Nature Hiking the Indian Peaks Wilderness (many photos)

Hiking the Indian Peaks Wilderness (many photos) · **1 Like**

I went hiking today in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. This area is breathtaking, in more ways than one (most of the trails are over 10,000 ft and some go up to 12,500 ft in elevation). I hiked over a few different trails and got up to the Pawnee Pass trail, but didn't go over because of the continuous rain (and some good lightning storms).

I covered a little over 8 miles and took many photos. The weather wasn't really cooperating, so many of the photos aren't as good as they could have been (dull skies), BUT I got a few photos I wouldn't have got otherwise. Here are a few of the photos.

As a sat down for lunch, this guy kept me company

Not a bad view for a lunch break!

Well, that is all I post processed. I have more, but I think this is plenty

**Sailor** · 07-23-2012, 06:18 PM

A gorgeous series of stunning landscapes and great chipmunk (?) pics - I can even smell the clean air!

Jer

Colorado CJ · 07-23-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by kyricom

Great series (some ferocious looking wildlife too). REALLY makes me homesick for the west

.

Yeah, he wouldn't leave me alone. I also seen marmots and pikas, but didn't get any shots of them. No large wildlife spotted on this hike.

Colorado CJ · 07-23-2012, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Magnificent. And only one shot (#8) has a sky I would consider dull....

Thank you Sandy. It was trying at times to get any detail from the sky. A lot of the photos I didn't bother to post process because of the soupy looking sky.

Colorado CJ · 07-23-2012, 06:28 PM

Originally posted by daacon

Beautiful country CJ is all that water drinkable ? I'll bet it's fresh and refreshing. Really like the lunch view.

Thanks daacon! The water is drinkable, but it is recommended to filter it first. Mountain waters can carry giardia that can cause some pretty bad cramping (among other things

). I've drank from mountain streams every once in a while (when my camelback runs out) and didn't have a problem, but it is best to filter it first.

Colorado CJ · 07-23-2012, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by baro-nite

Well done. I had my first visit to the area last week and these beautiful shots really capture it.

Thanks. It should be a must visit place if you are ever in the area. Great hiking and the scenery isn't too bad either.

Colorado CJ · 07-24-2012, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

Very nice!

Thank you Lauren.

Colorado CJ · 07-24-2012, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by charliezap

Very nice looking scenics well photographed.---charliezap

Thanks Charlie, I tried my best

Colorado CJ · 07-24-2012, 06:32 AM

Originally posted by slowpez

Trying to pick a favorite out of this group and gave it up. Too much effort because you posted to darn many wonderful shots. You are so lucky to live in that area but you also make the most of it. I envy you your ability to hike into these areas. Thanks so much for sharing these.

I'm glad you like them. I know I am lucky living where I do and definitely don't take it for granted. It is an outdoorsman's dream.

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-24-2012, 08:43 AM

You did well here despite the light changing which happens a lot in the mountains.

You could try using a CPL if you have one. My problem is I get so tired just hiking I don't have enough energy to take the pictures.

**Dice** · 07-24-2012, 12:43 PM

Truly an inspiring set of images. I want to load up my back pack and find a bit of this! Thanks for sharing.

Colorado CJ
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07-23-2012, 06:18 PM	#16
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	A gorgeous series of stunning landscapes and great chipmunk (?) pics - I can even smell the clean air! Jer

07-23-2012, 06:19 PM	#17
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by kyricom Great series (some ferocious looking wildlife too). REALLY makes me homesick for the west . Yeah, he wouldn't leave me alone. I also seen marmots and pikas, but didn't get any shots of them. No large wildlife spotted on this hike.

07-23-2012, 06:20 PM	#18
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Magnificent. And only one shot (#8) has a sky I would consider dull.... Thank you Sandy. It was trying at times to get any detail from the sky. A lot of the photos I didn't bother to post process because of the soupy looking sky.

07-23-2012, 06:28 PM	#19
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by daacon Beautiful country CJ is all that water drinkable ? I'll bet it's fresh and refreshing. Really like the lunch view. Thanks daacon! The water is drinkable, but it is recommended to filter it first. Mountain waters can carry giardia that can cause some pretty bad cramping (among other things ). I've drank from mountain streams every once in a while (when my camelback runs out) and didn't have a problem, but it is best to filter it first.

07-23-2012, 06:30 PM	#20
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by baro-nite Well done. I had my first visit to the area last week and these beautiful shots really capture it. Thanks. It should be a must visit place if you are ever in the area. Great hiking and the scenery isn't too bad either.

07-24-2012, 06:27 AM	#21
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by LaurenOE Very nice! Thank you Lauren.

07-24-2012, 06:28 AM	#22
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by charliezap Very nice looking scenics well photographed.---charliezap Thanks Charlie, I tried my best

07-24-2012, 06:32 AM	#23
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Originally posted by slowpez Trying to pick a favorite out of this group and gave it up. Too much effort because you posted to darn many wonderful shots. You are so lucky to live in that area but you also make the most of it. I envy you your ability to hike into these areas. Thanks so much for sharing these. I'm glad you like them. I know I am lucky living where I do and definitely don't take it for granted. It is an outdoorsman's dream.

07-24-2012, 08:43 AM	#24
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,853	You did well here despite the light changing which happens a lot in the mountains. You could try using a CPL if you have one. My problem is I get so tired just hiking I don't have enough energy to take the pictures.

07-24-2012, 12:43 PM	#25
Dice Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Emeryville, CA Posts: 1,122	Truly an inspiring set of images. I want to load up my back pack and find a bit of this! Thanks for sharing.