Mt. Audubon (13,229 ft) is one of my favorite peaks to climb and I often make it my first peak of the season. It's good preparation for more difficult climbs. I've always accessed it through Brainard Lakes Recreation Area, just outside of Ward, Colorado and just off the Peak-to-Peak Highway (119). I've seen amazing wildlife here and every visit to Brainard is an adventure. This area and the surrounding Indian Peaks Wilderness touches and holds a very special place within my heart, body and soul - for reasons both known and completely unknown. I never leave without seeing abundant wildlife, wildflowers, breathtaking views and amazing photo ops. The trek up was great, although quite windy, which is to be expected. Midnight was a little trooper and is a natural at climbing the peaks. It's as if he knows there's a destination and he wants to get there as quickly as possible. It's amazing where our feet and bodies can take us and I'm forever grateful that I have the ability to hike to the tops of mountains and experience the amazing views. I live for it. To hike through the alpine region is one of my favorite things to do, there is no other place like it on earth...so delicate and yet so hardy....stunning, magical and unforgiving...
There she is - the view from where we started
About half way
Couldn't resist the wildflowers
Slowly scrambling up to the top
Made it - a little hazy from the wildfires out west
Can you find Midnight?
A little alpine tundra in the foreground
Marmot
I have an obsession with small alpine streams
Makes my heart sing...
...and sing
Nice views on the way down
I can never get enough of views like this
I've hiked this trail many times, but it takes my breath away every time
Truly one of the most beautiful places created on earth
I will probably never climb the same mountain twice (because I am too greedy!), but if you are going to repeat, this looks like a great one. I, too, love the Indian Peaks.
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