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Peak(s)  Four Pass Loop
Date Posted  08/02/2011
Date Climbed   07/31/2011
Author  emcee smith
 Four Pass Loop with optional Snowmass   
Four Pass Loop

After dragging my friend up and down several 14ers, he suggested payback by joining him on a backpacking trip. After a bit of research, we settled on the Four Pass Loop. The details are below, it was a great, but tiring trip. A few bits of advice up front, then pics and details

- There are tons of mosquitoes at camp. Either bring spray, or plan on spending time in the tent
- To be down from the passes before any afternoon storms, we found ourselves at camp between 2-4pm, so plenty of downtime in the afternoon/evening. Bring a book or something
- There were a ton of campsites between Snowmass Lake and Buckskin Pass. If you want to avoid the crowds at Snowmass Lake, pressing on a bit should be fine.
- The double pass first day was long, but seemed reasonable. It would seem to be too easy to stop short of Maroon Pass on day 1, but it did require an early start.


Day 1 - Maroon Lake to Fravert Basin (11.4 miles & 8.5 hrs including breaks)
Depart Maroon Lake: 7:30am
West Maroon Pass: 12:30pm
Frigid Air Pass: 2:00 pm
Camp below falls: 4:00 pm

Here we are fresh at the trailhead. Note that I had gear strapped to my pack. There are a lot of willows to bash, a fully contained pack would probably be better.

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I didn't get a picture of the first stream crossing, but it was crossable by some creative rock hopping (I was about 50 feet upstream of the true crossing. This is the second; we couldn't find a dry way across, so water shoes on. This guy carried a bunch of gear on a day hike; I think he was just playing around with the rope.

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Not too far away from that creek crossing, finally able to see West Maroon Pass. A few easy snow crossings.

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Looking back at the snow

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Looking back on another easy snow crossing

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Very near West Maroon Pass, looking back on the trail as it comes up out of the drainage. Mostly avoiding the snow.

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Looking down from the pass at the final switchback, with a bit of snow to avoid.

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Looking down the west side,

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A bit after the junction with the Frigid Air Pass, looking up toward Point 12,648

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Looking back from near Frigid Air Pass, showing the false trail to the saddle left of Point 12,648.

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Looking back from Frigid Air, pretty steep up toward the top

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And down the northern side, crossed some of these easy snowfields

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Coming down the steep switchbacks next to the falls. Camped at the first spot below the falls.

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Day 2 - Fravert Basin to Snowmass Lake (6.6 miles & 5 hrs including breaks)
Depart Fravert Basin: 9:00am
Trail Rider Pass: 12:00pm
Snowmass Lake: 2:00 pm

The river crossing in Fravert Basin; nice way to get alert shortly after leaving camp


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The climb out of Fravert Basin was tough, probably the toughest on the loop for me. Here is a bit of the tough stuff above tree line

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Looking up shortly afterward, still plenty of elevation to go

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Finally near tree line, and some easy trail ahead. Trail Rider is the pass visible on the left of center

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A little down the trail, still easy going

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The last push up to Trail Rider Pass, not too difficult

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Looking back from Trail Rider, across the easy basin

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And down the Snowmass Lake side. Some of the snowfields that must be crossed

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Across the upper basin, and coming down into the lake, some of the rocky, snowy, muddy spots

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Probably the toughest spot on the loop for us, not that the snow traverse was steep, but the runout was rocky. Could probably have gone down and around.

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Plenty of company at Snowmass Lake. We built in a rest day there, so we opted to camp near the lake (more crowds), but I could attempt Snowmass Mountain and Ryan could fish. Otherwise, probably would be wise to continue on the trail down toward Snowmass Creek.

Day 3 - "Rest Day" and climb of Snowmass Mountain
Day 4 -Snowmass Lake to Maroon Lake (8.0 miles & 5 hrs including breaks)
Depart Snowmass Lake: 6:30am
Buckskin Pass: 9:00am
Maroon Lake: 11:30 am

We departed camp early to try to get back to Aspen by lunchtime. A great bridge crosses Snowmass Creek

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The climb up from Snowmass Creek wasn't too bad. We got to tree line quickly. Here is looking back from a bit more than half way up.

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As you get closer to Buckskin Pass, it looks like the trail is going to switchback up this gully.

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But you get to enjoy a long switchback to the north, above tree line and with great views to the west. Very enjoyable stretch

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Looking back on the long switchback, from just below the pass

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From just above Buckskin Pass on the north, showing the cornice and the trail on both sides

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And down the trail from the pass

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After 3 days on the trail, we were cruising back to the car (with sore legs and hungry stomachs) We didn't take many photos, but soon began to see day hikers, then Maroon Lake crowd, then the car. Perhaps the longest stretch was from Maroon Lake to the overnight lot.



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
ohhiker614
User
Great trip report!
8/3/2011 11:50am
I'll be doing the loop in a couple weeks and can't wait. I asked this on the main forum but haven't gotten any responses... how cold did it get at night?


archie32
User
Downed Trees?
8/3/2011 3:17pm
Did the loop last year weekend after July 4th. It doesnt look like you had to deal with the downed trees on the backside. Had it been cleared?


camden
User
camping
8/3/2011 4:16pm
can you recommend a good camping spot or stopping point for day 1 before the 1st pass?


emcee smith
User
Camping
8/3/2011 5:29pm
Tough to say; there are the few designated spots near the bent tree turnoff to Maroon, then if my memory serves, there were some decent level spots above tree line, but not improved or designated. I don't recall any/many designated ones after the bent tree, but we weren't looking either. There also seemed like several flat areas on the other side of Maroon and before Frigid Air, but all above tree line. Some of those spots looked very nice.


mikedh1980
User
More Camping
8/3/2011 6:14pm
I'm doing this hike (and bagging Snowmass, Maroons, and Pyramid) in about three weeks. I'll be coming in from Denver on the 25th and arriving late. Is it possible to throw down a quick and dirty campsite within the first mile of the trail? I'd like to avoid sleeping in the parking lot if possible.


emcee smith
User
Camping
8/7/2011 12:47am
Yes, there are some spots right after the junction for Buckskin Pass near Crater Lake.


MtnElvis
User
Great trip
8/20/2011 8:24pm
I've been on lots of backpacking trips, this one was the most picturesque, and probably the toughest. I thouroughly enjoyed it... It was great hiking with you Mike.


Total Redline
User
Snowmass Mt. add on?
3/4/2019 12:49am
We are doing the Four Pass Loop counter clockwise... If we start from a campsite at Snowmass lake, do you consider sumiting Snowmass mt. from the East slop and descending on the West slope, trail to Geneva lake, and onto the Basin camp site a reasonable task for a day? I thought "Might as well throw in the 14er cause the pass is 12500 anyways". We are going late late July BTW.


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