Mt Audubon (13,223') is accessible from the Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It's the 6th highest peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, and tallest with a maintained trail leading to the summit. Visitors will enjoy miles of open tundra with excellent views of the Gore Range, Never Summer Range, Indian Peaks and Rocky Mountain National Park.

35% of the Indian Peaks Wilderness is above treeline, where there is approximately 60% less oxygen than at sea level

Moose have poor eyesight and are thought color blind, but have very strong smell and hearing

The Continental Divide is a natural barrier between waters that flow east into the Atlantic and west into the Pacific; it runs north-south from Alaska to northwestern South America

View of Longs Peak (left) and Mt Meeker (right) near the Beaver Creek Trail junction

Many alpine plants have tiny red hairs that help maximize the sun's light and heat

Looking down on Upper Coney Lake from Mt Audubon

Lichens help break down rocks into particles that form tundra soil beds; where well formed, grasses and sedges take root

The ptarmigan's scientific name is lagopus leucrus - lagopus refers to the bird's feathered feet; leucrus refers to its white feathers

Mt Audubon, Little Blue Lake (left) and Blue Lake (right) seen from Pawnee Peak

Columbine are notoriously hardy, and can survive in soil that is little more than crushed granite

Looking over Mitchell Lake from the south flank of Mt Audubon

Looking south at Pawnee, Navajo, Apache and Shoshoni peaks from the summit

Adult male and female ptarmigan look similar; males can be distinguished by prominent red brow combs in the breeding season

The Rockies were submerged, uplifted and eroded several times during the long Paleozoic Era

The Mt Audubon Trail climbs over 2700' in just under four miles to the summit

Bull elk are sexually mature around age 2, but won't mount serious competition until 5-6 years old

Alpine tundra grasses include the Alpine Blue Grass, Skyline Blue Grass, Spike Trisetum, Tufted Hair Grass, Spreading Wheatgrass, Kobresia and Pyrennian Sedge

Lichens need only a rock, sunlight, and some water every few years to survive