8/17 - Wed - Aspen to Friends Hut
Even though I woke up early, I didn’t leave St. Moritz until 7. While I had a table and chair at my disposal, I got focused on catching up on some writing and looking at the route ahead. I hit City Market on my way to the Ute Trail and bought a Limon Pepino Gatorade because it's the best, some Doritos, Icy Hot, and a comically large tub of Vaseline. 13 oz was the only size at the store. At least my feet will be happy. I told myself that climbing the Ute Trail was most of the work I had to do for the day, so I should do it steadily and efficiently and not work hard. The steps and switchbacks up to Ute Rock went by pretty quickly, but the upper portion was a slog as it got hotter. I finally made it to the top of Ajax around 10:30 am.
I checked the forecast again when I got up there and the thunderstorm prediction had gotten later, mainly 3-5 pm. The Sundeck had cheesesteaks, tables, and chairs, so I decided to hang out for a while and do some more catching up on writing. as I had a few miles above treeline before Pearl Pass. I just wanted about an hour to bushwhack down and find Friends Hut before dark. I finally left around noon and had about 20 miles on roads before Pearl Pass. It was mostly hot & sunny as I dropped back down to 9k' over 4 miles on Little Annie Rd.
I was surprised the find that Castle Creek Road was paved, but it was mostly flat for 6 miles. Still hot. Some passing clouds made things better as l did an easy out and back for about two miles each way to Lindley Hut on Copper Creek Rd. Once l got back to Pearl Pass Rd I started the long climb up to Pearl Pass. There were more clouds around, but they were still light and fluffy, and I was still well in the trees.
About halfway up, I got to Tagert and Greene-Willson Huts. I loved the A-frame of Tagert, the original ski hut in Colorado. I sent for a forecast on the inReach before I left and it was looking great until Friday afternoon. Nothing indicated I shouldn't keep going, so I pushed on for 3 more miles up to Pearl Pass. The road was really rough and a full-on running stream at points, so I was impressed when someone drove by me by the top.
I reached Pearl Pass around 7 pm and started the descent towards Friends. It was mostly straightforward through a stunning alpine meadow and I could see the hut from about halfway through. Of course, the last bit was a wet fight through willows, and I smashed my left knee on a rock about a thousand feet from the hut. My feet had been dry all day. I was really excited to finally have the weather to cowboy camp near Friends. I was exhausted after 8400’ of climbing for the day and fell asleep watching the stars using my tarp as a blanket.
