Around Verde Lake, Weiminuche Wilderness

Its been an eternity since I've posted anything, mostly because I haven't been out much lately. Fortunately I was able to get out for a week in the San Juans, the cure for any rust that had built up. First on the agenda was a trip up to the Highland Mary Lakes area and the final destination Verde Lake. We had a nice mix of clouds and sun and came away with some images that made the effort worthwhile. This first image is from our first night there and some last minute color.

This is turned 180 degrees...

We had one morning that dawned very clear, allowing us to capture the first light on Arrow and Vestal -- after climbing a steep ridgeline via headlamp.

Great sky in those first two.

Excellent shots, Paul! I've always been paranoid about camping around Verde Lakes or Highland Mary, since it seems so open to nasty weather with no place to hide (cower) if a severe electrical storm hits.

It was definitely in the back of our minds, Todd. I was put at ease pretty quickly when I got up there and saw how varied the terrain really is -- I had expected it to be pretty open, but there are a lot of low spots surrounded by ridges. We camped in a spot basically surrounded by higher terrain, so we were relatively sheltered.

The last one is beautiful. Man, that looks like one rugged area!

Thanks, Jeff -- the peaks in the Grenadier Range are some of the most rugged in the San Juans, and amazing in person

Hi Paul,

Im with Todd, that area is likely one of the most beautiful areas in Colorado but its so freakin exposed to the San Juan Storm Factory. I hear people camp up there all the time so I suppose Im just a big baby.

The color and comp in your first and second image is stunning. #3 is a classic too. Check the exposure in both images. #1 has a pretty obvious overexposed chunk of the sky on the left. The lower half of #1 is perfect. In #2 the pink clouds in the center of the image seem clipped as well, and the bottom half feels a bit to dark.

Thanks Kane -- I guess we must have found a pretty good spot to pitch our tents, I actually felt less exposed here than later in the week when we were pitched under the N. Face of Wetterhorn. Thanks for the suggestions on the first 2, believe it or not they were pretty much grab shots as I thought the sun had already set and I was just planning on shooting the reflections of the clouds on the lake. As a result I left behind my grads and had to wing it since the color lasted about 90-120 sec. I will have to work on #1 some more, I think I can easily iron out the exposure on #2. These were not blended at all, so I can go back and try and blend a couple RAWs. Its an amazing place, there is a lot more room up there than I expected and the terrain -- especially around Verde and Lost Lake is stunning.

Love that Grenadiers shot! Can't wait to see more from Wetterhorn...

Yeah, plus one on the Grenadiers shot. Great stuff!

Thanks, Jack and Morris! Jack -- I'm not sure I got anything from Wetterhorn that you haven't seen, since you have pretty much the definitive images of the area.

Stunning shots Paul. Makes me want to go back to the San Juans and Highland Mary right now. Such magnificent peaks out there. The talk of Wetterhorn certainly brings back memories of a time I rode out a storm in a small one-person tent out there for me. Exciting times!