It was my last official day of summer as teachers were to head back to school the following day. I had high hopes of heading up into the alpine. But, unfortunately, the weather didn’t seem to want to cooperate. So, I decided to stay low and head to Ruby Anthracite on the far side of Kebler Pass. I grabbed Eddy, the borrowed dog that had become my best hiking partner over the season, and we headed out for our last summer adventure.

Sitting beneath Purple Peak and Avery in the Ruby Range, you will find the beautiful Blue Lake, a jem that is worth the long hike!

After hiking to Beckwith Pass earlier in the summer via 842, I put Cliff Creek on my list. Cliff Creek connects Beckwith Pass to Swampy Pass. I had wanted to hike the full trail while my parents were here, setting up a shuttle at Swampy Pass trailhead, but we got distracted by so many other hikes. So, I decided to take Eddy (borrowed dog) out for a nice Beckwith hike in a mid-August afternoon instead.

If there ever is a trail that makes me want to scream out singing, “The hills are alive…” it would be Scarp Ridge Loop. Scarp ridge is a prominent ridge line near Crested Butte that extends in a northwest direction from Red Lady (Mount Emmons) to just east of Purple Peak. The ridge can easily be reached by a loop trail that begins at the old Irwin Lodge. And, due to it’s location, Scarp’s ridge offers some spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Part way between Aspen and Crested Butte, beneath the slopes of East Maroon Pass, lies Copper Lake. Here’s what it’s like to hike to it!