Rugged and Harsh Snow Covered Mountains of the San Juan Range in the Rocky Mountains

In this image I lensed while flying over these inhospitable wild  lands during deep winter there are a number of iconic famous mountains from the Rockies. This would be an incredible difficult place to have my engine quit while flying through here!  

These are rugged and harsh mountains within the San Juan Range in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. 

In the center of this image, though hard to see now all blanketed in  think snow lies Banded Peak Mountain  at 12,784 ft / 3897 m high. The  Continental Divide goes straight up through the center of the image.  Also in this image is a favorite climbing location known as Gramps Peak  at 13300 ft / 4054 m. 

The San Juan Range

From this Source I found the following interesting information about the San Juan Range: 

This indomitably wild range is host to three counties' highpoints (Archuleta, Conejos, and Rio   Grande), the "South San Juan Range" could be loosely defined as the portion of the San Juan Range south of Wolf Creek Pass, bounded by highways 160 and 285 down to New Mexico. 

The range is in a remote and difficult to reach area and sees  relatively few  visitors. It is somewhat remote,  although access is  available via an  abundant array of forest  roads. Aside from county  highpoint  enthusiasts and not-too-common 13er  peakbaggers, the area  does not see too much overall hiking activity.  

 Indeed, the lack of 14ers or high 13ers often translates to   solitude, and there is an unending supply of  pristine wilderness to be   explored. In this range there are 55 ranked peaks higher  than  12,000', and 16  peaks with more than 1,000' of prominence. Many who  visit for the  three county highpoints (which can be accomplished in a single day)  may choose not to return, but there are those who will not be able to  resist the lure of the area.   

Some of the most lush tundra in the state  with huge expanses  above  treeline and incredible vistas of the Continental Divide make  this a  special place. There are many rugged and  obscure high peaks at  the  southern and eastern end of the range, with  at least one peak  known to  be technical (Squaretop Mountain - 11,766').

Three population centers  provide entry to the South San Juans -  Del  Norte, South Fork, and  Pagosa Springs, all reached via/located on   highway 160.   The Board of Geographic Names does not recognize the  area as a  separate range, although the area is largely designated a  wilderness  area bearing  the name "South San Juan Wilderness", and is  among the  most rugged wilderness areas left in the state. 
(Research Source)   

The "range" could just be  considered a southern cell of the San Juan Range. Railroad Pass is the  true low-point between the core of  the San  Juan Range and the South San Juan Range, as opposed to a  seemingly more  obvious candidate, Wolf Creek  Pass. Railroad Pass is  the key saddle for Summit Peak, the highest  peak in the South San  Juans.   

The Piñon Hills to the east of the  contiguous peaks of the range   have been intentionally omitted since hey  can be considered a separate subrange. The Rio Grande River (and its  South Fork) bound the range on the north and east side, and highway 160  parallels them. On the  west  side of the range begin the headwaters of  the San Juan River,  flowing to New Mexico and on to Utah.    

Water seems  abundant nearby from just  about anywhere within  the range, and it is  host to a myriad of  waterfalls, one of which is  the destination of a  short hike off highway  160 below Wolf Creek Pass  on the Pagosa Srings  side.   
(Research Source)  

No More Griz

The last grizzly bear sighting in Colorado was within the South San  Juan wilderness in 1979 (killed during a dramatic attack involving  self-defense with arrow in hand), and some speculate that grizzlies  may  still roam the area. 
(Research Source) 

This image is from my ongoing project in which I am trying to  raise awareness of the 47% of the USA and 90% of Canada that remain  unpopulated wilderness.   

Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition is my personal  mission to introduce people to these amazing locations that surround us.    

If you like what you see here upvote then resteemit so that others may experience these wondrous places as well. 

Yehaw!