Twin Lakes and Mt. Eolus in the Needles Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Twin Lakes Basin
12,500

lake

We had camped at the lower end of the Chicago Basin, so the morning walk above tree line to the upper basin was a little longer than we expected. Zoe was winded and decided to stay by the lakes while Tenkar and I climbed Windom.

aeol

Sculpted by glaciers, Mount Eolus (14,083) and North Eolus (14,039) tower above the Twin Lakes Basin. The climb up Windom was relatively easy; lots of boulder hopping and nothing very tricky. Near the summit, the rocks are stacked like blocks ranging in size from refrigerators to minivans. Eolus granite, which forms the Needle Mountains, was an igneous intrusive which cooled underground. It has been dated at 1.46 billion years.