Yesterday, after we spoke with the last few restaurants in town, Casey and I took a drive up to Independence Pass, just East of Aspen on Highway 82. The change in scenery as you leave town is dramatic and very sudden. Just over a mile after leaving twenty million dollar homes and stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton, we were surrounded by national forest, huge mountain peaks, and unspoiled valleys. The top of Independence Pass is about 20 miles from the center of Aspen and is filled with spectacular vistas and harrowing corners overhanging large cliffs. The road narrows to one lane in many spots and oncoming RV’s tend to make things interesting.

Part way up to the pass, at 11,000 feet, is the historic mining town of Independence. The town was settled in 1879 after a large gold deposit was discovered. At one time over 1,500 people lived in the boom town that had 4 general stores, brothels, and many saloons. The town lasted less than 3 years, and quickly became a ghost town once the gold was gone. Many of the miners moved on to the newly formed town of Aspen for its milder weather and silver mining opportunities.

The top of Independence Pass is located at 12,095 feet, making it one of the highest paved roads in the United States. It crosses the Continental Divide, providing some incredible views of the surrounding mountains. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Later in the evening, Casey and I decided to check out a movie called “Bottle Shock” playing at the Wheeler Opera House. The Wheeler is a historic theater that has been restored multiple times since it was built in 1889, and it currently hosts many events in the Aspen area. The actual theater is on the third floor of the building, and is one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen a movie. The screen was huge, the sound was amazing, and the atmosphere was something out of the early 1900’s. We were easily the youngest people in the theater by about 10 years, but we still had a great time. Bottle Shock is a movie about the popularization of Napa Valley wines in the 1970’s, and we both gave it great reviews.

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