The Crested Butte to Aspen Traverse

One popular hike (I hate popular hikes, and prefer to seek solitude in the backcountry, but my buddy loves things that are popular) is the traverse between Crested Butte and Aspen (or vice versa).  It actually goes from Schofield Pass to Maroon Lake, and much of it is part of the popular (there's that word again) Four Pass Loop.

The scenery and views are one major reason this hike is favored by so many.

Looking northwest from West Maroon Pass

Looking east from West Maroon Pass

Scarp Ridge

Though I moved from Colorado a couple of years ago, I return there every summer to visit friends and explore the wilderness.  Last month I did some hikes in the Crested Butte area that were all new to me, even though I lived not from from there (with only the Raggeds Wilderness separating us).

On my first day back, my buddy chose as an acclimation hike the trail from Lake Irwin to Scarp Ridge and a "peak" (it shows up on few maps, so maybe it's more of a point than a peak) called Oh Be Joyful at 12,400 feet above sea level.

From this point, hikers are rewarded with 360-degree views, which were partially marred by smoke from the west's many wildfires when we were there.  Still, I got some photos worth sharing:

looking east from Scarp Ridge

looking north from Oh Be Joyful

winter river valley snowshoeing

I'm sorry for not having posted in a long while.  It's not because I've avoided the outdoors, nor did I leave my camera at home, but forgot I should be sharing photos and stories with you.

Most weekends from November through January, when I wasn't shoveling I was snowshoeing.  I kept the trail packed up until the big snowfall that so far has been the last big snowfall.

winter expands the wilderness

McKee Pond and the Raggeds

Though the official boundaries remain unchanged, the practical boundaries of the wilderness areas expand in the winter, as the areas accessible by vehicle contract.  Even venturing out by foot -- snowshoeing is one of my favorite winter activities -- you don't have to go far to feel like you're far out there, and you don't have to go far to get in trouble, either.

an explosion of autumn mountain color

Heavy spring rains created a fungus that caused many aspens to drop their leaves early this year, but there were enough of those that didn't to create some spectacular landscapes.  These were taken not in the wilderness (which is filled with hunters now), but in the Crystal River valley, between Redstone and Marble, Colorado.

McKee Pond, near Marble

click on this pond panorama to see it better

Huntsmans Ridge

What was my go-to hike last summer has not seen my feet until today.  The rain we've enjoyed encouraged many wildflowers and mushrooms, along with some biting flies (a rarity out here).

I took the ridge out to the overlook to capture some panoramas and HDRs.  You'll want to click on the panos to see them best.

click on image to see large

click on image to see large

Yule Creek

No matter how many photos I share of this place, it never gets spoiled.  Even last week, when there were a half dozen cars at the trailhead, we saw only one person on the trail (the trailhead serves two trails, and many take the less scenic one, for reasons that elude me).

a big ass panorama that you have to click to appreciate

old steam engine on the trail

May rains mean amazing June flowers

.....and deep lakes.

Our hike to Thomas Lakes was fantastic because of the wealth of wildflowers on the trail.  Then we reached the eastern lake and found it holding more water than I had ever seen.  Just a couple of years ago, it was about five feet lower.

This was the first time I remember seeing all-white columbines.

High Water in the High Country

The heavy precipitation in May recharged the snowpack and has the streams, creeks, and rivers running very high.

This past weekend's trip up Avalanche Creek -- normally just an early season hike, but one we opted to do after encountering much snow on an attempt to reach Savage Lakes -- showed us just how much water was rushing downhill now.  Both Hell Roaring and Avalanche Creeks were flowing at rates I've never seen before.

Hell Roaring Creek

Avalanche Creek

plenty of snow in the high country

The middle elevations (5000-8000 feet) received a lot of rain in May.  The higher elevations got a lot of snow.  After a relatively dry winter, things changed completely, and now the snowpack is much greater than average.

We took a hike up to Savage Lakes this past weekend.  Well, we tried to, anyway.  About three-quarters of the way up the trail, we were forced to turn back due to so much deep snow.

Colorado National Monument

I'll write more here later.  Right now I just wanted to post this panorama for the link.

Autumn Mountain Splendor

my, oh, my!  a little fresh snow and peak colors combine to create an incredible landscape

McKee Pond, near Marble, Colorado

McClure Pass

Placita, between Redstone and Marble

autumn comes to Colorado

Autumn thrills the photographers, the hunters, and almost anyone with a pulse.  Autumn in the mountains is even more amazing than autumn elsewhere, as the color rises up all around you and entire mountainsides are ablaze in fall colors.

On this trip to Lyle Lake, there were few of the aspens for which Colorado is famous, but plenty of vibrant color from the rest of the flora.

Early Septober Colors

Over the next few weeks, something magical happens in the Colorado mountains, and many thousands of people will flood into the area to witness it.  The autumn color explosion is an amazing thing to view, and I've enjoyed having front row seats for over a dozen years.

It begins with the small plants, then spreads to the scrub oak, and reaches full peak when the large groves of aspen trees change their hue.  Before moving out here, I thought that aspens simply went from green to yellow.  While many do only that, many also turn orange and even red.  The mountain sides are ablaze with color for a couple of weeks, and walking, biking, or driving through the area is an experience you must enjoy.

I took my tripod and camera out yesterday to capture some of the early color.  The fading wildflowers completed the tableau:

Autumn is coming to Colorado

a hike on Friday revealed the start of autumn colors creeping into the landscape

Rain, fog, clouds, and mountains

We're almost at the cusp of monsoon season and early autumn, when overnight rains produce some fantastic low clouds in the morning.

Today I found a break in the weather to take some photos at McKee Pond near Marble, Colorado.

Huntsman's Ridge

Running north from McClure Pass, Huntsman's Ridge wraps around the west side of the Coal Basin west of Redstone, Colorado.  The trail climbs about 1,700 feet before leveling out.  This used to be a 4WD road, but the gate appears to have been closed the entire season (it was open last fall when I went up there, and a number of hunters had made camp part way up).  The sign says that dirt bikes and ATVs can still use it, but they obviously are not.  Given the downed trees across the road/trail, I can't imagine how even an ATV could navigate this.

I wasn't in the mood to drive far for a hike today, and this one is just a few miles from my home.  I like how steeply it rises (great for exercise), how quiet it is (I was surprised when I saw two other hiking parties on my way down), and the incredible views of the Crystal River and North Fork (Gunnison) valleys.

panorama from the meadow

crooked aspens

Hayes Creek Falls

Hayes Creek Falls is south of Redstone, Colorado.  It flows year-round, but freezes in winter and is used by ice climbers.  In the spring, melt-off fuels its surge as it runs into the Crystal River.