MAGICAL Aspens

Day 47—Saturday, September 17—Salida to dispersed camping near Marshall Pass 

40 miles 

Sorry for the brief pause in blog posts…have been in the mountains for three days!

Got coffee and a pastry with Eric from a local cafe and then headed up the road. We knew we had a climb ahead of us to Marshall Pass and got a good start.

Passing through Salida we got a taste of various eras of development as the city grew over the years. The local housing stock from the early 1900s is in great shape and very eclectic (sorry, no pics, but not unlike Steamboat and Helena). Then we passed through the severe and simple 1960s and 70s tract subdivisions before getting more elaborate modem designs of the 90s and the 00s. I expect this city will continue to grow—you can read the eras of expansion like rings on a tree.

Leaving Salida which is surrounded by mountains.  A nice town!

We followed paved roads eventually climbing up towards Poncha Pass before turning off on a gravel road that would take us up another 3,000 ft in 7 miles. Fortunately, as with Boreas, it was a former railway so the grades were very negotiable, but still tiring!

Evidence of beavers!

Eric making his way up to Marshall Pass

O’Haver Lake, with a nice campground at which we did not stay.

Marshall Pass wearing my spiffy new Apprentice Learning jersey—not too late to donate!

Chris from Denver hiking a 30-mile loop as he prepares for the "Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim," a timed event that will occur in October. Participants run from the north rim of the Grand Canyon to the south rim and back to the north rim, hopefully in less than 12 hours.

We stopped for a few pics at the top of the pass and then started down the other side to a town called Sargents. After a few more miles we saw an amazing stand of aspen that looked perfect for dispersed camping. We rolled in under the watchful eyes of a herd of mule deer who monitored us carefully but did not run off (peaceable kingdom).  It’s hunting season and these deer have to be cautious.

Descent through beautiful aspens; the infernal side-by-sides. 

Dispersed camping among the aspens

Mills Witch Creek was nearby so we had plenty of water. We set up tents and then noticed TJ barreling down the road. I whistled and waved and got him to join us for the night. The three amigos. Of course when the sun set it was everyone to their tents after we hung up our food.

Sleeping among the aspens was magical;  the moon, waning to half, was bright and cast long shadows through a breezeless night.

When I was a kid visiting a cabin my grandad built, I remember trying to take a nap in one of the upper bedrooms. The “eyes” of the birch trees outside the windows were kind of spooky as they swayed back in forth in the wind. No mistaking this similar effect as the aspens watch over the forest.

View up through my tent