Pearl Pass – Aspen, Colorado

Follow the track log from Route 82 in Aspen, Colorado. The trail starts out with an easy drive through the trees before arriving at the first obstacle which is a challenging, rocky incline. Prior to my trip I was told that the trail was open and free from snow that sometimes blocks the trail all year. I soon found out that to be untrue.

The first snow field had not been driven through this year. Repeated attempts to push through the snow field proved successful. After 5 or 6 attempted we finally broke through the blockage. The views from the trail are spectacular and the wild flowers seemed to be everywhere. The trail continues up the moderately challenging rocky trail. Several hundred yards before the summit an even more difficult snow and ice field was found on an off-camber shelf part of the trail. Because the trail was off-camber there was no way to blast through the snow.

The solution was to shovel the snow from the trail. 1 ½ hours later I was able to make it through with the help of a Pull Pal. After cresting the pass the trip down the trail is long but not especially challenging. Follow the track log to Crested Butte.