The classic family backpacking trip, except we were missing one member, well really two. I have been planing a backpacking trip for a little while now for this summer right before the girls started school. It was supposed to be Glacier NP but we did not have the amount of time I had hoped for so a CO trip would have to do. It did not disappoint. The plan was to head to Aspen which I had not ben yet and hit some of the Maroon Bells wilderness. Shanon's Grandfather had passed away the weekend before the trip so she ended up not having all the vacation time that she wanted to be able to go and opted to stay home and work. Charlie was supposed to go and help carry weight, but the trail I picked ended up not allowing dogs the last two miles. So we were down to my two favorite girls and myself.
Heading over independence pass, we got to Aspen on Wednesday the 14th and spent some time around town, and it is exactly as dumb and dumber portrayed it to be if not more.
Anyway we camped up by Maroon Creek and hiked around Maroon Lake, which is the classic CO picture you see.
Early the next morning was the big first day, we drove to the Conundrum trailhead which was the next valley to the northeast and started our 9 mile hike up to the spring.
Since we were without Shanon and the dog, Dad was left to carry pretty much everything for the 3 day trip. Th girls had their clothes and sleeping bags. It was a long trip up the valley to almost 12k' where we would spent the next few days, but very rewarding and beautiful the whole way up. There was not even that much complaining on the way up, but there were two very tired girls for sure. We were pleasantly surprised that one of the best sites overlooking the entire valley was still available.
We set up the hammock and enjoyed the view.
Made dinner
And of course hit up the hot springs
The nights were cold and the days bight and sunny without any rain the whole trip. We spent the next day doing a few day hikes, soaking in the hot springs, and just spending time up in the mts.
Saturday I watched the sun rise from the hot springs by myself since I could not get the kids out of the tent in the cold. We packed up soon after and started our 9 mike hike back down. It was sure a lot easier to hike back down than it was heading up. We got back to the trailhead around 2PM,
The only thing left to do was go back into Aspen and have a huge lunch, we found a good Bar-b-q place and ordered 2 racks of ribs.
We were going to camp one more night in Aspen, but were were down so early we just decided to head home for a much needed shower and change of clothes. Overall such a great trip, I think we will need to do at least one back backing trip every year, maybe Shanon can come with next time. I got to go backpacking when I was a child about their ages, and I hope that they pass this onto their children as well.
All of the pictures can be found here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13519781@N02/sets/72157635112910923/
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