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Off Trail, Cottonwood Pass, Buena Vista CO

July 20, 2017 Colorado 1 min read 15 photos

Last week, I wanted to go for a hike up on Cottonwood Pass but all the normal trails were CRAMMED full of people so I decided to hike off trail and up... and I do mean UP. This hike was, maybe, 2 miles (one way) but over 2,000' in elevation gain. It took me a few days to recover! lol

Here's just some of the pictures:

A steep talus slope of broken rock and scattered spruce trees below a ridge with patches of snow, storm clouds gathering above

A view down a forested valley toward layered mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky

A rocky, snow-patched gully with Teddy standing as a small distant figure on a snowfield, framed by boulders

A view down a forested valley toward distant peaks with dark storm clouds building overhead

A rocky alpine gully streaked with patches of snow, descending toward a green valley and distant mountains under a cloudy sky

A rocky outcrop on a ridge overlooking a forested valley, with dark storm clouds and distant peaks beyond

A grassy, rock-strewn alpine ridge overlooking a broad snow-streaked mountain bowl under a heavily clouded sky

A pile of dark, lichen-covered rocks atop a grassy ridge, with a rugged snow-patched peak and stormy sky in the distance

A rocky summit cairn on a grassy ridge overlooking a forested valley and distant snow-streaked mountains under a dramatic stormy sky

A grassy, rocky summit ridge with a view of a sharp peak and rolling mountains streaked with patches of snow

A high view down into a forested valley with a winding paved switchback road, rugged snow-patched peaks in the background

A forested valley with a winding road following a stream, mountains rising on either side and a rain shower visible in the distance

A rugged alpine cirque with snow-streaked cliffs and slopes, seen across a grassy, rock-strewn ridge

Teddy standing on a large boulder looking out over a forested slope and a rocky talus field

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