My time has been short recently, so I’m collecting more notes than stories here. There are a few good stories to add later. I did add some narrative to the Flickr slideshow (click the “i”), and I’m working on an annotated map of our route:

Hiking Stats: Photos Route in Google Earth

Hiking Stats: Photos Route in Google Earth

Hiking Stats: Photos Route in Google Earth

Hiking Stats: Photos Route in Google Earth

Hiking Stats: Photos Route in Google Earth

Hiking Stats for the day: Photos Route in Google Earth

Dad and I, eager to start our backpack trip into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, find ourselves driving along the Crystal River looking for a place to spend the night at dark. We find mostly signs that say, “No camping within 1/4-mile of the Crystal River.” One tiny, overgrown road flies by, and I turn around…

How shall we celebrate our Independence? We consider climbing, but decide at the last minute to attempt an ascent of Mount Richthofen. Thunderstorms are forecast, so we try to get out the door by 6:30am. The timing turns out to be perfect. Even with stops for gas and change, we reach the mosquito-plauged trailhead at…