Snowshoeing is something I had never done until this morning! I have been devoting more energy towards new activities in my life, and there are many more firsts on the agenda: I need to write a book, fly fish, do some skiing, get a podcast show for this web site, ride my bike across America, and visit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the summer when its 115 degrees. All in time! ;)

Special thanks to the helpful people at The Trailhead Outdoor Store in Buena Vista for renting me snowshoes. Also, kudos to my ex-neighbor Jennifer for giving me a Camelbak water backpack over a year ago. For whatever reason, I stubbornly never used it, but with me turning over a new leaf about new things, I used it and I doubt I'll ever go back to lugging around large water bottles again!

It was quite enjoyable to get out in the snow and hike around for a couple of hours. I merely hiked up to "Heart Attack Hill" (no more than maybe one mile one way) and walked about snowy areas at the pass, but it was a glorious snowy Colorado morning. It's June 1 and there is still plenty of snow in the high country ... That's something to be grateful for!

Enjoy some of my photos below!

All the best,
-Steve :)

Photo Gallery - Snowshoeing at Independence Pass

	A nice shot of my snowshoes, poles and water backpack.
	The "standard view" of the Independence Pass sign. There is still plenty of snow up there, but it is seeming to be melting rapidly.
	A photo of Snowdrift Ridge (right) and the mountains that surround Mountain Boy Gulch.
	It was really fun to be on snowshoes!
	This is "Heart Attack Hill." It's a very gentle slope southwest of the pass that leads to Snowdrift Ridge. The skier up there helps gives some perspective.
	A few photos of snowy mountains at the top of the hill.
	At first, I had considered hiking all the way to the top of the ridge, but the lack of snow in many parts turned me off from proceeding. I really didn't want to take my snowshoes off and I wasn't crazy about hiking so close to the snow cornices. Instead, I hiked all around the pass and got a good 90 minute workout in. It was my first time snowshoeing and I just wanted to have fun.
	More snowy Colorado mountains! Here are my other pages at Independence Pass: Independence Lake Independence Ghost Town Hike To Snowdrift Ridge (2006) Independence Pass Sunset Friends at Independence Pass (2006) Drive with Friends To Aspen (2002) My Independence Pass Web Site (Other Photos) A few more pages in the area: Twin Lakes (Bike) Twin Lakes "Snowy Mountains" Leadville Granite Redstone Mt. Yale Hike Fremont Pass Buena Vista Mtns. & Scenery Vicksburg & Winfield Ghost Towns
	There were quite a few skiers up there. I met Steve from Minnesota (bottom photo), who is on a mission to ski in every month of 2007. Obviously, coming to Colorado was a wise option during the warmer months. I had the honor of photographing him skiing as proof and I e-mailed him the photos. ;)
	The pathway that leads to the overlook at Independence Pass.
	The upper most switchback on the east side of Independence Pass.
	Coming down, the second major switchback is a common spot where skiers coming down Snowdrift Ridge meet and drive back up to the pass. I gave a hitchiker skier a ride back up last week and I credit that anonymous gentleman for motivating me to get active out there in the snow!