I will be in Colorado this July from the 4th - the 18th leading a workshop in RMNP and then I will have 6 free days between July 9th and July 15th before picking up a private client in Denver for a 4 day private tour.
My question to the group is would I be better served doing a 4 day loop hike through the Maroon Bells Wilderness or heading down a little further south and working out of Crested Butte.
I was going to cicumnavigate the bells with shooting locations at Crater Lake, Frigid Air Pass and Snowmass Lake just to name a few. I would spend at least 4 nights in the back country on this hike. How will the wildflowers be at this time? Would it be better for me to do back country a little further south arond Crested Butte? Or are there any other locations in the central mountains that might be even better at this time of the year.
Well, you could be OK either way and it's looking like a banner wildflower year all over, but odds are, Crested Butte will be the better bet on that earlier week, based on past years...When I was up in Aspen during early June, things were on their way to true awesomeness, and it might hit at lower elevations for your timeframe. Upper stuff might be a bit earlier...without direct reports from the area, it's hard to say.
Don't quote me though...this year has been pretty weird.
-D
Posted by Joshua Hardin on June 24, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I agree with Dave. In typical years that time frame would be a bit early to see many flowers at the elevation of the Maroon Bells so you would likely have better luck with flowers in CB. Both are pretty scenic options though that I'm sure your workshop participants will enjoy.
Hey Guys, thanks. I was pretty much thinking it would traditionaly be a bit early around the bells, but have seen a few reports that things seem to be coming along a bit early this year.
Posted by Sarah Marino on June 25, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I spent last weekend exploring around Crested Butte, primarily along Kebler Pass and Gothic Road. It looks like the wildflowers are going to be spectacular this year and will probably be nearing the peak when you are planning to visit (which is also the time of the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, which means trails, campgrounds, and campsites may be busier than usual). Beckwith Pass and Rustler Gulch are two of my favorite trails in that area and it looks like both will be great in a few weeks. Lost Lake almost always cooperates with an excellent reflection. Oh-Be-Joyful and Democrat Basin are some other possibilities in this general area. The dust storms from last winter give the snow on most peaks in that region a dirty look, but the peaks in the area around Gothic Road seem to whiter. My vote would be for Crested Butte - based on the good indications I saw over the weekend.
Discussion
4 repliesI will be in Colorado this July from the 4th - the 18th leading a workshop in RMNP and then I will have 6 free days between July 9th and July 15th before picking up a private client in Denver for a 4 day private tour.
My question to the group is would I be better served doing a 4 day loop hike through the Maroon Bells Wilderness or heading down a little further south and working out of Crested Butte.
I was going to cicumnavigate the bells with shooting locations at Crater Lake, Frigid Air Pass and Snowmass Lake just to name a few. I would spend at least 4 nights in the back country on this hike. How will the wildflowers be at this time? Would it be better for me to do back country a little further south arond Crested Butte? Or are there any other locations in the central mountains that might be even better at this time of the year.
I appreciate any help you can give.
Best,
Joe Rossbach
Well, you could be OK either way and it's looking like a banner wildflower year all over, but odds are, Crested Butte will be the better bet on that earlier week, based on past years...When I was up in Aspen during early June, things were on their way to true awesomeness, and it might hit at lower elevations for your timeframe. Upper stuff might be a bit earlier...without direct reports from the area, it's hard to say.
Don't quote me though...this year has been pretty weird.
-D