Nokhu Crags, Clearing Winter Storm, Colorado State Forest

Nokhu Crags, Clearing Winter Storm,
Never Summer Range, Colorado

Nokhu Crags is a multi-fingered peak at the north end of the Never Summer mountain range in north central Colorado, just northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park. The summit of the peak lies at an elevation of 12,485 feet. This photograph was made from near the shoulder of the highway near Cameron Pass. In the foreground is the Colorado State Forest, with its popular winter recreation area of open alpine meadows and spruce-fir forests. I made three exposures of this scene, but this is my favorite because the clouds parted for a minute to brighten the snow and throw tall tree shadows.

This photograph was made in 1977 on 4x5 inch black and white sheet film, using a government surplus press camera that I was given for personal use while working for the Insect and Disease Division of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) in Fort Collins. No one else on staff had the interest to work with sheet film and an old but very sturdy and serviceable camera from a bygone era. I, however, appreciated the opportunity, as a beginning forester's wages did not permit purchasing large format photographic equipment. Many thanks to the CSFS across the years.

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