the flat tops wilderness is one of my favorite areas in colorado. it has lush, green forests and wildflowers, beautiful majestic mountain scenes, wonderful forests of aspen, and one heckuva large herd of elk. it’s also not unique among colorado areas in that it’s been victimized by massive forest fires.

i sat here watching the light change on this mountain for a long time - a favorite pastime of mine. not only was the light captivating, but the apparent never-ending mass of dead trees having burned in a forest fire almost twenty years ago. these widow makers are both endearing and eerie, but they make this particular location in the flat tops intensely unique.