July 5, 2012
July 5, 2012
Our campsite is available for one more night, so we decide to stay in Aspen and do another hike in the area. This time we went up Castle Creek Road looking for the Cathedral Lake trailhead. As soon as we turned in, we noticed it was a very rutted dirt road with a sign pointing ¾ mile ahead. I was ready to bail except a car pulled in right behind us. Oh well, I guess we are committed. I took it very slow up this narrow climbing rutted road that was really meant for four-wheel drive jeeps. We made it ok, but it could have been a disaster. The parking lot at the trailhead was mostly empty with plenty of room for us.
Our trail started at 10,000 feet elevation and rose very steeply up to the tree line at almost 12,000 feet. We must be acclimated to the altitude finally because we survived this strenuous hike without keeling over. Cathedral Lake was a smallish lake in a treeless bowl just below the mountain summit. It was nice but not spectacular.
Aspen must be a draw for the outdoor physically fit crowd. As we hiked back down, the trail seemed like Grand Central Station. People were streaming up. Along the way we talked to a professor from Southern Miss, who teaches Recreational Therapy. I assumed it was a version of Physical Therapy devoted to Sports. Not quite. It has nothing to do with medicine. He teaches people how to play and have fun. Now that is the job I want(ed)!
We got a rude surprise when we got back to the parking lot. All those people hiking up the trail have jammed the small parking lot and the road leading to it. I don’t think I can get the RV out. Aimee was prepared to wait all day till everybody left. Fortunately though with her directing, I was able to squeeze through the cars and get out. And our professor friend drove ahead and cleared the road of oncoming cars for us. We were very lucky!!
On the way back to Aspen, we stopped at nearby Ashcroft. In the 1880’s silver was struck here and a boomtown built. Sadly just a few years later, the silver ran out. We toured the ghost town, but it was disappointing. There are only a half dozen structures left and they are not in good shape. But surprisingly the docent is also from Tucson and volunteers at several sites there during the winter.
Our campsite is available for one more night, so we decide to stay in Aspen and do another hike in the area. This time we went up Castle Creek Road looking for the Cathedral Lake trailhead. As soon as we turned in, we noticed it was a very rutted dirt road with a sign pointing ¾ mile ahead. I was ready to bail except a car pulled in right behind us. Oh well, I guess we are committed. I took it very slow up this narrow climbing rutted road that was really meant for four-wheel drive jeeps. We made it ok, but it could have been a disaster. The parking lot at the trailhead was mostly empty with plenty of room for us.
Aspen must be a draw for the outdoor physically fit crowd. As we hiked back down, the trail seemed like Grand Central Station. People were streaming up. Along the way we talked to a professor from Southern Miss, who teaches Recreational Therapy. I assumed it was a version of Physical Therapy devoted to Sports. Not quite. It has nothing to do with medicine. He teaches people how to play and have fun. Now that is the job I want(ed)!
We got a rude surprise when we got back to the parking lot. All those people hiking up the trail have jammed the small parking lot and the road leading to it. I don’t think I can get the RV out. Aimee was prepared to wait all day till everybody left. Fortunately though with her directing, I was able to squeeze through the cars and get out. And our professor friend drove ahead and cleared the road of oncoming cars for us. We were very lucky!!
posted by Mike and Aimee at 8:36 PM
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