Day 12. Hike to the Maroon Bells

We had a lay day in Aspen today and after a strong recommendation by a local decided to visit the "Maroon Bells". No private motorized traffic is allowed up to the area so we used the very efficient and free bus to take us to Aspen Highlands. Here a six dollar fee got us onto the bus up to the Maroon Bells themselves.

The waning moon was visible over the hills in town as we waited for the bus.

We were early enough that it was quiet with few other people around. We were lucky enough to be in time for a guided hike and off we went. The views were as spectacular as we had been told and we were glad to have made the effort to get up here.

 The three peaks seen here are the "bells"

 Hermetite in the rock gives it its "maroon colour"

Our knowledgable guide confirmed my suspicion that this was bear pooh!

 After the guided hike finished we continued on by ourselves for another mile or two. It was a fairly strenuous hike, made all the more so by the fact that we are at 12,000 ft!

As usual the afternoon clouds rolled in and we made it back to the bus that would bring us back to Aspen where we enjoyed a late lunch and some people watching.