The view looking north near the crest of the Continental Divide shows the divide to be series of rugged ridges rather than a clean dividing line. These mountains were thrust up between 80 to 40 million years ago (Laramide orogeny) as a high plateau, then subject to erosion from wind and water. Glaciation occurred in several episodes, mostly ending 16,000 years ago with a small blip of an ice age from 1300-1850 (Little Ice Age). The glaciers of the southern Rockies were primarily located in the valleys, and these high peaks and ridges, most over 13,000’/ 4000 m, were not smoothed by ice. The billion year-old granites are relatively resistant to erosion, forming the jagged and serrated ridges.

The nearest valleys below this vantage point on Caribou Ridge are part of the City of Boulder watershed. The three knobby peaks towards the center are (l to r) Apache Peak (in the light), Navajo Peak (with horizontally layered rock in the center), and Arikaree Peak (shaded by the clouds). The peaks in the distance on the left are in the southern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. Coyote Park, seen in my recent posts, is about 3 miles west (left) and 3000’ lower.

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Make:	SONY
Model:	ILCE-7RM4
Exposure:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:	f/13.0
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	67 mm
Lens:	FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II