Silverton, Colorado a tiny town rich in mining history in the heart of Colorado's mighty San Juan Mountains. These mountains are not just a part of the Rockies, they ARE the Rockies. Silverton is the county seat and is the only year round inhabited town of San Juan County, the highest county in North America with an average elevation of over 11,000 feet. Silverton is surrounded by dozens upon dozens of 13,000-14000 foot high peaks (4000-4300 meters). It is accessed by Highway 550 also known as the million dollar highway in between two extreme mountain passes, Red Mountain Pass and Molas Pass, the former considered one of the top 20 most dangerous roads in the world. Home to Silverton Mountain Ski area one of the most extreme skiing in North America and sharing with Telluride's Helitrax heli-skiing making it the premier heli-skiing destination in all of North America. Silverton is also the destination for the historic Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a popular tourist trip and is one of only a couple steam powered trains still in operation in the US, it has been in continuous operation since 1881 and was rated one of the most spectacular train rides in the world.

The Silverton region, extremely remote, extremely rugged and extremely wild.

All 4 photos below were taken when the 416 fire was burning, the smoke filled the valley making it very unhealthy to be outdoors and forced me back home. The fire burned for several months and burned over 54,000 acres. I gotta admit, it sure makes for some amazing if not bizarre colors