After waiting out three or four rounds of thunderstorms, I come out of the trees. West Ute Lake sits just to the left.
At the intersection with the Continental Divide Trail (left) and looking back up to Starvation Pass (left)
West Ute Lake. Now I just have to go around and get to the low saddle
At the southern end of the lake looking at The Guardian
The view from the Continental Divide and what I was waiting for. It was super impressive, and the peaks looked so dominating with the overall dark conditions, of which doesn't come across in this shot. Far more imposing than how they look under clear skies.
The look of death passing by from my spot where I survived the storm
The sun broke through at the last possible moment
Colorful, yet subtle alpenglow on Windom and Sunlight
The shot I came here for
The shot I came here for, part 2
My tent. It's hard to tell here, but it wasn't that level, but it was the most level place I could find in the trees.
On my way out from the saddle above West Ute Lake. This is the only shot I took that has Mt. Nebo (right) in it from this side.
Looking east. West Ute Lake lies barely hidden on the left.
A look back up to the saddle
Unnamed 13,169' to the south
A look down to the inlet of West Ute Lake
Another look back up
West Ute Lake
West Ute Lake
The saddle to the south of West Ute Lake which is along the Continental Divide Trail
Looking back from where I came
9:10 AM: Looking over to Starvation Pass. Hopefully, I can get there before the storms come.
11:21: This is the next picture I took atop Starvation Pass. I am dead in the middle of a nasty thunderstorm and nervous as can be. I've never been in a worse place during a storm. Terrific!
Looking north through the rain
Thankfully, the storm passed, and I am finally at ease. I walk super slow from here on out due to blisters. This is looking back up to the pass.
A look over to Kite Lake
The view to the west
Going down
Back in the trees near the start of the trail. Shortly after this, another storm came, and this time, it really let loose with the rain, though not much lightning. By now, I didn't care what it did, because I was home-free and this concluded my backpacking trips for 2009, and I couldn't have been more happy to be done with them after this trip.
The end