Reports from Aspen, CB, Ouray, Telluride

I am reporting from a coffee house/Internet Cafe in Ouray.

2 days ago we went to the Bells in Aspen, things are OK but are fading fast. The HEAT has been crazy!!!!!! We went over Kebler pass in the middle of the night so can't report on that we stayed at a state park for the night between Kebler and CB I cant remember the name right now. While in CB we went all around Lake Irwin and 4 wheeled on the far side half way up the mountain, not really impressive. I found scattered Columbines and a few others. We also went up Gothic, again nothing to WOW IMHO. We came over to Ouray and set up camp just outside of Yankee Boy. We went to Yankee Boy at 6:30am and it was pretty, but not amazing that story is coming!! There is several patches of Columbines and all the usual flowers nothing seemed to be massed. Now I was expecting alot, so I am a little biased. Maybe I had my expectations to high!

We went up 110 from Silvertons west side towards Hurricane Pass, on the way up just before the mine the flowers were amazing in concentrated bunches making areas look purple or red. After Hurricane we went over and down California pass and Gulch. We went over Cinnamon Pass and to American Basin, This is all I can say about this place !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! W O W Amazing !!!!!!!!! you think of it and it was there!!! Columbines covering most of the mountain side in some parks just is crazy NOT to make a special trip just to see it.

We are going to Ice Lake and Clear lake this afternoon after we pack camp site and if we have time maybe go over to last dollar road. I hope this help, and pardon my LACK of wild flower knowledge but I am learning.

Thanks for the update Brenden. I can't get out until the last week of July, and I am wondering if there is gonna be much left down there in terms of wildflowers! We need some cooler temps with a side of rain!

I, too, went to American Basin on Friday July 13th and found it to be LOADED with wildflowers. I've never been before but it'll be on my list from now on. Definitely worth the trip!!

I have to disagree with the report on the Lake Irwin/Robinson Basin flowers. I had a delightful time on Friday morning and found the basin to be full of lupine, paintbrush, sneezeweed, lots of little white flowers whose names i don't know, Monkshood, and plenty of interesting scenery. i'm going to try to update my website by tomorrow to show you some samples of what i found. will post again once they're up.

Hope everyone is having fun with all the flowers!

here's a pic from the Robinson Basin area (near CB). Nothing to write home about, but worth the trip if you're in the area. Plus with all the rain they got wednesday and thursday they may have more flowers.

pic not for C/C- just a quick throw together to give you an idea of what's around.

Hey Derek, are you catching this? Man it is going to be a great trip.
John

Yeah, I just hope the flowers hold out a bit longer before they get fried with all this sun lately.

Thanks for the update. We're heading up to Crested Butte this weekend...