Missouri Lakes - Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado - Backpacking

It's been a long time since I've spent Pioneer Day in Utah. The Utah holiday celebrates the day that Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. I celebrate it each year by leaving the valley.

This year I evacuated to Colorado to visit my friend Josh and new friend Justin. We planned a three day backpacking trip to explore some of Colorado's amazing backcountry. Like my previous backpacking trips with Josh, this one was absolutely amazing and tons of fun. The trips have been an annual tradition and a highlight of each year.

I arrived in Denver on Thursday night and Josh and I discussed the backpacking plan over beers at some fine (and not so fine) drinking establishments in the city. We decided to explore the Holy Cross Wilderness area instead of the originally planned San Juan Mountains Wilderness area due to limited time. After a great vegan breakfast at Watercourse Friday morning, we headed west into the mountains.


The start of our trip

Josh and Justin

Taking a break with Justin

The wildflowers were in full bloom

Welcome to the world, new tent!

We found a great camping spot near Missouri Lakes and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the solitude of the Colorado backcountry. Later that night, a nearly full moon and a star filled sky provided a beautiful backdrop for our campsite and an evening of good conversation. I spent a good portion of the night staring at the stars and the moon through my tent with a lot on my mind.


Justin and Josh .. and my super cute tent!

Slaving away, filtering water for Josh

Sunset at Missouri Lakes

Our second day took us over Missouri Pass and Fancy Pass on the way to Fancy lake. The scenery was amazing - almost everything within view was above treeline.


Missouri Lakes

Missouri Lakes from Missouri Pass

Playing in the snow in July

"The three best friends that anyone could have..."

Josh at Missouri Pass

My favorite part of the trip was the basin between Missouri Pass and Fancy Pass. The scenery was so typically Colorado - jagged peaks, fields of wildflowers, and total solitude. Fancy pass took us up over 12,400 feet and we were all happy to reach camp at Fancy Lake after all of that climbing.


Treasure Vault Lake

The view from Missouri Pass

At the top of Fancy Pass

Justin at Fancy Pass

We enjoyed another perfect evening at Fancy Lake and hiked out on Sunday morning. The trip couldn't have been better or come at a better time for me. The best friends are the ones that are there for you when they don't even know you need them.


Fancy Lake

A waterfall into Fancy Lake

Dinner time

Sunset after a perfect day

"..and my quietest friend... Have I the moonlight? Have I let you in?"

Four Pass Loop - Aspen, Colorado - Backpacking

The 24th of July, better known as Pioneer Day, is a major holiday in Utah. It commemorates the day that Brigham Young and a group of his Mormon followers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The festivities and fireworks rival the 4th of July. For non-Mormons, it's also a great holiday weekend to leave to the state.

My friend Josh invited me to visit him in Denver for a few days so that we could do some backpacking like we did last year near Indian Peaks. Rob joined us for the weekend to check out a graduate program and get some hiking in as well. It also gave us a chance to check out Josh's new home in Denver that he just moved into.

Josh picked the famous "Four Pass Loop" trip around Maroon Bells, an amazingly beautiful set of mountains just outside of Aspen. It was an excellent choice and a perfect three day hike that gave us plenty of time to enjoy the incredible scenery.

Our first day took us up over Buckskin Pass (12,462 ft. elevation) through fields of beautiful wildflowers and small streams. Lots of people were out hiking in this area, many of them headed to Snowmass Lake which was also our destination for the day. We didn't cover many miles the first day, but it certainly felt like we did with all of the elevation changes. It was pretty wild to see so much snow in late July! Snowmass Lake was beautiful, but also a bit crowded. It almost felt like a developed campground with all of the other hikers, but the scenery more than made up for that. Rob and Josh did some fly fishing, and I relaxed for the evening in the tent to avoid the mosquitoes.


Maroon Bells at the start of our trip

Beginning the climb towards Buckskin Pass

On the way to Buckskin Pass

Me near Buckskin Pass with a nice snow cornice

Snowmass Lake - the end of Day 1

We started Day 2 by relaxing in the cool morning air at Snowmass Lake before heading off for our longest day of hiking. We immediately started to climb towards Trail Rider Pass (12,420 feet) as we left the lake, and got some awesome views of the turquoise water below. After reaching the pass, we descended into the North Fork of the Crystal River valley. The crowds completely thinned out and we finally had the place to ourselves. We had a couple of river crossings and some great views of an impressive waterfall. We passed through Fravert Basin and up over Frigid Air Pass (12,415 feet) late in the day before finding a great camping spot just below West Maroon Pass. We camped in a peaceful field of wildflowers near a small stream - my favorite part of the trip.


Snowmass Lake from above

Snowmass Peak with Trail Rider Pass to the left

On the way to Trail Rider Pass

Fravert Basin

Rob near Frigid Air Pass

Our camping spot for the second night

Our third and final day took us up over West Maroon Pass (12,500 feet) before the long descent back to our starting point. Overall, we covered about 26 miles with some exhausting climbs over four mountain passes. The weather was perfect - not a single thunderstorm despite being in the middle of the Rockies in late July.


Leaving our campsite to begin Day 3

Lots of flowers and water along the trail

West Maroon Pass

Josh at West Maroon Pass

Me at West Maroon Pass

Thank you Josh and Rob for another great adventure in the mountains of Colorado!