Mount Sneffels

colorado

Sometimes the most peaceful views come after the wildest nights.

Zeke (my four-legged co-pilot) and I had taken a 4x4 trail deep into the San Juan Mountains, chasing fall colors and solitude. The plan was simple: park, rest, wake up early for sunrise photos. What I didn’t plan for was the storm.

Lightning cracked across the sky, thunder echoed off the ridges, and the truck rocked like a boat at sea. For hours I lay there wondering if we should’ve turned back. It felt like the kind of night you only enjoy in hindsight.

But morning came.

And with it — silence.

The storm had moved on, leaving behind a fresh layer of snow on top of Mt. Sneffels. The golden aspens below were glowing, the sky still heavy with mood, and the contrast was unreal. I climbed out of the truck, camera in hand, and shot this panorama as the light began to stretch across the valley.

This photo is a reminder that the storm always passes — and sometimes it leaves beauty behind that you wouldn’t see otherwise.

Zeke agrees, by the way. He got extra treats for bravery. 🐾