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In the summer of 2009, I shot a 180-degree panorama from the summit
of Windom Peak, in the San Juan Mountains near Silverton. The image began on the left with the moon setting
over Chicago Basin, swept past the most spectacular peaks of the Needle Mountains, and ended on the right with the sun rising
over Vallecito Creek. Windom Peak Panorama quickly became my best-selling Sunrise from the Summit image so far. With that success to guide me, I began thinking about
how I could take the idea of a sunrise/moonset panorama still farther. How about a 360-degree
panorama from the summit of a Fourteener at sunrise? Were there any peaks which actually offered a spectacular
view in every direction?
A little
map study convinced me that two of the best Fourteeners in the state for a 360-degree panorama had to be Sunlight Peak and
Mt. Eolus, both right next to Windom. I had decided against shooting sunrise from Mt. Eolus during my 2006 trip, afraid I
would be unable to find my way up the intricate Class 3 scrambling near the summit in the dark. As I studied the map further,
I realized that the best time of day to do Eolus would actually be sunset, not sunrise. That would put sunset light, if I
was so lucky, on Windom and Sunlight, which are to the east of Eolus. Of course, the idea of shooting sunset from a Fourteener
in June introduced a new problem: afternoon thunderstorms. It would take near-perfect weather to shoot sunset from the summit
of Mt. Eolus safely. Shooting sunset also meant I would be descending the class 3 scrambling in near-darkness. If I got lost,
it would be a long, cold wait for dawn. Shooting sunrise from the summit of a Fourteener, by contrast, is always less intimidating.
If I did get lost, it would only be an hour or two until I had enough light to see where I'd gone wrong.
 I caught the Durango and Silverton Narrow-Gauge
Railroad on June 24, 2010, and hiked in to Chicago Basin on the familiar but still beautiful Needle Creek trail.
I had timed the trip so that the next day would the ideal time to shoot moonrise at sunset from the summit of Eolus
– if the weather permitted. After spending the morning scouting the Columbine Pass trail for possible
future shots, I hiked to Twin Lakes at 12,500 feet, arriving around 2 pm. The day was clouding up rapidly,
and it seemed unlikely I’d be able to shoot sunset from Eolus. Then, around 4 pm, the clouds began
to lighten and break up. I decided to start toward the summit of Eolus, aware I might get 1,000 feet above
Twin Lakes and be forced to retreat.
The
weather continued to play cat-and-mouse with me all the way to the summit. As I topped out, pellets of graupel began bouncing
off the rocks around me. A dark cloud loomed overhead, and I wondered if it would simply park itself on top of Eolus, darken
further and begin spitting lightning. I was certainly standing atop the tallest lightning rod around. But the cloud soon moved
off to the east, dissipating as it went, and a beautiful evening began. I picnicked on a can of ham and a couple of bagels,
delighted at my good fortune but still nervous that the next cloud would coagulate overhead and send me scurrying off the
summit.
 The moon rose as sunset neared. The color of the light
warmed to a golden hue. I shot one 360-degree panorama after another, filling eight gigabytes of memory
cards in about half an hour. When the light show finally ended, I headed down into the deepening dusk,
trying to move efficiently but not hastily. I had been careful to keep looking behind me as I climbed up
so I knew what the way down would look like, and I was able to stay on-route all the way to the base of the Green Crack and
the end of the scrambling.
As I gathered up the hiking poles, crampons and ice ax I’d cached there, I had a moment of panic. Where was my water
filter, which I’d also cached? It was nowhere to be seen as I pivoted on my heels, scanning with
the headlamp beam. I began searching in an ever-widening spiral. To my great relief,
I soon found it hidden behind a rock about 10 feet from where I’d put it down. Some curious marmot
had apparently dragged it there.
Around 11 pm, two hours and 15 minutes after leaving the summit, I reached my tent, made a cup of decaf coffee and
ate my chocolate bar. An hour after falling asleep, a vicious cramp seized my right hamstring.
The pain was so intense I broke out into a cold sweat. Afraid I was going to throw up, I unzipped
the tent door. Finally the cramp relaxed and I fell back asleep. It seemed above and
beyond the call of duty to get up for sunrise, and I slept in till the morning sun rose over Jupiter Mountain and kissed the
tent.
Mt. Eolus Panorama is available as a 6.75x30, 9x40, 13.5x60 and
16.2x72 inch print. The 6.75x30 and 9x40 prints are available loose, matted-only and framed. The 13.5x60 and 16.2x72
inch prints are available loose and framed. (They are too big to be matted.)
To order any of the loose sizes, or to order a 6.75x30 inch matted-only
or 6.75x30 framed piece, please visit my product catalog by clicking the link beneath the appropriate thumbnail.
These prints are available to order online.
Important note on shipping: All matted-only and framed prints larger than
6.75x30 are too big to be shipped via FedEx ground and too big to fit in any standard-size art box. While these prints
can be shipped, they require a custom-made crate and the cost is exorbitant ($300+). I strongly suggest that all customers
who live outside the Denver metro area and who wish to purchase a print larger than 6.75x30 buy the loose version and take
it to the custom frame shop of their choosing. I will glady provide detailed instructions to the framer on the moulding
I use and my preferred method of mounting and framing the piece.
For customers who live in the Denver metro area,
I will personally deliver any matted-only or framed print larger than 6.75x30 for a delivery charge of $1.50 per
mile based on round-trip mileage. Alternatively, Denver-area customers can arrange to pick up their print at my
home office in south Boulder. For more information, please call 303 499-3009 or email me.
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9x40 matted-only print of Mt. Eolus Panorama. To order, call 303 499-3009 or email me.
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9x40 framed print of Mt. Eolus Panorama. To order, call 303 499-3009 or email me.
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13.5x60 framed print of Mt. Eolus Panorama.
To order, call 303 499-3009 or email me.
16.2x72 framed print of Mt. Eolus Panorama. To order, call 303 499-3009 or email me.
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