It is just a little after 6:00 AM, Mountain Time, in Ridgway, Colorado, and I am standing at the Dallas Divide viewing spot, overlooking the Double RL Ranch and the Sneffels mountain range this late September morning. My photo buddies are snug in their heated cars while I am standing outside in the cold of early dawn with about an hour and a half remaining before sunrise. It has just turned astrological twilight, with the sky turning blue and the early glow strengthening to the white of the early snow on the Sneffels—a big payoff for standing here.
Where I am standing is a tremendously popular site, with many photographers already lining up along the fence to capture their images of the mountains and the fall aspens. Of the approximately 50 14ers in Colorado (those above 14,000 ft), Mount Sneffels, the highest peak, left of center, ranks as one of the hardest to climb and is rated as a Class 3 climb. It is also the 27th highest peak. Other mountains, on the far left, are Mount Ridgway and Teakettle, just below Sneffels. I believe the mountain on the far right is Mears Peak.
Another interesting fact is that aspens hold the title of being the largest growing plant/organism because all of the trees in a stand are connected via their root system. So, when looking at a picture like this, one can assume that the grove on the upper left consists of a couple of trees.
Also, for a fun fact, the area between where I am standing (the front of the picture) to the base of the Sneffels range, approximately 4 miles, is all part of the Double RL Ranch, owned by Ralph Lauren. It extends to the right/west and is approximately 16,000 acres. There are public roads that traverse the ranch to the mountain’s base with parks and campgrounds there.
