Day 2 - West Maroon Creek Valley to Fravert Basin

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Showers continue upon arising. We debate about the weather outlook. We eat breakfast and start packing up. More showers and we stop packing. Finally finish packing up. This is going to be a hard day as we are to go over both West Maroon Pass (12,500 feet) and Frigid Air Pass (12,380 feet).

So, first the 2nd W. Maroon Creek crossing, then up to the pass on broad switchbacks (about 3 miles and 1800 -1900 feet up). It is breezy and cold at the pass. Great views. We descend the other side to get out of the wind and eat lunch. Some sun now and more and more flowers. Descending another 800 feet, an unsigned (but cairned) trail junction is reached. For us, it is a right turn, heading toward Frigid Air Pass. More flowers of all varieties delight us in these vast alpine meadows. We start making guesses as to which low spot in the ridges ahead is THE Frigid Air Pass. Our first two guesses are wrong.

We reach another junction, near a small pond, that is signed and also has a cairn. Another right turn. The trail up to the pass is quite steep. Once on top, the views into Fravert Basin and of the Maroon Bells are more than adequate compensation.

Some showers are around, but remain off to the west. They completely miss us. Our descent, on a switchbacked trail, is about 1600 feet to a flat area near 10,800 feet. We are tired after about 8-9 miles. This section is lightly traveled. We've seen no one since W. Maroon Pass except a marmot or two. Almost all campsites we've seen have been marred by fire rings.

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