Day 4
I awoke as early as I could, which was probably around 5:15, mainly to have as low of a sun angle as I could have for atop West Maroon Pass. I ended up making one quick photo stop in the basin for a shot of the pastel colors over unnamed 13,130'. I then resumed the rest of the way to the pass, which wasn't too difficult. I made it to the top at 7:25 and stayed until 9:00.
The next section of the trail was my biggest question going into this trip, which related to water sources or potential lack thereof. My next camp destination was atop Frigid Air Pass, and I only knew there would be water in Fravert Basin for the following day. I couldn't tell how closely the trail followed the East Fork stream on the map, or if there was going to be a stream at this point in the season. I didn't know if I would have to go further down the valley to fill up, or what it was going to take, so I ended up taking a full 135 ounces worth over West Maroon. As it turns out, the stream followed the trail very closely, and in addition, there are two small streams along the early part of the Frigid Air trail that would make for a good spot to fill up.
People were coming up in groves up the East Fork valley ever since descending West Maroon, but thankfully no one, save for a couple other parties, was heading up to Frigid Air. I found the whole trail to be fairly easy, except the final section starting just past the seasonal lake at the Hasley Basin trail intersection, which gets extremely steep. Thankfully, it is short-lived.
I made Frigid Air Pass at 11:40, and I was absolutely blown away by the view! I knew the Bells were going to be an impressive site from here, but what I wasn't expecting was the extremely impressive immense vastness looking to them across Fravert Basin. I instantly thought of it as the Grand Canyon of alpine basins. I just couldn't get over the depth, which two-dimensional photographs fail to convey as they compress the scene. I was also blown away by the vast expanses of lush green of the south side of the pass. There was a lot of green!
So now I have all kinds of time to kill, and I am soaking up the view with my head on a swivel all day looking all around. It was another beautiful summer day with no threatening clouds. Still, I didn't set up the tent until late afternoon in case the clouds did develop. Unfortunately, the skies over the Bells were totally clear at sunset. I guess I can't win them all. I couldn't help but think about two nights prior atop Buckskin Pass, and was really wondering if this was a good idea to try my fortune on another pass, especially since trees were a bit further away from here.
Day 5
Thankfully, skies remained clear overnight, and sunrise was rather uneventful, but typifies what Colorado normally sees this time of day. I had a casual morning still taking in the views and in no hurry as the destination for this night was an easy one-mile walk, which was all downhill and level terrain. I finally packed up and departed the pass at noon and headed for the small lake visible from the pass.
I made a quick pass by the lake to get a quick glance for where exactly I wanted to shoot for sunset, which was made even quicker being that the mosquitoes were out of control right around the inlet. I went on looking for a good level spot for the tent and dropped the pack. I then went over south of the lake until you can see further down the valley with a view to Hagerman Peak and sat down for a good while before returning to my pack to set up the tent. I then lied down for awhile and waited for sunset.
Sunset came, and thankfully, I had a few small puffy clouds which rendered much better photographs than a cloudless sky would have offered. In addition, I was getting great shadow play on the peaks which provided the pictures with a little more depth. When the light faded, I returned to the tent and enjoyed my second night on the trip without the rainfly.
Day 6
Morning came and I got to sleep in a little bit, being that it was another clear morning and nothing to shoot at sunrise. After I got all packed up, I started the trip out. My only photo stop along the way was the waterfall that sits due north of point 12,490' that essentially marks the end of Fravert Basin. I made it back to my 4Runner at 10:58 and the big question I had throughout the trip was about to get answered—did I inadvertently leave it unlocked? The moment of truth and the answer—yes I did! Oh, what an idiot! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Well, I get in and find everything as I left it. Perhaps a small miracle, but for five full days unlocked, maybe not. Thank you, Lord! I was glad I wasn't parked at trailhead where it would've been more visible, but then again, if I parked there, maybe I would've been more apt to lock it. So, it was the fact I felt rushed that first morning to get on the trail, I somehow neglected this elementary step.
I knew I had awhile to get settled down a bit before I would head right back out on the trail and up to Avalanche Pass. I changed into clean clothes, had a bite to eat, then drove up the trail to the big bend on the Lead King road where I got things re-supplied in the backpack for two more nights, then drove a minute more to the trailhead at Silver Creek.
Unnamed 13,130', sunrise
West Maroon Pass
Belleview Mountain (13,233')
Nearing the pass
An earlier riser than I atop West Maroon Pass
This final section was relatively easy
Unnamed 13,163' (center) and Precarious Peak 13,380' (right)
Looking down the West Maroon Creek valley. Pyramid Peak is on the far left.
Maroon Peak (14,156') from West Maroon Pass
Looking over to Hasley Pass (unofficially named), which is the broad, snow-lined saddle.
Frigid Air Pass is obstructed by the slope on the right.
Treasury Mountain (far left), Treasure Mountain (left-center), and Chair Mountain in the distance on the right
Mineral Point, Augusta Mountain (twin peaks on left), and Purple Mountain (12,958') of the Ruby Range
Looking back up to the pass. A couple people are standing in its notch.
Heading down the fields of green
The sign for Frigid Air and West Maroon passes. This way to Frigid Air.
Along a mostly gradual trail
Looking up to Hasley Pass
Looking down the East Fork valley
Frigid Air Pass lies hidden in the notch in the center
Nearing the Hasley-Frigid Air intersection. Frigid Air goes to the right.
Hasley Pass
Atop Frigid Air Pass looking across the incredible expanse that is Fravert Basin, and over to the Maroon Bells
Snowmass Mountain (left most point, 14,092'), Hagerman Peak (the flat-topped higher peak,13,841)'
and Snowmass Peak
Hasley Pass
Tundra detail across Hasley Pass
Mt. Crested Butte (left, 12,162'), unnamed 12,445' and Mt. Bellview (12,519')
The mighty Maroon Bells. Maroon Peak is especially impressive from here.
Camp with a view atop Frigid Air Pass. Please, please, please, Lord, no storms tonight!
Earth's shadow over the Ruby Range
Alpine sunflowers enjoying the morning sun
Campsite with Snowmass Mountain in view as well as this night's site by the tarn below
Shadow of the Bells receding across the tundra
Mt. Baldy (12,805'), Mt. Owen (13,058') and Cinnamon Mountain (right, 12,293'), and Paradise Divide below Owen.
Heading down into Fravert Basin
Only a little over a mile from the pass is my next site to make camp
Generally following some existing light game trails across the tundra
Looking back up to Frigid Air Pass on the right
Nearing the next destination
Frigid Air Pass, left
Just beyond the lake, the view opens back up into a picturesque scene with Hagerman Peak
Belleview Mountain
The reason I wanted to camp here. During the day, the mosquitoes were pretty horrendous here at the inlet, but thankfully they disappeared come prime picture taking time. I also had supper at this spot while waiting for the sun to lower.
I generally camp with the fly on the tent to keep the cool air from seeping down, but the temperatures
were going to be fairly mild, so I left it open
Heading down the trail in the morning looking back up to Belleview Mountain
Due north of point 12,490 (off-screen, left), there is a rapid descent of a few hundred feet
Looking back up to an unnamed waterfall
The trail goes off to the right, but this is the shelf you have to descend/ascend
Continuing down the trail
At the Trail Rider pass intersection
One last look to the Bells
Arriving back at the 4Runner, and after five full days, I confirmed my earlier suspicion—that I did indeed forget to lock it! I'm an absolute idiot!
Most thankfully, no one entered. I'm not sure how it would have faired had I parked at the trailhead a couple hundred feet down the road, which is room enough for about five vehicles. My guess is not the same with possible window peepers.