September 10th was my first day on the trail, but first I had to make it to the Maroon Lake trail head. Due to the current rules in effect I was not allowed to park my vehicle near the trail head, instead I had to take the shuttle from the Aspen Highlands Ski Area down to the Maroon Bells. When we arrived I waited for all the day hikers to depart to avoid all the funny looks from carrying an overstuffed backpacked down to the trail. I got off the bus and stopped momentarily at a bench to help do a little last minute prep with my backpack before starting the journey. Ready to go, I started to haul my backpack up onto my back when I hear a distinct metallic grating noise… Looking down I saw that the noise belonged to my wire frame sunglasses bending in ways in which they were not intended to. After many less than friendly words I picked up the glasses to inspect the damage. The only possible hope of salvaging them involved trying to bend the wire frame back into place, which did not sound all that appealing. Halfway through the metal bending process I heard the one noise that I really did not want to hear. SNAP! Not only did I just snap my favorite glasses, and my only eye protection for the trip, I had also managed to stab my own finger with the broken fragment of metal. Now just before i get started on my adventure I have a pair of snapped glasses and a pretty heavily bleeding finger, I can’t imagine this is a great omen for whats to come. Backpack back down I now have to rummage through my pack to find the medical kit I must have shoved somewhere amongst the jumble of all my other backpacking items. So just picture a bunch of people staring at this strange kid with a huge backpack having to get out a first aid kit to stop the bleeding before his trip even starts. Fun times. Well luckily the day got better. Starting out with Maroon Lake the backdrop is just stunning.



First day was relatively easy distance wise as I started out towards Crater Lake and headed about 5 miles total for the day. Even though comparatively it was an easier day I could not breathe going up the inclines with the altitude. Coming from Houston to 10,000 feet; a day was not near enough to be in hiking shape.



Regardless it was a beautiful first day and I was ready for the adventure. First night I even had my first visitor. Woke up to a licking noise that was quite disconcerting and after flashing my headlamp at the rain fly for a couple minutes, I decided to shine my light into the tent vestibule. That’s when I saw a feisty porcupine going to town licking my backpack straps. He just stared at me for a couple seconds and kept on licking. Finally hit the tent wall and that worked for about 10 seconds before the little bastard was back. Honestly the look I got was like that of an addict knowing they were doing something wrong but still continuing because they had no other choice. I didn’t get the worst of the attack either, the next morning in the camp adjacent I got to see what he did to the fellow campers trekking poles. Rough start for them.



Day two was just rough. Gained about 3,000 feet over several miles going towards West Maroon Pass and in my current state this was by far the hardest thing I had ever done backpacking.



The altitude and probably slight dehydration had me down in the dumps for much of the climb, but I am glad I carried through with it. Top of Maroon Pass was a beautiful site at just around 12,500 feet and helped my spirits immensely.





From there it is 700+ feet right back down again where there is one of the only flat parts of the trail for several miles. After powering through the miles I had my second pass of the day in Frigid Air Pass coming up. Yet again about 1.5 miles with pretty steep grades all the way up the pass with the last switchback almost making you use your hands to avoid falling backwards. I was wiped by the time I got to the pass, but it was the end of the hard stretch for today and I got the pass to myself for about 20 minutes with spectacular weather. I will remember that moment for many years. From there it is about 1500 feet down into Fravert Basin for the night.



With a questionable right knee I took my time heading down, but about a mile into the downhill it apparently wasn’t enough. I was feeling the telltale knee pain I had once before this year coming down Emory Peak at Big Bend. As I pull into camp I am happy about finishing such a hard day but worried about what’s to come. Luckily I shared camp with a Ray who was a terrific guy who I had run across earlier in the day. Good relaxing night and I was out as soon as my head hit the pad.



The next morning was definitely a little sketchy for me, because I could tell my knee pain was going to be a problem, but there is not easy access out of the wilderness now that I was over Frigid Air Pass. The plan was to take the long way around towards Geneva Lake instead of directly towards Trail Rider Pass because if need be there is a 4×4 road that cuts near the lake(Lead King Basin Road). Most of the day was bittersweet. I was starting to get my hiking legs and lungs but my knee was flaring up making everything painful. I was enjoying the scenery a ton today but knew that I wasn’t going to make it over another mountain pass. I was honestly a little terrified about not being able to make it out(I did take a SPOT GPS so it could be used in a worse case scenario). So after about 4 or 5 miles for the day I started to head up towards Geneva Lake. It was another mile farther up to Geneva Lake, but I thought it might help to just relax for the day and actually get to use the fly rod I had brought with me on the trip. It apparently was not meant to be though, after powering through about 3/4 of the way the pain became too much on the severe grade up to the lake. I stopped on a large rock and was just overcome by a ton of emotions(I am not usually an emotional person, but this was different).



About 10 minutes later I saw a couple(Jen and Eric) walking up the trail and I asked what the easiest way out was. They were extremely helpful and mentioned the 4×4 road about a mile back down the trail then just a short way away. They mentioned that they were heading back to Carbondale after spending some time at the lake and could take me with them if I found no other ride. Eric even offered if I found some shade he would carry my pack down the grade to his car on the way back. I can’t say how much the generosity of other humans on the trail means and how often it occurs. It is just a different breed. It took me about an hour to make it a half mile back down the mountain and it was rough. Went and waited near the makeshift parking area to wait. In honesty I wasn’t going to ask for a ride out because I felt comfortable with the two I had met and didn’t mind waiting a couple hours in the beautiful Aspens in CO. Plus I met a really interesting man who talked about his son who was out on a goat hunt above Geneva Lake. Story for another day I guess.

Eventually Eric and Jen come back down and we head off for Carbondale. Little did I know, my best chance of dying was probably going to be on the Lead King Basin 4×4 road that heads through Crystal. Stunning driving but I just about **** myself several times on this “road.” It was an experience though and I was happy to be getting out of the wilderness on my own considering my condition. They dropped me off at a group of several hotels in the city and were a huge help, they wouldn’t even take the money I offered for being lifesavers. Unfortunately every freaking hotel was booked in the city besides a semi romantic bed and breakfast that was over a mile away. After the lady at the Days Inn helped me get set up for reservations at the Ambiance Inn I was back on my way hiking though this neat little town with my full pack on in the dark. Needless to say I got a few funny looks.

When I arrived I felt so out of place being grimy from backpacking in this quaint little establishment, but the owners were awesome. I had the biggest room in the place and it was quite an image to have this haggard 25 year old in an antique looking mammoth sized room with his backpacking gear strewn everywhere. I would contend that the hot shower I took this night was the greatest shower ever, but I think some of it may have to do with the conditions. Woke up the next morning for the breakfast they serve and met a great couple staying in town for a getaway weekend as I told the story of the trip so far. I got a couple you stupid ass looks, but I don’t blame them.

From here I had to hike another mile and a half back to the public transit that goes back to Aspen 45 miles away. I finally made it back to Aspen with all limbs fully attached and a story to tell. Now I had two full days to kill before heading out and I did nothing but enjoy the scenery, fly fish a bit, and enjoy the moment. It recharged me before heading back to the real world.