Reader: Justin Peterson, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Spot: 14,015-foot (4,272-meter) Wetterhorn Peak, a 14er in Colorado's San Juan Mountains
The Moment: Our group started hiking well before daylight. As the sun started to finally rise, we began to see just how vast and beautiful the San Juan range is. As we continued our ascent, we experienced a truly special moment. For an instant, the climbers were silhouetted against the rising sun and 14,309-foot (4,361-meter) Uncompahgre Peak, which can be seen on the right of the lowest climber. A few minutes later, the light had changed and Uncompahgre Peak was no longer in view.
Do-It-Yourself: A great online resource for this hike is www.14ers.com. Or try Gerry Roach's book Colorado's Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs.
Plan an adventure trip
