Red Rocks, Swift Rivers, No Fish

06/17/2008 19:00 Mountain

Have you ever driven north on Highway 82 from Aspen? Once you hit I-70, there is the most beautiful mountain of red rock.

I wonder if you can see it better these days due to the Mountain Pine Beetle attacking the pine trees, or the forest fire that burned acres of forest. Regardless, it is the most beautiful red rock, almost shimmering in the daylight. It reminded me of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai in Hawaii with its fluted ridgelines and vast array of light and dark hues.

Thinking about the beetle reminds me of a road trip to Aspen to the famed Conundrum Hot Springs. My buddy Paul drank the fat tire and when talking about the pine beetles and the decimated trees, he combined a few words and called them treetles. Very funny!!

Back to the red rocks. Below those beautiful red rocks is the raging Colorado River. Swollen, muddy, and fast from this year's plentiful snowfall and the resulting melt. This melt made the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and Difficult Creek very difficult to fly fish.

No fish, but more time to spend in Aspen. It was the Aspen Wine and Food Classic and I hear Bobby Flay was in town. Aspen is magical in the summer. It made me want to say: I would like to summer in Aspen. Strange, but true!

Have a great day,
Head Local