In the San Juan Mountains above Silverton, Colorado, photographer Braden Gunem recently sat with a Peruvian sheepherder named Juan. Gunem had been trying to interview Juan, who declined to give his last name. But Juan had other ideas. He took the recorder for himself, and, as his trusty radio played by his side, he told his story. What follows is an edited version of that story, combined with a collection of Gunem’s photographs from the day.

Audio slideshow edited by Ruxandra Guidi and Brian Calvert.