An early winter storm with bitter cold temperatures with snow snuck up on the San Juan Mountains killing every last wildflower or so I thought.

While hiking at 12.5k in the brisk wind, I stumbled across a small patch of paintbrush partially covered in snow. They had managed to survive the killing frost.

The snow insulated them from sure death as I sat there with them shivering in the brutal cold as a sunset was developing which helped to cheer up the now winter like landscape.  

Already longing for next year….

Unlikely survivors…