Orange Alpenglow

On a camping trip to American Basin in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies, to climb Handies Peak, our party arrived in the early evening. Looking up to the sky I could see it was clear to the west. This meant the potential for remarkable alpenglow on the north facing peaks. To get within view of the peaks required a rapid and steep jaunt up the main valley of American Basin, which rests at over 11,000 feet. None of the others in our party were partial to the idea of heading into the altitude after a 5 hour drive, including a 13,000 foot pass on mountainous 4×4 roads. So without camp set, and the day fading away, I began running up the valley chasing the light I hoped to witness. After heaving up the valley with oxygen depleted legs, I was greeted in the final moments of sunset with an intense orange glow upon the peaks. I quickly setup this composition and snapped three photographs before the light passed on. Poof… and gone! Although I returned to camp alone and had to setup my tent in the dark, the results of the effort were well worth it.