the Elks
Dusk earthshadow colors over the Elk Range, near Aspen, Colorado, as seen from the summit of K2. Pyramid Peak is on the left, Maroon Bells on the right.
Maroon Dusk
Earthshadow colors behind the Maroon Bells, the most famous fourteeners of the Elk Mountains. North Maroon Peak (14,014 ft.) on the left, Maroon Peak (14,156 ft.) on the right.
Snowmass Dusk
Dusk light on Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft.
Pierre Lakes Basin
Ultra wide view of Pierre Lakes, as seen from the summit of K2 at dusk after the first snowfall of autumn. Snowmass Mountain is the most prominent mountain towards the right.
Capitol Peak Moonlight
Full moon light illuminates Capitol Peak, about an hour after sunset.
Capitol Creek Aspens
Capitol Peak towers above the yellow aspens of Capitol Creek on a gorgeous bluebird September day.
Capitol Peak Autumn
Snow dusted Capitol Peak, one of the most rugged 14er mountains in Colorado, towers high above golden aspens in September.
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