Music Pass

Went for a little hike yesterday in the Sangres, figuring i could take advantage of the lack of snow to drive all the way to the Rainbow Trail. Well, i fell about a mile short, and between that and deciding to leave my snowshoes behind, that thwarted my plans to climb one of the 12K footers on the way to Marble Mountain. Took me almost 2 hours just to go the one short mile+ to the pass, since i was sinking in to my knees But the pass was lovely as always, and i now have pics of Tijeras & Co from all four seasons!
Heres the pass as a 3 shot stitch, will post a B&W on ESS.

2) had to make a quick stop on the way up to take a couple pics of the sheep--just chillin!

3) As Kane would say--these are 'Badass Mountains'

4) A closer look at Tijeras and the valley

5) Looking out towards Milwaukee. Was tempting to go up the ridge, but it was windy on the west side and deep snow on the east, and plus i was dying for a Guinness--so i cut my trip short

6) On the way out--note Pikes Peak way in the distance.
Just a beautiful day to be out in the snow.

Absolutely love #3...that mountain looks menacing. Excellent job with the B&W conversion.

Nice collection. #4 is my favorite for the zoom on Tieras and that cool cloud rolling off of it. I also like the interesting foreground and divided light.

I really like the black and white for post #3....Great job!!

Happy New Year!!!

I really like the 3 image stitch in the first post. As a b&w fan, I gotta say that this one works best in color. That same fan feels that #3 is a bit too dark and heavy, but I'm in the minority.
Glad you could get out and about. With 1-2 ft. of snow throughout SW Colorado, we won't be going anywhere for awhile.

Looks like a great day in the mountains for sure. Kudos for trudging onward - I like 4 the best.

Awesome, Stan. The BW treatment is no. one for me; although all reflect strong composition and use of color contrast.

Bill Brennan

Stan, was your plan was UN12,739? Or were you actually going for Marble? If I read your report correct, you are saying you can drive within 1 mile of the pass?

I think a winter sunrise shoot from Marble is doable in the right conditions. And certainly worth a try. It's one of those trips that needs to be pre-planned, kept on the rader, then go when the conditions for survival permit. I think you need a two day trip with a night up on Music Pass, at the tail end of one of those beautiful week long January high pressure systems that seem to happen every year. From the pass it's only about 1,800-ft to the summit. That's not bad considering the reward. Shooting at 13,000-ft before sunrise in January makes my fingers cold just thinking about it. But, if you get that warmer two day stretch, it goes.

Have you been up Marble before? The view is STUNNING. Or "badass." I'm dreaming of that shot and at some point in my life will go for it.

Do you know if that road gets packed down by snowmobiles in the winter? I built a sled last year to pull my stuff up to Music Pass for that shot, never got out to do it. Still have that sled! You game?

Kane

BTW, am I the only one that loves a zoomed in shot of a great mountain... like Tijeras? Tijeras doesn't need foreground. Colorado sports more than a few GREAT mountains, lets show off the unique character!

I agree, Kane (and incidentally, Tijeras is a terrific hike/climb)!
I meant i only got one mile from the lower (grape creek) trailhead--so i had to walk 5+ miles to the pass, but i saw jeep tracks a mile up the road (2.5 mi to the pass)
I was originally going to hit the first 12K footer, not sure if thats 12,739--(12,620?) there are three points before Marble.
Anyhow, would love to either go up Marble or Colony Baldy (and i know youve been up both); i assume the easier way would be up the ridges from South Colony, that's where most of the Winter trip reports ive seen go. Its pretty unusual to be able to get that far up Music Pass--i got my jeep stuck in a five foot drift a couple years back, and that was at the 119 juncture 5 miles from grape creek/rainbow!

1, 3, and 4 are for me. Those are BADASS mountains! The contrast in 3 may be just a bit much, but I'm alright with it, I'm not afraid of contrast. The slope on the right is a titch of an eye magnet, being as bright as it is. Sounds like you got a great workout!

Awesome stuff as usual Stan. I like 4 the best...but 1 is right behind it.

Cool stuff! I really like #5.

1 and 3 are my favorites. #3 was a little much at first the more I looked at it the more I liked it. All of them are great photos!

I like the lighting and comp in #1.