Snowmass Backpacking Trip
Brian and Brad calibrating GPS's before the trek 
North Maroon Peak, visible through trees at the parking lot 
The "Before" shot in front of Maroon Lake (Maroon Bells behind) 
We've all seen it...the classic Colorado Maroon Bells picture 
Brian and Lisa at Crater Lake 
Looking between Maroon and North Maroon Peak 
Clearing trees out of the campsite 
Camp on the first night 
A friendly deer visiting our camp site 
Making breakfast on day 2 
Looking northward from camp 
Brad captured a great shot of our deer friend 
Looking south towards West Maroon Pass on Day 2 
Lonny and Brad on the trail 
The lush West Maroon Creek basin 
Taking a break on our traverse to West Maroon Pass 
Lonny and Lisa, West Maroon Pass on the far right 
Summit of West Maroon Pass visible from about 600 feet below 
Looking down to the west from West Maroon Pass 
Glancing down the eastern side of the pass,the trail is visible 
Lisa and Brian on the top of West Maroon Pass 
Lots of day hikers on this pass - most people we saw by far 
Heading down towards Frigid Air Pass 
Brian and Lisa stopped in a giant field of colorful wildflowers 
Looking down west towards Schofield Pass (and Crested Butte) 
The final 600 foot push of Frigid Air Pass (STEEP!) 
Looking down the south side of Frigid Air Pass (Shari visible) 
Overlooking the Fravert Basin from the top of Frigid Air Pass 
Lonny snacking while marmots scurry about 
A marmot, pausing to check us out 
Maroon Peak and the Fravert Basin, from Frigid Air Pass 
One marmot decides he's interested in Brad's pack 
REALLY interested! 
Sorry...I like marmots... 
Snowmass Mountain, visible from Frigid Air Pass 
The waterfall dropping 400 ft down Fravert Basin 
Shari and Brad getting water while an eerie cloud hangs 
Camp on day 2 
Hagerman and Snowmass Peak, from camp on Day 3 
A Columbine 
Some sort of moth on a flower 
An unnamed peak visible from camp 
Day 3: Brad and Shari airing out their tent's rain fly 
Breaking camp on Day 3 
Our view from camp in the morning 
The morning stream crossing (Shari and Lonny emerging) 
Lisa on her crossing 
Lonny decides he needs a rinse, and sits down in the creek 
Lisa, Brad, Lonny, and Shari hiking up Trail Rider Pass 
Switchbacks up Trail Rider Pass 
Taking a break 1000 ft below Trail Rider Pass 
The last 800 ft push of Trail Rider Pass 
Trail Rider Pass (the low point on the ridge ahead) 
The west side of the Maroon Bells 
Brian and Lisa 
Brian 
A nice arm-length photo 
The Fravert Basin in the far distance 
Ascending trail rider pass 
Brad relaxing atop Trail Rider Pass 
Shari making the final push up the pass 
Snowmass Lake, looking northeast down Trail Rider Pass 
The group atop Trail Rider Pass 
Two ground squirrels chasing each other on the summit 
Brad's pack seems to be popular with the wildlife 
Other hikers taking a chilly dip in a small mountain pond 
A ground squirrel, taking in the view from Trail Rider Pass 
Another break along the trail 
Snowmass Mountain (on the right) towering over Snowmass Lake 
Setting up camp at Snowmass Lake 
Brad, taking a dip in Snowmass Lake 
A dip in the brisk 60 degree Snowmass Lake to refresh ourselves 
The soothing 60 degree waters of Snowmass Lake 
Snowmass Peak above Snowmass Lake, Trail Rider pass on left 
Lonny and Brian hanging the food bag 
A nice shot of Trail Rider pass from the lake 
Brian prepping the stove for dinner 
Camp on day 3 
Sheltering ourselves from mosquitos at camp 
Shari, wearing the latest in mosquito-proof fashion 
Sunrise on Snowmass Peak 
Lonny's cut toe (from the lake) 
Day 4: What a view to wake up to! 
Snowmass Lake by morning light 
Lonny, seeking shelter from the mosquitos 
Breakfast on day 4 
Lisa, tending to Lonny's cut tow with her first aid skills 
Hiking out of the Snowmass Creek basin 
Shari and Lisa crossing Snowmass Creek 
Lonny crossing Snowmass Creek 
Brian crossing Snowmass Creek 
View to the west while ascending Buckskin Pass 
Lonny and Sharing, ascending Buckskin Pass (Snowmass in back) 
View to the west of Buckskin Pass 
Brad and Shari cresting Buckskin Pass 
Shari and Brad on top of Buckskin Pass 
Brian and Lisa cresting Buckskin Pass 
Shari and Brad examining the route below 
Snowmass Mountain, Capitol Peak, and Snowmass Lake 
Brad, examining the other side of Buckskin Pass 
Snowmass Mountain, seen from Buckskin Pass 
Lisa with Pyramid Peak behind her 
Wildflowers backdropped by North Maroon Peak 
Lonny, Shari, and Brad descending through fields of flowers 
Brian, with North Maroon Peak behind 
Lonny...doing something I'm not sure of 
Waterfall along last day 
Can you spot the baby marmots? 
There they are! 
Hiking through a recent avalanche path 
Water glistening off the side of North Maroon Peak 
Crater Lake, looking towards West Maroon Pass (Day 1) 
Hitting the trail's loop point...we've gone full circle here 
Back at the car...the "after" shot 
