Ragged Elks Trek
At the end of August and beginning of September, Claudia and I joined our friends Ann and Holly for an ambitious 5-day trek through the Elk Mountains, Ruby Range, and Ragged Mountains - a 50 mile traverse through some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in Colorado, between the towns of Aspen, Crested Butte, Marble, and Paonia. Our route wound its way through the Maroon Bell-Snowmass Wilderness and Raggeds Wilderness, from Capitol Creek on the north side of the Elks all the way to the mouth of the Dark Canyon on the south side of the Raggeds via trails, a few dirt roads, and plenty of off-trail travel. Here are some highlight photos from along the way!
Capitol Peak towers over the beautiful aspen-filled Capitol Creek valley in late August.
Hiking towards Capitol Peak.
Capitol Peak (14,130 ft.) reflected in Capitol Lake at sunset.
The white granite of Snowmass Mountain (14,092 ft.) gleaming in the sun.
Wildflowers still fill this high meadow in the Elk Mountains at the end of August, with the Maroon Bells in the distance.
Alpenglow light on the Maroon Bells (14,156 ft.) with Fravert Basin below.
Looking down Hasley Basin with Snowmass Mountain and Hagerman Peak behind.
Hiking up towards Yule Pass, which crosses over the Ruby Range along an old mining road. Purple Mountain is above.
A brilliant glowing sunset illuminates striped, glacier-polished granite in Yule Creek.
Hiking along a ridge above Anthracite Pass in the Ragged Mountains.
A black bear deep in the Ragged Mountains - one of four bears we saw during this trek.
Thunder clouds evaporating at sunset in the Ragged Mountains.
A pleasant morning reflection at a remote, high lake in the Ragged Mountains.
Hiking down towards the Dark Canyon in the Raggeds Wilderness with creaky knees after a 4,000 foot descent from the mountains.
This was a complete ass-kicker of a trek, but it was satisfying to link together a mega traverse over three mountain ranges and two wilderness areas, and it was also great fun to backpack with Ann and Holly!
Now go check out Ann Drigger's photos over on Instagram! 🤩
