Tuesday, July 14, 2015

From McClure Pass to Independence Pass

Woke about 6:30 and Greg pointed out two deer right next to our campsite.  So I walked around and took a few pictures.  Saw this rabbit on the way to the bathroom and he surprised me by jumping towards me – shades of Monty Python! 

We headed out about 7:30, hoping to reach Aspen and a site called The Maroon Bells before 9:00.  After 9:00 you cannot drive there but must take a shuttle.

Stopped at a few sites along the way, like Hays Creek Falls and Redland’s Coke Ovens.  This area has always been a big coal production area (we have seen a few sites and railcars full of the stuff) and Redland produced coke by heating the coal without oxygen in these ovens, then shipping it to steel and other mills. The whole town was built for that purpose.   We continue north to another coal town called Carbondale, then turn on 82 toward Aspen.

 We take photos of many of the things we see, but there are many more little things that only make photos in our minds.  Like a flock of birds which fly alongside us for five seconds before veering off,  chipmunks scurrying across the road,  butterflies flitting by, birds calling from treetops, bicyclists blazing down the mountain roads,   and a hundred more things a day.

 Traffic was very slow and heavy going into Aspen and we didn’t make it in time to drive to the Bells.  Plus the weather was foggy and rainy anyway, so we opted to find the library.  Spent nearly three hours there, catching up on emails and other computer-related stuff, reading newspapers and getting the blog going.

Lots of beautiful people in Aspen and upscale boutiques, restaurants, etc.  We passed a parade of Porches on our way out of town, probably some sort of club rally. Many huge motorcycles too. Gorgeous homes, clubs, etc. and much of the real estate in the local paper started at around $1 million and up to 4 or more.  

We decided to go south of town toward Independence Pass and look for a campsite.

The road was very windy and very narrow in some spots.  Amazingly we see several cyclists on these mountain roads, churning up hill or flying down.  Again there were very few guardrails as we have noted throughout the state.  Perhaps the Department of Transportation’s motto should be “We don’t need no stinkin’ guardrails.” We found a site at Weller  National Campground in White River National Forest.  Only 11 sites, but there were a few available at this time of day, so we signed up.  Left our “Site Occupied” sign and went off to explore.

First stop was a rocky waterway which a dad and daughter from Colorado tell us is called The Punchbowl.   We take their picture, they take ours.  They tell us this is the site of several injuries and/or deaths as foolish people jump from the rocks when the water is high….no jumpers today.  The power of the water is amazing. 

 Next stop is called The Grottos.  Nice picnic area and trails leading over and around huge boulders and slabs of stone to reach these cascading falls.  Again, the power of the water is just amazing.

We head back towards our campsite, with just a few other stops to take in the scenery.  A light rain has begun to fall, so we do a quick walk then settle in for some R&R and dinner.  We review photos and I write up the last two days as Greg reads.  We will get an early start tomorrow in order to get the the Maroon Bells by 7:30.