The Bells Hate Me

The Maroon Bells.

Colorado's most photographed and most beautiful spot.

Here's what it's "supposed to" look like:

Perfection

I've been wanting to go there as soon as I moved to Colorado two years ago.

I have tried twice, and here's what happened.

The first attempt was last November.  We went to Aspen for Kristen's birthday weekend and hoped to see them.  As we drove down the road, we came to a closed gate.  Poor planning.  But we decided to get out and walk.  After a couple miles of hiking the sheer-ice road, we saw somebody hiking down.  He said it was still a couple miles to the lake.  After a few minutes of talking, we decided not to risk it, and walked back.  We almost wiped out several times, and were a little lucky to come out of that unscathed.  We vowed to try again next summer.

Icy road to the Bells

Last weekend was that time.  Kristen and I went to the Glenwood Springs for the weekend, but decided to take a day trip to Aspen with one objective: see the Bells.  When we woke up, it was cloudy.  We made the drive anyways, hoping it would clear up by the time we got there.  We drove the same road, reminiscing about our icy adventure the fall before.  This time, the road was open!  We drove the road to the lake, got out, and what did we see?  A wall of fog coming over the mountains blocking the view.  So we decided to go for a quick hike, hoping it would clear up by the time we completed the loop.  It was a beautiful hike, but as time went on, we could see less and less.  By the time we finished, there was no proof the Bells even existed.

Pre Hike

Post Hike

I'm starting to put the Bells into the same category as the Loch Ness Monster & Bigfoot - something out of mythical folklore designed just to get foolish tourists to come there, only to leave disappointed... yet still intrigued...

You win again, Maroon Bells!