Bucket List Adventure
Last week, I went on the hike of a lifetime between Aspen and Crested Butte, Colorado. This hike has been on my bucket list for a long time, probably close to 20 years, ever since I first learned about it after moving to Colorado. Driving between these two towns is about 100 miles, but walking from Aspen to the West Maroon Pass trailhead in Crested Butte is only 11 miles. However, the trek requires quite a few logistics.
I knew I didn't want to take this on as a backpacking trip because that requires carrying everything you need on your back. Staying in a hotel meant I had to get a two-night parking pass for Maroon Lake in Aspen (which sells out quickly), arrange a shuttle to pick us up at the trailhead in Crested Butte to take us to town, and another one to bring us back two days later. We needed lodging the night before our hike, for the two nights in Crested Butte, and for the night we hiked back in case we were too tired to drive the three-and-a-half hours home.
In June, while sitting on the plane in Frankfurt waiting to take off to Dubrovnik, I managed to get online and buy the parking pass right when it went on sale. Luckily, I completed the transaction before we took off because we were delayed. John handled purchasing seats for us and the dogs on the shuttle, and I booked all of our hotels. We spent July taking increasingly longer hikes to get us and the dogs in peak condition for our adventure.
Last Sunday, after I taught SUP Yoga, we packed the car and headed for the mountains. We stayed in Carbondale because pet-friendly lodging in Aspen was incredibly expensive. Early Monday morning, we drove to the Maroon Lake trailhead. The famous view of the lake in front of the Maroon Bells is known even outside the United States. We began our hike at sunrise.
For the first two miles, we hiked over rocky terrain through groves of aspen trees to reach Crater Lake. We saw a few people who had gone up early for sunrise, but overall, it was quiet and peaceful. The air was still cool as we walked the narrow path through willows and wildflowers, and sometimes through forest, to arrive in a stunning valley surrounded by tall peaks. The dogs enjoyed all the stream crossings, and we paused a few times to snack and regain energy for the most challenging part of the climb—the mile up to the summit of West Maroon Pass, 12,500 feet above sea level.
The dogs were going strong, so John took both leashes for the steepest part, allowing me to take my time and catch my breath when needed. We arrived at the top, where we briefly paused for a snack and a family photo. Besides some smoke in the air from nearby fires, the sky was clear, and the weather was perfect, with just the expected breeze when you're that high above the treeline.
From there, we had four more miles to reach the trailhead in Crested Butte. The initial stretch was a steep downhill, but soon we were surrounded by lush green valleys full of vibrant wildflowers and towering peaks. Mala kept wanting to turn back since she knew we had left the car in the opposite direction, but we kept going, and she was back in the lead by the time we arrived at the trailhead.
Arriving at the trailhead ahead of schedule, we ate a snack while swatting flies as we waited for our shuttle. Unfortunately, we had to split up in the van, with Tessie and me in the front and John and Mala two rows back, which made Tessie worried during the bumpy ride into town. We were all happy to reach our hotel, where the girls enjoyed relaxing in the grass while John and I sipped some well-deserved beers.
After settling into our home for the next two nights, we took a shower and then walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner. We went to bed early that night and took our time getting up the next morning. The four of us took the free bus from the mountain to downtown Crested Butte. Mala was initially nervous, but then lay down for the short ride. Tessie was curious and didn't mind the bus as much as the shuttle since we were all together. After walking along Main Street and relaxing at a bookstore and coffee shop, we enjoyed a delicious lunch before loading back onto the bus.
I've always found it hard to do nothing, so I felt restless without an agenda. I did enjoy sitting in the chairs by the lawn watching Mala and Tessie play and roll in the grass. After dinner, we repacked what little belongings we brought and got ready for another early morning.
Luckily, we could all sit together on our shuttle back to the trailhead on Wednesday morning. The girls were excited to start heading back toward Aspen and set a quick pace for the first few miles through the fields of wildflowers. Mala was glad that we were finally going in the right direction (toward the car), and Tessie was full of energy as usual. John took both girls on the steepest mile to the top of the pass, since they were eager to summit.
At the top, Mala lay down for a bit, and then she and Tessie watched closely as hikers approached from the other side. When there was a gap in the hikers, we started our long descent. We took our time on the steepest section, but then moved quickly as more clouds began to gather. There were many visitors at Crater Lake that day, and we had to step aside several times to let those coming up pass on the narrow trail. We still made good progress and finished earlier than we had expected.
Standing back at Maroon Lake, where our journey started two days earlier, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I felt proud of the dogs for handling everything so well and experienced a deep sense of achievement for checking off a bucket list item. We made it back to the car before any raindrops fell. I was tired but happy.
From the training we did beforehand and the adventure itself, I realized how crucial it is to mentally prepare for any physical challenge. For instance, if I knew we were hiking eight miles, my feet would start to ache around mile seven, but knowing I needed to reach eleven miles, it took longer for the discomfort to set in. The body is capable of so much; sometimes, it's about getting into the right mindset to overcome a challenge. I hope to keep pushing the limits of my mental and physical comfort zones for many years to come.
Exploring helps us grow and gives us a new perspective. As T.S. Eliot wrote in the poem "Little Gidding":
"We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time."
What's something on your bucket list, and what is one step you can take to make that dream come true?