Oliver Pattison

documentary photography

a portrait of Sapphie the dog standing on top of a mountain smiling

Cottonwood Pass hiking

It was the end of the season. Before long, one of the highest driveable mountain passes in Colorado would be closed. We soaked up the last of an unseasonably pleasant day at 12,000 feet above sea level.

Jean and Sapphie the dog looking at the sunrise from a mountaintop
sign: PROTECT FRAGILE ALPINE TUNDRA. STAY ON TRAIL DON’T CUT SWIITCHBACKS
mountain grasses and rocks highlighted by the sunrise
close view of frozen flowers alongside the trail
Jean and Sapphie walking on the ridgeline with clouds below
Jean feeds Sapphie the dog on a mountainside
portrait of Sapphie the dog on the trail with her bright orange backpack
wide scene of Sapphie the dog running on the trail towards Jean
mountain peaks with a dark blue marsh a thousand feet below
trail marker for Continental Divide Trail and Colorado Trail
Sapphie the dog walking along the ridgeline with mountains behind and rocks in the near foreground
a portrait of Sapphie the dog standing on top of a mountain smiling
a wider shot of a mountain peak with snow and clouds, midday autumn sun
a pointy mountain peak colored with yellow and red plants, dusted with snow