June 28, 2017 Continental Divide, Summit County, Colorado

I went with my friend Katy to meet Rosie at the west portal of the Eisenhower tunnel to hike up Straight Creek to the divide over looking Loveland Ski area on the other side. There were fields of flowers above treeline. 

Katy photographing some columbines and a snow melt stream.

We had to traverse numerous snowfields. Difficult walking from steep, hard, slippery sun cupped snow to soft snow we punched through. Katy and Rosie and looking down one of the snowfields.

Looking up the same snowfield. Rosie and Katy taking photographs and overlooking the west portal of the Eisenhower tunnel and I-70 west. 

Fields of flowers top-Looking north, bottom looking south.

Field of yellow flowers looking north. Looking east from the divide over Loveland Ski area, the east portal of the tunnel and I-70 eastbound. The mountains you see are Gray's and Torrey's, two 14er's. 

Katy and Rosie under a trail sign at Loveland Ski area. In the winter the snow would be over their heads here.  Rosie and Katy starting back down. Near the top a fierce cold wind came up, we had to put on fleece and gortex jackets, stocking caps  and gloves and keep moving to keep warm.

We saw this herd of mountain goats including a kid(baby goat). They still have their thick winter coats. Field of flowers looking down into the valley to the trail out.

On the way up with our t-shirts and sun hats, and further up with our stocking caps, fleece and gortex jackets. Rosie and Katy on the way back down.

Millions of flowers today. Globe flowers, marsh marigolds, kings crown, chiming bells, paintbrush and candy tuft. Sky pilot and paintbrush, cinquefoils, pussy willows, the lift at the top of Loveland Ski area, avens, alpine clover, columbines and alpine tundra. 

Multi colored fields of flowers, purple fringe, white flowers, an alpine butterfly and alpine primrose. Campions, spring beauty, butter cups blooming through the snow, old men of the mountain and the sign for the continental divide--13,010 feet! I had trouble breathing that high. We spent most of the winter at a much lower altitude.