8 Days in the Weminuche

August 2018  |  San Juan Mountains, Colorado

In mid-August Claudia and I backpacked for eight days into the Needle Mountains in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. This was I think the sixth or seventh time I've done a week-long trek in this particular range, but I was still able to find some new routes to take and new places to camp and photograph along with some old favorites. These mountains never fail to challenge and inspire!

The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train crosses a bridge over the Animas River on its way from Durango to  Silverton...

The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train crosses a bridge over the Animas River on its way from Durango to Silverton, Colorado.

Normally we take the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to access this mountain range, but this summer they aren't offering the wilderness dropoff service - I'm not sure exactly why, but suspect is has to do with the possibility of fire bans and/or mudslides which have both happened this summer, and the worry/liability that hikers might get stranded if the train can't pick them back up.

In any case, without the train dropoff it added 10 miles of hiking each way from the nearest trailhead, adding basically two extra days to the trip as well. An already tough trek got a bit tougher!

A mountain goat poses for the camera in a high basin of the Weminuche Wilderness.

A mountain goat poses for the camera in a high basin of the Weminuche Wilderness.

It's always fun to meet the friendly local mountain goats up there; if they are anywhere nearby they usually come around to check us out. By the end of this trip I kind of felt like a mountain goat myself, after all the scrambling over high rocky passes.

Blue skies and pink spires reflected in a high lake.

Blue skies and pink spires reflected in a high lake.

This lake above is an old favorite; you can see some of my previous/better photographic efforts here or here or here.

A curvy lake in the Needle Mountains.

A curvy lake in the Needle Mountains.

But we also explored some fun new cross-country goat trails and passes to visit some new [to me] lakes and basins, such as the one above and the one below.

Sharp peaks reflected in a remote pond in the Needle Mountains.

Sharp peaks reflected in a remote pond in the Needle Mountains.

Sunset light illuminates the Needle Mountains near Sunlight Peak.

Sunset light illuminates the Needle Mountains near Sunlight Peak.

A sharp peak knifes through sunbeams on a hazy morning in the Needle Mountains.

A sharp peak knifes through sunbeams on a hazy morning in the Needle Mountains.

During the first four days we had some smoke haze from distant wildfires (it's been a horrific wildfire summer in the West this year). The haze made for some unique light and photography conditions, but I was happy when it totally cleared out for the latter half of our trek.

Sunset behind Animas Mountain, the light diffused by a slight haze from distant wildfires.

Sunset behind Animas Mountain, the light diffused by a slight haze from distant wildfires.

Mars and The Milky Way rise over the Needle Mountains.

Mars and The Milky Way rise over the Needle Mountains.

A shy mountain goat inspects the photographer.

A shy mountain goat inspects the photographer.

Hiking over one of many steep talus passes.

Hiking over one of many steep talus passes.

Mist swirls around Jagged Mountain after a heavy rainstorm.

Mist swirls around Jagged Mountain after a heavy rainstorm.

Rich amber sunrise light illuminates the basin below Jagged Mountain.

Rich amber sunrise light illuminates the basin below Jagged Mountain.

Morning clouds above Windom Peak, Sunlight Spire, and Sunlight Peak.

Morning clouds above Windom Peak, Sunlight Spire, and Sunlight Peak.

A rainbow connects two mountains above Chicago Basin.

A rainbow connects two mountains above Chicago Basin.

Mountain goats in the woods.

Mountain goats in the woods.

Animas River at sunset.

Animas River at sunset.

A brilliant sunrise over Pigeon and Turret Peaks as seen from the Animas River.

A brilliant sunrise over Pigeon and Turret Peaks as seen from the Animas River.

I've done a lot of backpacking in the San Juans over the years, but this is one area I will never get tired of returning to time and time again.