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| This section I ventured out with my friend Kevin Dunkelberg. Here's what we did: 9/28/01 After I finally got my act together and we had our last civilized dinner in Aspen, we took the bus to the edge of town. While trying to hitch a ride up Independence Pass in the dark, two large black bears walked not thirty yards in front of us (no doubt on their favorite dumpster-raiding route!). I've seen five bears this summer--all within the city limits of Aspen. Finally got a ride up to the pass with a couple of guys heading to Denver for an exciting weekend. Hiked south a few miles along the Continental Divide by moonlight and stopped to camp at 13,000' when we arrived at an intricate stone shelter built atop a summit on the ridgeline. 9/29/01 Continued south to near Grizzly Peak, turned west and crossed Grizzly Creek just below Grizzly Lake and up to the next ridgeline. Left our packs and scrambled south to the northwest summit of Grizzly Peak. On our way back down we were spooked by a microwave size boulder careening down the gully we were descending. Luckily we were each on opposite sides of the gully and able to duck out of harm's way. Back to our packs and east down to Lincoln Creek to camp. 9/30/01 West up Truro Creek to Truro Lake. West up and over the ridge to the upper Tabor Creek Basin. Waited out an hour storm of pea sized snowballs. West up and over another ridge to camp in a hanging valley above Brooklyn Gulch. Stunning moonlit night. 10/1/01 Still finding huckleberries! Southwest to Tellurium (Ptarmigan?) Lake, and on westward on trails, roads, and open, flat tundra to Taylor Lake to camp. 10/2/01 Southwest to Star Pass. Traversed the upper East Brush Creek Basin to the Pearl Pass Road. Followed the road down hill, then split off to the northwest and up to Twin Lakes to camp. 10/3/01 North up to unnamed 13,550' and down the other side to Conundrum Hot Springs to camp. Soaked before and after dinner! Aaahhhh!!! 10/4/01 Another soak in the morning until the sun was on the springs. Up and out over Triangle Pass, peeked over Copper Pass then on to Copper Lake. Up and over East Maroon Pass and down a few miles to camp on East Maroon Creek. 10/5/01 After an intensive rock skipping session over a string of three beaver ponds, we hiked on out to the road. Hitched a ride back into Aspen. BBQ dinner at the Hickory House! |
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