Of all of Colorado's beautiful places, a scene photographed more than most is the Maroon Bells, the pair of purple-and-white striped fourteeners near Aspen. To see them at sunrise, reflected perfectly in Maroon Lake below, is simply stunning.
The peaks get their unique color and striated appearance from mudstone – which can be crumbly and fragile and very dangerous climb. A US Forest Service sign at an access trail warns that “The rock is downsloping, rotten, loose, and unstable. It kills without warning.” It goes on to say, “Expert climbers who did not know the proper routes have died [here]. Don’t repeat their mistakes, for only rarely have these mountains given a second chance.” Words to consider before you climb the Maroon Bells, also known as the Deadly Bells.
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado.
