What is Trek for Life?

Trek for Life is a memorial hike held during Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month to celebrate the lives of those no longer with us. We work to raise awareness and address the stigma associated with mental and behavioral health issues, raise funds that provide mental health services for those who are un(der)insured, and fight the high rate of suicide in the community.

We’re spreading the word that ‘You Don’t Have to Walk Alone’ because help is available for those who are struggling.

I will be celebrating the life of my son Kyle by hiking the West Maroon Trail — a hike he did the at same time in September of 2018 to coincide with the beautiful fall weather and changing colors of the Aspen trees.

The choice by someone to take their life is a very personal one with many varied reasons — social, economic, emotional, medical, substance abuse, and physical to name a few — underlying causes we’re working to address.

Registration &  Info

The Hike

This is an extraordinary ‘bucket list’ hike that begins at the Schofield Park Trailhead (10,448′), just past the town of Gothic about 11 miles outside of Crested Butte. The West Maroon Trail heads up the gorgeous Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness valley among the Indian Paint Brush, Lupin, and wildflowers to the top of West Maroon Pass (12,465′), about 4 miles. Once at the pass, you descend another 7 miles thru tundra, willow and pine forests, crossing streams and rocky scree before arriving at Crater Lake. For the final leg we pass through Aspen and pine lining the trail as Maroon Lake (9,580’) opens up before yu at the Maroon-Snowmass Trailhead in Snowmass, Colorado.

This 11-mile day hike is considered one of the most desirable hikes in the U.S. and is timed to coincide with the dry weather and beauty of the turning Aspen trees. This year we’ll also be doing the hike back over East Maroon Pass on Sunday.