After another fun 4th of July in Ouray, I went on a 5-day backpacking loop in the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. I left from the Beartown trailhead, hiked south along the Continental Divide Trail for a couple days until reaching the area of Flint Lakes and Rock Lake. From there I headed down Rock Creek, and up the Vallecito valley back to Beartown.
Wandering in the Weminuche

West Ute Sunlight
Afternoon sunlight shines on the tundra around West Ute Lake.

Ute Ridge Dawn
Dawn view of the Needle Mountains and Grenadier Range, as seen from a high ridge east of Vallecito Creek.

Ute Ridge Sunrise
Sunrise panorama of the Needle Mountains and Grenadiers, as seen from a high ridge east of Vallecito Creek.

Flint Lakes
Bluebird summer afternoon at Flint Lakes, July.

Flint Lake Sunset
Sunset clouds reflected in a side lagoon of Flint Lakes, July.

Flint Lake Dusk
Dusk reflection at Flint Lake.

Weminuche Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush wildflowers, with a San Juan backdrop.

Rock Creek Sunrise
Sunrise alpenglow light on The Guardian (13,617 ft.), looking down Rock Creek, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness.

Paintbrush Morning
Close up view of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers, July.

Vallecito Waterfall
One of many hidden waterfalls along the Vallecito Creek.

Green Canopy
A bugs-eye view of the green canopy along the forest floor.

Vallecito Sunrise
Sunrise alpenglow on The Guardian and Mt. Silex, as seen from Vallecito Creek.