The Four Pass Loop within the Maroon Bell Wilderness Area did not disappoint. It has been a few days since the run and I'm still left speechless with how beautiful the run was. Easily my favorite run I've ever done in the state.
The loop is a beast (roughly 27 miles, 8,500 feet of vert) and well worth getting in shape for. 7 hours and 9 minutes was the time it took to complete but can't say I was every working hard outside of a few stretches here and there just to test out my fitness late in the run. Time spent on top of the passes was easily 20 to 30 minutes total.
Great time had with WA (awesome pics), PG, KM, SB and small group of (fast) locals from Carbondale. Now on with the pics that do little justice of a loop that every trail runner should complete at least once in their life.
(Top of Buckskin with Pyramid & North Maroon)
(Top of Trail Rider looking down the Lead King Basin)
(Looking back up towards Trail Rider)
(GP, KM & WA nearing the Geneva Lake/Fravert Basin Intersection)
(KM & GL approaching climb #1 on the way to Frigid Air)
(Looking West from Fridig Air - All that green was littered with vibrant colors)
(The last, LONG & ROCKY at times descent back home. Maroon to the left)
Love the pic of you looking down on us as we approach that intersection. It really shows how crazy that drop was since you were only a quarter mile behind us!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking this run has to become a annual tradition.