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Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness


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  • #1280820
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    After my WFR in Gunnison I walked up to Gothic. Spent a beautiful 5 days in the wilderness. Enjoy.

    #1792369
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    Nicely done, Matt. Perfect blend of scenery, wildlife, and little glimpses of your hiking/camping style. Now I want to go there.

    #1792371
    David Noll
    BPL Member

    @dpnoll

    Locale: Maroon Bells

    Great job. Nice catch on the pine marten.

    #1792618
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Thanks guys. I had a great time. That was my first trip to CO. I'm going back as soon as I can.

    Edit: Subject

    #1792634
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    Yep, very nice solo Matt.

    #1792639
    Here There
    BPL Member

    @cowexnihilo

    It's been a couple of years since I've been to the Maroon Bells, but it still stands out in my mind as one of the prettiest places I've been in Colorado, or anywhere for that matter. Thanks for posting, it brought back some great memories.

    -David

    #1792657
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    Super Cool—-Seven Nation Army Remix-Nice!

    #1792674
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    I was impressed David. The wild flowers were peaking along West Maroon. Beautiful.

    #1792675
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Jay, if you haven't put an ear to The Glitch Mob yet, they're worth more than a listen. Thanks.

    #1792692
    b s
    BPL Member

    @smyth

    Very nice. Was that a hooded button up shirt you were wearing? Is that myog or commercially available?

    #1792694
    Frank H.
    BPL Member

    @porker110

    Locale: Oregon

    I was thinking about that shirt too, it looks pretty nice.

    #1792697
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    The shirt is made by Kuhl. Nylon and Ploy. Love that shirt.

    #1792767
    Michael Ray
    BPL Member

    @topshot

    Locale: Midwest

    I see they still haven't cleared a path through that avalanche. Nice video. I like how patient you must be to put your self in motion in so many spots. I rarely do that, but did add several time lapses.

    #1792776
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    All the matchsticks are still there. Michael, I've fallen in love with time lapse. Really enjoy seeing long processes collapsed into just a few frames. I don't think patient is the word I'd use, but thank you. Really, I have a hard time seeing scale in videos or photos that don't have a reference. Seeing that most of my hiking is done solo, I'm the most convenient yardstick.

    Thanks for looking and sharing gang.

    #1792791
    Tyler H
    BPL Member

    @ctwnwood

    Locale: Madison

    Sweet video report!

    The music makes it seem like you were eating molly or something – I wish my trips were that intense, man.

    But seriously, nice job.

    #1792932
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Thanks Tyler.

    Found the track a few days ago. I really like the Stripes and the Mob, a perfect blend for me. Wanted to use it for an edit and this is the one it worked best for.

    Yeah intense. All at a half days walk to Aspen or Gothic. Ha!

    #1794250
    Michael Ray
    BPL Member

    @topshot

    Locale: Midwest

    Matt,
    I'm willing to spend significant time getting the photo I want, but for whatever reason haven't been willing to frame the video shot, then walk however far and then come all the way back to retrieve my gear. I especially liked your stream crossing and the bravery of hand holding on your second pass. That was a nice edit.

    I assume you're using the CHDK hack? Which TL script did you choose? If you have lots of time to kill you can watch my vids.

    Which UL tripod do you use?

    Finally, what was your route?

    #1794550
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Michael: I didn't even know about the CHDK. Thanks for turning me on to that.

    I use an Ultrapod 1.
    I wouldn't be so brazen to cross any body of water with my 60D, but the risk is worth it with the SX30 IS. I wish I'd have adjusted the exposure, but my feet were really cold and I was ready to get out of the water and build some body heat.

    In my last comment I was teasing about this being an intense trip. Really I was out just to see the place. No goals, except I knew I wanted to see the hot springs in the Conundrum drainage and I'd heard the wild flowers in West Maroon were going off.

    I choose to do East Maroon first. Gothic to Copper Lake, E Maroon Pass then North off my map (Latitude 40º maps "Crested Butte Taylor Park"). West to W Maroon (not clear on this section because I was off my map) South on W Maroon, around Mount Bellview to Rustler Gulch, over the pass Southwest of Cassi Peak (off trail lots of fun. I know you're not supposed to oops), Triangle Pass to walk North along Conundrum to the trail head off my map. I didn't stop at the hot springs on my way North, so… Retrace to Triangle Pass and drop to Copper Lake and back to Gothic. Got lucky and got a ride all the way to Gunnison the first time I stuck out my thumb just South of Gothic on my way back to CB.

    #1794565
    Michael Ray
    BPL Member

    @topshot

    Locale: Midwest

    > over the pass Southwest of Cassi Peak (off trail lots of fun. I know you're not supposed to oops)

    I'd like to hear more about that portion. I was originally planning to do the same thing, but with my knee & socks bugging me I chickened out when I saw how it looked from the end of RG trail. It didn't look like it would be too bad if my lower half was in normal condition though I had planned to do it the next morning, which would have turned out to be a bad choice as t-storms came through. I backtracked out of the gulch and got a lucky ride to Copper Creek TH and made it to the mine just before dark. :) You can read my TR – much quicker than viewing the videos.

    So the SX30 has TL ability built in to it or do you have some kind of external intervalometer? CHDK really extends the camera's abilities. I just have an A620. I had hoped to try some lightning photos but never got any t-storms that had good opportunities.

    #1794574
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    The SX30 IS doesn't have time lapse. I have a 64 GB memory card and I roll video. That's why my battery died on day one. Oh, well.

    #1795474
    Ozzy McKinney
    Spectator

    @porcupinephobia

    Locale: PNW

    Diggin the martin, saw my first one on a PCT section last year. Curious little buggers, so energetic. Second, that shot of the snowmelt drink just about made me quit my job! Love it. Third, I know I'm ocd, but it looks like that pack could use some load lifters :P

    Sweet video. Jealous.

    #1796320
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Thanks Ozzy.
    About the pack. I don't keep much in it. I make a virtual frame with my sleeping pad, and stuff the middle of the pad burrito with everything else. This gives me the option to extend the shoulder straps and vent my back. When I carry a more substantial load, I fold the pad next to my back and once the bag is packed I open the valve to get a rock solid compression in the pack.

    #1796322
    Matt Mahaney
    BPL Member

    @matt_mahaney

    Locale: In the District

    Michael,
    When I first looked at my map I almost went West over the pass to RG. I thought I could use the easy climb on the East side of the pass to build the confidence to drop down the other side to RG. As it was though, I was huffing and puffing anyway. I had spent about 14 days in Gunnison, but I'm coming form DC at a little over 200'. I had some catching up to do, and I never feel like I really got there. So I opted to stay on trails first incase I got in over my head and needed to bail. The contours on the West side of the pass concerned me more than the East and I've always been better at climbing, so I chose to climb the side that I was more cautious of. Not sure that's exactly what I want to say. I'll try again. I knew the West side would present more of a challenge to me. Either by my understanding or lack there of. A perceived level of comfort and fear. That place where we (however small the challenge i.e. this case) get to rub shoulders with our limits and we make our choices and hopefully become better outdoors people. I think I made the right choice for me.
    Technically, there wasn't much more to do than look for the most positive places for footing and kicking when I couldn't find something good enough to stand on. Go do it. For me it was a good choice to do a little off trail walking in a low risk location.

    #1796400
    Eric Swab
    Member

    @ericswab

    Locale: Rockies

    That video is really great, giving me motivation to give it a try, really much cooler than still shots. You just raised the bar on trip reports!

    #1796414
    Dave T
    Member

    @davet

    slaying the Maroon Bells!

    nice one with that Glitch Mob remix. don't like their recent direction, but seen them lots of times and definitely love their older (pre-Drink the Sea) stuff, both collectively and individually (though the Drink the Sea mixtape is good).

    great trip!

    p.s. i might have to start a "glitch/whomp/wobble/future bass-lovin' ultralighters" thread, to compete with those bluegrass and whatnot music threads. represent!

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