Raspberry Creek 2008

We've successfully moved back to Colorado after 10 years in various other places. This is our first big hike after returning. We're not in very good shape and aren't adapted to high altitude, so we went a little lower than usual: we hiked the Raspberry Creek Loop Trail near Marble, CO. The trail starts at around 8000 feet and climbs to 11,300 or so. Part of the trail we expected to follow doesn't seem to exist any more, so we took a longer hike than we expected, totalling about 9.5 miles. There are an incredible number of fires in California right now, and the smoke is blowing across much of the Western US, including Colorado. The sky was hazy, and the mountains faded out around us instead of being crisp. It's not the kind of views we're used to seeing, but it was still fun.


Nancy and Sadie resting part way up the Rasberry Creek valley.


Sadie thought the snow fields were the best part -- this is below 10000 feet in open sunlight on July 12. There was an incredible amount of snow this winter, and it still hasn't melted.


Climbing at altitude is tough when you're used to sea-level air, and it requires regular resting. The climbing was particularly exausting because the trail disappeared under snow fields regularly, and they take a lot of concentration and balance to cross and climb without slipping.


The view at the top of the ridge at the back of Rasberry Creek valley was quite nice, though the smoke was unpleasant and made it difficult to see the distant mountains. The nearest snowy mountains on the rigth are only 13.5 miles away, and the slightly more distant mountains on the left are only 15 miles away. In the center, you can almost make out some more snowy mountains, and those are only 21 miles away. I hope the California fires die down soon.


I did my best to enhance the photo to show what we should have been able to see.


This exposed ridge at only 11,200-11,300 feet still had deep snow in mid July. It must have been incredibly deep.


From the high point on the ridge looking to the northeast, we could see to Capitol Peak, Snowmass Mountain, Hagerman Mountain, about 8.5 to 10 miles away.


Nancy and I at the high point of the hike with Treasure Mountain behind us.


Sadie at the high point of the hike with Mount Daly behind her, and Capitol Peak at the very right edge of the scene.