After an early 4:00 AM start to beat the afternoon storms, I reached the summit of Torreys Peak (14,275 ft) in the Arapaho National Forest. Just as I was taking in the 360-degree views of the Rockies, this mountain goat appeared on the ridge, perfectly at home in the thin air and rugged terrain. Capturing this moment felt like a reward for every step of the 3,000-foot vertical climb.
