At Peace in Aspen

I have always held a special fondness for Colorado. The mountains there are of an outrageous stature, making it the Mecca for outdoor adventuring and there’s an incredible metropolitan scene for my more “indoorsy” friends. This fondness, however, turned into a full blown obsession after my trip to Aspen.

The minute I got out of the car, my jaw immediately dropped to the pavement. Holy shit this place was gorgeous. This quaint (and beautifully decorated) little mountain town is surrounded on all sides by massive mountain ranges making it feel like you’re in a postcard everywhere you look, and the people there are equally as stunning inside and out.

Upon my arrival, I reached out to a friend of a friend, hoping to get a couple hiking and food recommendations. We were instead greeted with an unreasonable and outstanding amount of hospitality that is only paralleled by southern grandmothers, or midwestern families. We were greeted with open arms, given a place to stay, and showered with local intel on where to hike. I was truly blown away by the kindness and generosity of our hostess.

At her recommendation, we set our alarm for a relatively early start, and got a quick breakfast. After struggling a bit to find a parking spot, and waiting in a humorously long line, we finally arrived at the official Pinterest destination of Aspen, Maroon Bells. After stopping a bit to take in the spectacular view, we began our 10 mile hike to the Buckskin Pass. Every step that I took on this trail took my breath away, and it wasn’t just the elevation.

Between the shimmering fall leaves on the Aspens, running rivers, and the sweeping valleys Bob Ross could not have painted a more beautiful setting. A couple hours of laughter, candy, and incredible conversation later, and we arrived at Buckskin Pass.

There is something truly magical about a mountain pass. On the bridge between two time frames. One side is your past and all of the beauty of where you have been, the other is your future and the possibility of where you could go, and you can sit, frozen in time endlessly and peacefully. This bridge, nestled in Aspen, frozen in that time frame, is where my happy place now resides.

Pro Tips:

• Get up extra early to make sure you get parking

• Return to the trailhead in time for the final 4pm shuttle

• If you go on a Saturday stop at the farmer's market before hand so you can have a homemade Summit Snack

• Going during the fall makes for incredible foliage but also means a lot more crowds