If someone tells you they grew up in Ouray, Colorado there's one surefire way to tell if they're on the up and up.
Draw Mt. Abrams.
An image of Mt. Abrams is burned into the consciousness of every Ouranian. The classic pointy profile, the little hump on the left flank and the longer ridge extending on the right. When they're done drawing that profile, they'll put some sort of "S" down the front to represent the ridge that winds down towards the viewer.
If they're especially artsy, they may fill in the woods on the front, showing the two avalanche chutes that come down dump out onto the jeep road headed up to Engineer Pass.
I know it's just another mountain, but for those who live or lived here it has a power, like some kind of diety staddling the "end" of the lower Uncompahgre valley.
The view from the top is well worth the full-day hike, because even though about 12,700 (shorter than the surrounding mountains), the view of town and down the valley is very nice. The neighboring hills aren't too shabby either.
In short, it's just another cool mountain.
This below is not the view from the top of Abrams, which I don't have right now. It is a view from the North looking back at Abrams from horsethief trail.
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Comments: 18
I grew up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. While no match for some of the greater mountains in this great land of ours, they did instill a love for mountains in me.
I can see why you Ouranian are so hooked on Mount Abrams.
And, this mountain in your photos isn't any of those things...
Nice pix anyway!
George, I used to be quite the mountain snob, but a few years in the Midwest have given me an appreciation for mountains, hills, and bluffs of all sorts. If I'm in Western Kansas, I look at the thunderclouds. I'm sure the mountains where you grew up are delightful, and I'd love to go there and dig for old bottles.
Eric, yes I did notice the similarity between the Paramount mountain and Abrams, not that you mention it. I'd forgotten about that though. Wow, what a flashback that was!
Kathy, my wife Janie uses a wheelchair and can't come hiking with me. Ouray sports a million-gallon, odorless hot spring pool, too. That's one of the places Janie likes to hang out.
You're welcome Cynthia.
I spent 4 years in Durango in my early twenties and drove up 550 many times into Ouray. I would love to relocate with my family and show them the wonders of the San Juans. Great pictures.
Deron