Finally made it into Vestal Basin
Jamie and I had wanted to camp in Vestal Basin for years, and we finally made it happen. We spent 3 nights in the Weminuche Wilderness and covered about 21 miles along the way. We hiked in on the Colorado Trail before turning onto the side trail toward Vestal Peak.
The hike through the wilderness was beautiful and fairly approachable, but once we turned toward Vestal, things got steep, loose, and pretty wild. Vestal Peak rising above the basin at 13,866 ft was easily the highlight of the trip. We even spotted a blonde-phase black bear, which was a pretty unexpected encounter.
We chose this area because we'd wanted to camp in Vestal Basin for years, and finally getting to spend a few nights there was worth every step. The remote basin, rugged terrain, and massive granite walls made it an unforgettable 3-night backpacking trip with Jamie.