Sangres and Wet Mtns?

I am planning a photo trip (week after next) in and around the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains.... anyone have suggestions for good shooting locations? Thanks in advance...

The Wet Mtns. aren't really a shooter's paradise beyond the great canyon where Hardscrabble Creek passes through along Highway 96. I'd stick with the Sangres. You can probably get up into the upper Huerfano River area and shoot Blanca Peak's dramatic north face along the river, but I suspect most of the roads leading into the high basins (S. Colony, Music Pass, Cloverdale, Hermit Pass, etc.) will still be blocked by snow. If you need specific directions to these locations, e me.

Hey Nat ill second what Todd said about the Wets, though some day im gonna do some more digging there cause i have a hunch there's some hidden treasures. As i noted in my Dunes post, i was just up at Blanca and the Como road was snow free til almost to the lake (~11500 ft) but thats the west side, while the east side is probably pretty snowy at most of the access points. I didnt make it to the Sangres nearly as much as last winter/spring, but i was recently at Hermit pass road and it was passable with 4wd a ways up. Conditions will be changing so rapidly you'll probably have to play it by ear, regardless of where you head. good luck!

You should be able to get over Medanno pass in the Sangres. This road is usually clear by Memorial Day. It leads into sand dunes at its west end. At the top of Medano pass, my USGS topo indicated there is a trail leading towards Music Pass/Little Spring Gulch drainage. I suspect you would still run into some snow at some point as you continued up. There is also a 4wd road leading to the NE face of Mt. Herard. This is what you would find up there.

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=113628

I was on Medano pass road on Saturday. I went in from the west side to camp by the Dunes. I didn't make it up to the pass, but talked to someone who said the road was still closed.

If you go to the dunes, take your bug spray! I was breathing mosquitos and gnats when the wind died on the sand sheet. The water is plentiful right now so good bug harvesting. No problems on the dunes.

Hi Nat. This is probably too late to help you, but I was just there on Thursday and Friday. The area really looks nice with quite a few flowers popping out. There is also no one around at all. I didn't get a chance to shoot anything around Westcliffe, but the valley is carpeted with purple and yellow flowers. Here is a shot of the Spanish Peaks from down south of La Veta.

Here is shot of Blanca Peak from CR 583 almost to the Mosca Pass trailhead. Really nice up there as well as up CR 580 past the Huerfano River SWA.