McClure Pass - South

Gunnison County, Colorado

September 23, 2010

We drove over McClure Pass (2,671 m./8,755 ft.) toward south into Gunnison County.
Just after the summit, we stopped for a lunch break beside beaver ponds.
On the way down the pass, we stopped for pictures, mainly for the grand view of Chair Mountain and Ragged Peak. We are now in the Raggeds Wilderness.

Note below per Jon Bradford

The Raggeds Wilderness is a unique and exciting country resplendent with rugged peaks, gothic cliffs, and colors that strain perceptions. This is the land where purple, maroon, grey, and shinning white rocks rise above alpine carpets of lush iridescent green and vast tracts of gigantic aspen. Reminiscent of the landscape of the nearby Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness, the Raggeds Wilderness offers a less crowded alternative. In spite of the similarities, the Raggeds are distinctive. Three geologically different sub-ranges of the mighty Elk Range compose the Raggeds Wilderness; and this topographic variety gives the region a distinctive flair.

The Raggeds Wilderness was designated in 1980 and contains 65,019 protected acres. It is located 11 miles west of the town of Crested Butte. It is bounded on the east by Schofield Pass, on the south by Kebler Pass, on the west by Colorado Highway 133, and on the north by the Crystal River. Within these confines the Ragged Range occupies the northwestern part of the wilderness with soaring and appropriately ragged ridges of Tertiary intrusive’s. The highpoint of the Raggeds is Chair Mountain (12,721-ft). The eastern portion of the wilderness is occupied by the twin massifs of Treasury Mountain (13,462-ft) and Treasure Mountain (13,528-ft).




This must be the headwater of the North Fork of Gunnison River.
Beside highway 133 at a roadside stop area, we found a series of 4-5 beaver ponds. 



The same beaver ponds and background hills with aspens and furs.



This is the south side of the McClure Pass. A small abandoned (?) cattle ranch.
In the backgrounds are Chair Mountain (left) and Ragged Peak (right).



Another view from Highway 133. Entire foothill is covered with aspen forest.





A distant view from the highway.



Close up view from the highway



A zoomed close up picture of the Chair Mountain (12,721 ft / 3877 m)









Three photographers visiting from Los Angeles.
The next destination is Ohio and Kebler Passes.