SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2010:

I would drive a total of 160 miles today.


On Sunday morning I left Gunnison, Colorado. The first thing I did was drive over Monarch Pass.

You can see me cross of the 11,312 foot high Monarch Pass in the four minute video below.

All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

It was a very scenic drive on Colorado state highway 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen.
SH 82 provides the principal transportation artery of the Roaring Fork Valley on the Colorado Western Slope.
One of the Twin Lakes off Colorado Highway 82 Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass

There was on and off snow flurries as I climbed to the summit of Independence Pass.
The Scenery was breathtaking.
Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass

I crossed the Continental Divide at the summit of Independence Pass at an elevation of 12,095 feet.
As I descended the mountain into Aspen there was a nice view of the Roaring Fork River.
Continental Divide / Independence Pass Continental Divide / Independence Pass Roaring Fork River

I really enjoyed my journey over Independence Pass, you can watch in the eleven minute video below.

Maroon Bells is a mountain in the Elk Mountains that consists of two peaks, South & North Maroon Peaks.
Maroon Peak, at an elevation of 14,156 feet, is the 27th highest peak in Colorado.
The view of Maroon Bells from the Maroon Creek valley is one of the most famous scenes in Colorado,
and is reputed to be the "most-photographed spot in Colorado" and one of Colorado's premier scenic overlooks.
Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado

Below is my eight minute video of the most photographed place in Colorado.

The Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain Resort carried me 3,000 vertical feet from
the heart of Aspen to the top of the resort. Reaching an elevation of 11,212 feet.
Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado

The summit of Aspen Mountain hosts panoramic views of the Aspen and Elk Mountain Range.
Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado

It is quite a long gondola ride up the mountain. You can see some of it in the eleven minute video below.

The City of Aspen is an affluent Home Rule Municipality with a population around 6,000.
Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado Town of Aspen, Colorado

You can see a small bit of the town of Aspen in the five minute video below.

I spent the night at the Hotel Aspen. You can check it out in the three minute video below.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON JUNE 13, 2010
Hello everyone,

Finishing up my trip as I am heading back to Grand Junction to return my car and fly home. It was a beautiful drive today. Went over Independence Pass on the way to Aspen. It was spectacular.

Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass

It snowed for a while as I was climbing the mountain.

Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass

The snow was beautiful.

Colorado Highway 82 climbing up to Independence Pass

The picture below was taken at Independence Pass, Elevation 12,095 feet. The snow was quite deep up there.

Continental Divide / Independence Pass

The picture below is of the river that the road paralleled.

Roaring Fork River

One of the prettiest spots on Earth is Maroon Bells, just outside Aspen.

Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado

When I got there it was raining and totally cloudy and no blue sky at all. I took a walk around the lake and the sun came out as I was walking back and it was beautiful.

Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado

They say this is the most photographed place in Colorado.

Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado

Went into Aspen next. Below is a picture of town.

Town of Aspen, Colorado

I rode the Aspen Gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain.

Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado

It was quite a long gondola. Took about 15 minutes to get up there.

Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado

The views from the trip over Independence Pass were better but the gondola ride was fun.

Silver Mountain Gondola in Aspen, Colorado

Weather today turned out much better than expected. The forecast looked like a repeat of yesterday. We did get some rain and snow but it was mostly nice. A little cold but nice.

It has been a fantastic vacation. I was worried that after my exotic trips of last year that this simple little driving trip might not satisfy my travel fever. But it was great.

My next trip is going to be a cruise through the Panama Canal this December.

Have a great summer everyone!

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.


MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010:


On Monday I drove 130 miles back to Grand Junction to return my car.


I spent the night at the Doubletree Hotel (video below) and I flew home early Tuesday morning.

The three minute video below is of the Doubletree Hotel in Grand Junction.

Click on the banner below for my next trip in December 2010.


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