August here in Colorado has provided ample moisture from continued monsoonal flow, mostly from the Pacific. It’s unusual to find the alpine tundra still green all the way up above 13,000′ MSL this close to September, and some wildflowers appear to be trying to bloom, again. The image above was captured from Yankee Boy Basin, a few miles west-southwest of Ouray. 13,786′ Potosi Peak rises nearly 4,000′ above Camp Bird Mine, formerly a very productive gold mine, producing 1+ million ounces of gold and 4+ million ounces of silver between 1896 to 1990.
The following image is of Governor Basin (less than 3 miles from downtown Telluride, as the raven flies!), sitting at 12,000′ below stunning St. Sophia Ridge, a spiny ridgeline spanning between Mt. Emma and Mendota Peak.
