Starlight on Sneffels

June 2019  |  San Juan Mountains, Colorado

The winter of 2018-2019 in the San Juan Mountains has been one for the records books, with about 600% of average snowpack at the start of June. With all this beautiful snow in the mountains this spring, lately I've been having some hairbrained photo mission ideas - one of which was to hike up Mt. Sneffels in the dark to take some star photos from the summit. With no moon and a decently clear weather forecast I figured this last Friday night was my opportunity. I've hiked up Sneffels several times before via moonlight, but this was my first time with just starlight and a headlamp!

The Milky Way as seen from the 14,150 ft. summit of Mt. Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The clouds are illuminated...

The Milky Way as seen from the 14,150 ft. summit of Mt. Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The clouds are illuminated by the lights of Telluride, and the horizon glow is from Durango.

Stars over the San Juan Mountains as the earliest hint of dawn light lightens the sky, as seen from the summit of Mt. Sneffels...

Stars over the San Juan Mountains as the earliest hint of dawn light lightens the sky, as seen from the summit of Mt. Sneffels. The clouds are illuminated by the lights of Telluride.

A snowy sunrise as seen from the summit of Mt. Sneffels on June 1 after an exceptionally snowy winter and spring.

A snowy sunrise as seen from the summit of Mt. Sneffels on June 1 after an exceptionally snowy winter and spring.

Sunrise light on the summit of Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft.) looking towards Teakettle Mountaina and Potosi Peak.

Sunrise light on the summit of Mt. Sneffels (14,150 ft.) looking towards Teakettle Mountaina and Potosi Peak.

Posted in Colorado and tagged San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 14ers, June.