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

Maroon Bells

A few minutes southwest of Aspen, Colorado is the most-photographed place in the state: Maroon Bells, and Maroon Lake.  Next week, as the autumn colors approach their peak, photographers will line the north shore of the lake, possibly with their tripod legs overlapping one another, as they seek to capture the iconic image.

I was there early, and for only the third time in the last twelve years, yesterday morning.  I had the time and the car pass (we took an out-of-town guest there on Saturday afternoon), and wanted to try my hand at HDR photography.  Here are the results using Fotor, and online HDR program.  I later downloaded Luminance which produces results that are truer in color.

American Lake near Aspen

Not far from the popular Cathedral Lake hike in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area south of Aspen is American Lake.  Surrounded by steep cliffs that rise nearly two thousand feet above the lake, this hike is well worth the effort.  The trail climbs about 1,700 feet over three and a half miles, and has very good footing most of the way.  Once at the lake, it's not difficult to walk its circumference, and something I recommend, since there's nowhere else to go except back down.

The trailhead is a couple of miles shy of the ghost town of Ashcroft, on the south side of the Castle Creek valley.

Cathedral Lake near Aspen

The Castle Creek valley, south of Aspen, Colorado is host to several great trails.  One I'm eager to do again is Cathedral Lake.

The trail is moderately steep and rocky, but not difficult, and hikers are rewarded with great views on the way up and a spectacular scene at the top.  The above shot was taken in late summer, when the water levels were lower.  I'm eager to do this hike earlier in the season, along with its neighbor, American Lake.

The trailhead for Cathedral Lake is not too far past the ghost town of Ashcroft, on the right hand (south) side of the road.

The ghost town of Independence

CDOT opened Independence Pass on Thursday, so Friday I drove up there to see the twenty foot walls of snow and take both photos and videos.

On the way down, I stopped at the ghost town of Independence.  You can see the snow is very deep.  Well above average snowpack at the higher elevations this year will either delay spring hikes or make them more challenging.  I was post-holing on top of the pass, where the wind prevents it from getting too deep (though it's very deep just below the top).

It's time to start looking at my favorite low-elevation and south-facing trails to see where I can get out and explore.  Or I can bring snowshoes, and check out the other trails...