A Quick Stop to Colorado

 Colorado and Maroon Bells Wilderness

August 2022

The end of summer always coincides with a visit to my home state of Colorado.  This year, we were coming from Honolulu, so we overnighted in Seattle before continuing on to Denver.  How delightful to know that the mussels we ordered for our dinner would be fresh and delicious.  I will likely mistrust any shellfish, for the rest of my life, unless I can see the waters of the Pacific Ocean from my table.  

Seattle mussels

We flew from Seattle to Denver to arrive for a family reunion.  My youngest daughter was able to make this event as she was working there at the time.  So fun to see all my cousins, Aunts, and Uncles.  We were pretty tired, but managed to find a fantastic Nepalese restaurant that my vegan-minded daughter could enjoy.  

We took a pilgrimage ride down to Colorado Springs to hike in the Garden of the Gods with cousin and daughter.  Big mistake to go to this place on a Sunday.  It was crazy crowded, but we managed to get a good little hike in and lunch after.  Lesson learned-come very early and expect to park far away.  I included an old picture of what Garden of the Gods looked like in the early 1900s.  I guess I should not complain:-)

The next day, we took off for Glenwood Springs.  It was our launching spot for the Maroon Bells Wilderness.  Though we did not visit the famous swimming pool and hot springs in this town, it was right next door to us.  To be truthful, it was just too hot to go to the swimming pool.  We opted for a hike later in the evening to visit the gravesite of two famous western outlaws; Kid Curry and Doc Holiday.  The graveyard that they are purported to be in is a hefty 1/2 mile hike uphill from near the center of town.  We later learned that Doc Holiday likely died of tuberculosis and penniless as it was a pauper's grave.  What I liked about their graves is that people have left alcohol and other small items that each of the outlaws might have liked.

Doc Holiday's grave above Glenwood Springs 

We drove to Aspen, and parked at the Aspen parking lot for the Maroon Bells bus. 

Enjoying the Aspen lifestyle

This was not cheap.  It cost us $25 for the bus ticket and $40 to park.  But if any of you have been to Maroon Bells Wilderness as a child, you will know that it was almost destroyed by cars and tourist abuse.  We gladly paid for the privilege of seeing that ecosystem recover and noted that the hiking trails were not over-crowded.  It was a perfect day into the wilderness.  Not to hot or cold...well maybe some pretty aggressive deerflies  (note to self-bring bug spray next time).  

The Maroon Bells took my breath away and reminded me of the thoughts I had as a child...of how magical the place was.  It was one of the places that began my journey into ecology.  My partner was pretty blown away by the beauty as well.  We spent about half the day there and then the flies drove us away.  

Such beautiful trails in the Maroon Bell Wilderness

We motored back to Aspen and the spent the afternoon with the rich and famous.  Colorado you beautiful and wild girl.  I will never stop coming back.  Thank you for the privilege of knowing your wildness.  The next morning, we hopped back in the car and drove to the airport.  It only takes a few days, but this State always fills my soul.