Snow, Fog, and the Edge of Awe, Maroon Bells, CO

When I checked my options for driving from Crested Butte to Aspen, I realized that one of the options is to drive through Kebler Pass. Kebler Pass stretches about 30 miles, with roughly 20 miles of unpaved dirt road. It’s a scenic drive through one of the largest aspen groves in the country. I am a bit hesitant to go for it, but the idea of experiencing a colorful drive gets me excited.

Early Monday morning, the road belongs to me. A few cars pass by, but mostly it’s just me and the aspen trees. Only in a few spots do I need to slow down as the road gets a bit rough, but nothing stops me from enjoying the landscape. One thing is for sure, my minivan is no longer white. :)

Not knowing when my next shower will be, I stop at the little town of Carbondale. With a quick search I find the perfect hot shower. I do need to remember that community centers are a fantastic place for a shower. For $7, life is clean and good!

As I get closer to Aspen, the color of the clouds changes quickly, and rain pours down. What thrills me is knowing it will wash away all the dirt I collected on Kebler Pass.

As they say in Colorado, wait five minutes and the weather will change. It’s remarkable how true that is. After a while, the sun comes out, so I take a stroll on the main street of Aspen. I don’t last long. Sorry, I find Aspen too bougie for me.

I head to my campground, which is only 10 minutes away. I set up camp and go for a walk...

Remember the notion about Colorado weather? Well, I need to shorten my walk and quickly get under shelter — my minivan. Ouch! It is only 4:00 PM. I check the weather (again); this time it calls for rain for the next two days. That means my plans to enjoy a hot meal are out the window. I truly love my setup, but my only wish is that I could stand. Being stuck inside for so many hours can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.

At this point, my concern is about tomorrow morning. All I wish for is a window of no rain for 3 - 4 hours so I can hike the area of Maroon Bells. I made the parking reservation back in June, and my anticipation has been building for months. Coming all this way and not being able to see the beauty I have admired in so many photos with my own eyes would be disappointing. I don’t let the all-night rain wash away my excitement. I wake up early, as I need to be at my parking spot before 8:00. By 6:30, I leave the campground still in the dark. I have a 30-minute drive.

It is a gentle drizzle now, however, as I ascend to Maroon Bells, the rain turns into snow, which actually gets me even more excited. I am a big sucker for the pure white layer contrasting with the landscape. It also means much colder temperatures.

By the time I reach the parking lot, daylight shows me the way. I give myself time for coffee and a quick breakfast. By now, the snow has stopped, and I want to take advantage of the break.

It is a very foggy morning. At first I don’t even see what is around me. I have no clue what is behind the fog.

There is a moment in my journey when I feel incredibly blessed. How can I not, when just for a few minutes as I start my hike, the fog lifts just enough to give me a glimpse of this magical place!

I cherish the moments when my heart skips a beat, and my whole being is in awe of God's creation. The fog and the fresh layer of snow add such a mystical feel to this incredible beauty.

 The colors of the pines are a rich hunter green, and the golden and orange aspens dance with bright hues as the sunrays come out to highlight them — just for a few minutes — and then, in the blink of an eye, the fog swallows the valley again.

The famous Maroon Lake is only a few steps from the parking lot. My plan is to hike to Crater Lake (a 5-mile hike). At this point, all I can see is 20 feet ahead of me. I wear my rain pants and have my rain jacket in my backpack in case the rain starts again. In the meantime, I continue my hike with a whispering prayer for the fog to lift.

As I arrive at Crater Lake, I discover that the lake is almost completely dry, leaving a quiet meadow to cherish. The fog continues to play peek-a-boo with me, giving me glimpses of what is behind the heavy curtains. Simply magical beauty!

By the time I get back to my car and am ready to leave, the rain starts again. I feel fortunate for my experience, and even though I have limited visibility, I am already thinking about the next time I will return to enjoy this landscape.

I set my direction to a rest area four hours away and set off...

The next lines I write with a deep laugh at myself — how could I not? What happens next as I drive through Independence Pass is hilarious in my eyes. Let’s first start with the fact that I am not ready or aware that my drive will take me on another scary Colorado route, this time in a mini snowstorm.

Some parts of the drive find me so close to the edge that I can hardly breathe. Fear grabs me so tight that I lean my head and shoulders to the left, as if trying to move away from the drop on my right. Like that is going to help!!! :)))))))

From AI: Independence Pass climbs to 12,095 feet, making it one of the highest paved passes in North America. The road stretches about 32 miles. It is very narrow in sections, with sharp switchbacks and no guardrails. Along the way, you get sweeping views of alpine tundra, jagged peaks, and deep valleys — some of the most stunning scenery in Colorado.

It is definitely one of the most stunning sceneries in Colorado! At times, the mountain landscape feels like a velvety carpet.

I come to a firm conclusion that the beautiful people of Colorado are brave. Otherwise, how can you explain the many roads built on the edge? :)

After four hours of driving through snow and rain and I am exhausted. It’s time to rest.

Sweet dreams...