Weminuche Wilderness Pt. 3

On Day 3 we hiked up Johnson Creek toward Columbine Pass.  We'd covered a lot of miles in two days and decided not to push ourselves too hard, turning back at about the 3 mile point after stopping for lunch next to a miniature flowing canyon.
Gazing on the sheer cliff before us, we pondered the madness that would compel people to blast chasms two miles deep in such terrain in the pursuit of silver.

Throughout the higher elevations we noticed large swaths of forest consisting of mostly dead trees.  I think this is attributed to a succession of drought years which enabled a large-scale beetle attack on the Colorado pine forests.

Organ Mountain on our left.

I didn't take as many photos this day partly because of rain.  We got back to camp and hunkered down as the afternoon rains passed over us.  The sound of thunder in the mountains was awesome.

As the skies cleared and the sun was about to descend behind the mountains, we emerged and lit a fire and ate our rehydrated dinner meals.  The aspen looked on...

The next morning a rainbow greeted us over Thunder Mountain and also warned of possible rain as we rushed to pack our camp up.

I am pretty sure this is a yellow-flowered species of salsify, the plant responsible for the poofball seedhead picture on Day One.  In Napa, they have a light purple flower.

Eager for fresh food and comfortable furniture, we frolicked down the glacial trajectory of Vallecito Creek back to the car.  It was an awesome trip.