I have had an infatuation with Conundrum Hot Springs since I found a collection of photos of my parents submerged in a beautiful hot spring with the incredible backdrop of an iconic Aspen valley. Partially, I love the photos because everyone says I look identical to my mom in them, but also seeing my parents as these free spirited backpacking types is so distant to the parents I know now. Not in a bad way, but raising kids leaves little time for weekend backpacking trips and constant adventures.
I’m so happy my brothers and I have graduated college and can actually dedicate much more time to family trips, that we actually appreciate. I’ve wondered where my deep obsession stems from with hiking and the outdoors, because I didn’t grow up in an “outdoorsy” family. We maybe camped once when I was growing up, but the minute I hit college, I became intertwined in the outdoor world, forever craving to fill all my time with hiking. So finding these photos solidified that I was not adopted, and showed me that my parents still very much enjoyed the outdoors, just struggled to find the time to plan trips, explore new trails, and commit to weekends away.
A few years ago, my brothers and dad began planning a boys trip up to Conundrum. I remember their planning discussion starting and ending with finding a reliable powdered alcohol to bring up. My dad got overwhelmed with the planning and figured he was too old to go (note he was 66 at the time).
Since my dad’s original “boys trip plan” fell through and this past year I’ve begun my backpacking extravaganzas, I was determined to do this trip… selfishly with or without my family. After seeing the photos of this luxurious spot, I decided I had to do it. I researched when to get the permit, set my alarm, and reserved a couple of dates. One to do with my friends, and one to do with my family if we somehow managed to prepare for such a hectic trip. I figured my dad at age 70 wouldn’t want to do the 20 mile backpacking trip…but I was so wrong.
The minute I mentioned the permit, a blinding sparkle crept into my dad’s eyes. He was sooooo excited. The preparations began. He started going to REI weekly to collect our camping necessities. He began walking around the park near our house with a weighted backpack and hiking boots. I would laugh as boxes and boxes of dried food arrived for our September trip.
After completing the trip the first time with my friends, I believed it would be doable for my family. I perhaps unfairly thought it was much easier than it was because I was in hiking shape, but I hoped with the right training my parents could crush it. But as the date crept up, I noted my parents had barely hiked the entire summer. They would do nature walks, and the one time we attempted a hike with packs, my dad had a diabetic scare as his blood sugar plunged from the taxing activity of hiking. I stressed thinking about all the things we would need to bring to make sure my rents were ready to rock.
Each week closer I got nervous something would go wrong. Our living room became an REI shrine, filling with more and more supplies. A few weeks before the set date, I decided to do the trip one more time to write down some easy camping spots for my parents to aim for when they did the trail. I went with my college friends and it snowed the night before we left causing a FREEZING night sleep. And the last two miles to the springs were too slippery for my parents to comfortably manage. With Corona, and my brother flying in, and the winter timeline approaching, I was constantly stressed if this trip my dad had been telling all of his friends about all summer would actually happen.
But the week came, we packed our bags with about 20 too many packs of freeze dried food each, and we drove to Aspen. My brother and I went separately because I couldn’t take off work. I hoped my parents and other brother would start extremely early to make a good chunk of the first day out of the way. My brother and I started on Friday, while my parents and other brother started Thursday. Early Friday morning, my brother and I left wondering when we would run into the rest of the gang.
About 3 miles in, we saw them chaotically preparing breakfast. I rolled my eyes that at this hour they hadn’t even packed up camp. I quickly began rolling up their tent, stuffing sleeping bags, and cleaning pots and pans. I encouraged them to get going and feared we wouldn’t make it to the springs by sunset.
The day rolled by slowly as we learned how taxing this would be on my parents. They were great sports, and I seriously could not stop taking photos of the adorableness. My dad reminisced on his outward bound days, and reflected on his previous trips to Conundrum. The leaves were in peak season, all golden and fluttering in the wind. The trail, despite being my third time on it, was still exceptional.
I was constantly cringing the entire day worried we wouldn’t make it or would have to use our satellite phone for an emergency. But my parents trailed onwards. My dad was definitely in pain and my mom is too stubborn to say if she was or not. My oldest brother and I decided to relieve my dad of his pack and begin stuffing things into our own. We looked ridiculous holding pieces of camping equipment with fully packed bags. My other brother graciously carried my dad’s 50 year old backpack (with metal frame and all) on his front side in addition to his heavy pack on his back.
My brother and I, with hands full of camping crap, decided to separate and speed hike to the campsite to set it up. The last miles were strenuous as it felt like we were almost sprinting. Taking brief breaks in the forest and dropping all my belongings, just to grab them all again swiftly and go on our way, we finally made it to the campsite.
My brother promptly grabbed a bag of wine (yes, my family brought two boxes of wine) and drank straight from it. We set up camp and regrettably returned to the trail to see if my other brother and parents needed any other help. Despite my legs being extremely sore, without the backpack I was fine returning.
As we returned to the trail, I was relieved to see the rest of the fam had made it! I hugged them joyously and showed them the very steep route to the hot springs and our campsite.
After settling and decompressing the absolutely chaotic trip, we went down to the hot springs and they were just as great as my father had remembered. I was cracking up the entire trip as my dad pointed out his favorite areas of the Conundrum and got overly excited about our freeze dried food. We were nestled with wine in hand and my dad with Everclear that he insisted on bringing. It was the best feeling in the world to have brought my parents back to where they had one of their first dates. It felt amazing to see my parents at their age still able to kick it with the kids. Even though the way out was a painful 8 hour day, we made it back to Aspen and got a hotel and a well deserved burger.
Conundrum Hot Springs will forever be a special place to me. Not only is it where my parents had one of their first dates, it’s a place my dad used to visit monthly when he lived in Aspen. It’s a spot I completed my first backpacking trip in Colorado. It’s the area I brought my college friends to be in awe of the most incredible hot springs in the world. The trail each time tricks me and enchants me, always longer than I expect, but always more beautiful than the time before. I’ve seen the trail covered in wildflowers, dusted with snow, and sprinkled with golden fall leaves. I’ve met various types of people in the springs from all over, offering a different perspective in such a chaotic time. I’ve always been challenged and rewarded and impressed at my abilities as a backpacker. This trip was so special to my family and I and reminds me how connected I am to my parents, even if they don’t resemble the crunchy granola side that I often resonate with.
Hailee Boyle Social Media Management 