Colorado,  Hikes,  Off Road Trips,  Trips,  Utah

Colorado and Utah 2012 in a 2 Door XJ – Friday

243 more miles covered today as we continue to move back east:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Once we were up and moving, we jumped back on 70:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

And stopped at a rest area that has a trail up to the “Hanging Lake”, the trail didn’t look to bad at the beginning:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

But once we got to the real trail head, it started getting a bit rougher:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Up:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

And Up:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

And Up some more:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Still going:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

And we’re finally there. 1.2 miles along the trail and 1020 ft gained in elevation for this:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

It was pretty, but there was some more still to see. So we continued climbing until we got to the falls:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

It was worth the hike, but it wore me out! We jumped back on 70 west and started heading towards Independence pass, but we made a few stops on the way:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

That was Maroon Bells Lake (and area). After leaving there, we got back on track to head up Independence pass:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash; 1

The old Independence Townsite:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Back on the rood, heading down the pass:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

After leaving there, we headed across Whitman’s Pass since Mosquito pass was still closed on the east side:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

The Old Ruby Mine:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Heading back down:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

We then made trails to Alma so that we could run up to see Kite Lake:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Yurt under construction:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Paris Mill it was marked off as no trespassing, so there wasn’t any good way to get a good photo of it:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Moving along:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Kite Lake not much to look at, and it was COLD and WINDY at 12k ft:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

We then backtracked to run Borealis Pass up to Breckenridge. Old Round House for the trains that used to run through this area:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

More train stuff at the summit:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Heading back down:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

And that’s all. We’re back in Silverthorne, with hopes of setting out for home tomorrow morning. So this is pretty much the end of our trip : I hope everyone enjoyed the photos, and I’ll update this post again when I have my hands on some of my wife’s photos.

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