Sangre de Christo Mountains

In late June 2008, I spent a week camping and hiking in southern Colorado



Kit Carson peak



Crestone Needle (left) and ridge to Crestone Peak. Many years ago, a few of us crossed that ridge



Some cactus flowers at about 8800 feet near the north end of the Alamosa Valley











Bighorn Sheep will stand and watch you. More skittish deer will leap to their death if frightened by a squirrel







I hiked to Willow Lake from the Alamosa side



and I continued up above treeline. Kit Carson Peak is at the right



Columbine



Indian Paintbrush











some sort of grouse. it was a male, doing mating displays. he also had some sort of colorful inflatable chest, which I did not get clearly in a photo.