There are links to topo maps on this page. You will need a high-speed internet connection.

Monday, July 10, 2006

8:40 am we take the bus to the Maroon Bells trailhead, arriving around 9:30. We hiked the West Maroon trail, past Maroon Lake, then past Crater Lake. We climbed about 2000 ft to an elevation of about 11,600 over 5+ miles. We set up camp at about 3pm, just as a couple of storms were rolling in. I had a tough time of hiking because of difficulty getting my breath. I had trained all year for this trip and I am very frustrated that I struggled with breathing and endurance.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

The morning was beautiful -- partly cloudy and cool. We began hiking at 10:00 am and immediately began climbing towards West Maroon Pass. This basin is breathtaking with views of snow, streams, mountains, and lush green meadows full of flowers. After about 1 mile the climb got really steep as it led to the pass. We gained 1400 ft in 1.5 miles. There was an equally quick descent, going down to the basin 1000 ft down. We traversed a portion of the basin for the next couple of miles then steeply ascended to Frigid Air Pass at 12,420 ft. West Maroon Pass was 12,500 ft. The views from both passes are impossible to describe. As far as the eye can see there are snow-capped mountains. I think this is why I like Colorado so much.

After cresting Frigid Air Pass we switchbacked down into Fravert Basin for a 3 mile descent. WE camped beside a stream at about 10,500 ft. (This is the lowest elevation camp we had.) Breathing is easier but tomorrow we have to regain that 2000 ft.

Dark clouds began forming soon after we got the tents set up and we decided to get things together to cook supper early. It rained off and on, sometimes fairly heavy showers. WE managed to cook and eat between showers. Because of the rain and being tired, we decided to turn in about 8:45 pm.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

More rain. We tried to make breakfast between showers. We also spent some time discussing a change in our route. Our plan was to climb to Trail Rider Pass then down to Snowmass Lake and out the next day via Buckskin Pass. We were both concerned about the weather and we had heard a couple of reports that Buckskin Pass was still snowed in. (We also had reports that it was open.) Since we had to finish hiking on Thursday, we decided to take an alternate route that was a "sure thing." This route took us up Hasley Basin -- a beautiful, tree-filled, notch basin. It was a very steep climb from the Fravert Basin valley up to the Hasley Basin. The trail then climbed gradually from one end of the basin to the other. We then turned North and started climbing steeply again. We eventually climbed across alpine bogs to the saddle that led into Fravert Basin, near the trail that climbed over Frigid Air Pass. It seemed to be a long climb across this wide saddle. Next we had a long, gradual descent until we connected with the West Maroon Pass trail. Then the climbing resumed. Steep climbing. We are at about 11,500 ft and the thin air still gives me difficulty. A big thunderstorm started pouring in over the mountains to the North. John stops at an alpine basin to confer. (He had gotten far ahead of me on the long downhill stretch.) We decide to set up tents and camp here, within sight of the pass. Thunderstorms, mountain ridges, and people are a bad combination. It was also after 4:00 pm and we really hadn't stopped for lunch. We had eaten breakfast about 8:15 am but did not leave camp until 11:00 am because of the rain. After setting up tents, the rain didn't come (in the early afternoon) but we decided to stay since tents were set up and it was late.

About 6:00 pm another storm rolled in. First there were big, slow raindrops, then tremendous thunder, then lightning and thunder very close. I found myself watching the tent rainfly to see the lightning flash so that I could plug my ears before the thunder. One time it was so close that I couldn't plug my ears in time. It made me jump! It is an odd feeling being in an open basin at 12,000 ft with lightning all around, especially in a 4'x6' tent. The storm lasted only about 20 minutes, but that was long enough!

Just after supper (8:30 pm) another storm came in. We watched it move towards us at what appeared to be about a mile a minute. We hit the tents for good this time. I awoke at 1:00 am and saw a beautiful, full moon rising over the pass.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

9:35 am. Steep climb up the South approach to West Maroon Pass. Beautiful day with no clouds in the sky. We hike 6.5 miles, mostly downhill, as we exit the Maroon Basin. It was interesting hiking this trail in the opposite direction from Monday. Some things seemed familiar, others not. Very warm day. By the time we reached Crater Lake the day-hikers started to increase. Many were out for a stroll and there fore slowed us down. We caught the 2:40 pm buses into Aspen.

A good trip, even though I had physical struggles. As always, I am very, very glad to be going home to Hazel.