Asher on Aspen: Golden escapes

There’s something so serene about those two fleeting weeks between summer and fall in the mountains. The air becomes crisp, the leaves morph into a symphony of gold, and the landscape looks like a living painting. Words fall short of capturing that moment when autumn sweeps through, wrapping everything in warm hues. This past weekend, I took full advantage of this transition, escaping to Crested Butte with three of my closest girlfriends. Our mission: to catch up, recharge, and of course, “leaf peep” like nobody’s business.

The road trip to Crested Butte started off exactly how I imagined it would — carefree, windows down, belting out Zach Bryan lyrics at the top of our lungs. Taylor picked me up bright and early on Friday, and from the moment we hit the road, it felt like no time had passed since we last saw each other. Taylor is one of my oldest friends in Aspen. Ironically, we both grew up in Des Moines and ran in the same social circles but never crossed paths until we moved to Colorado. Eight years later, she’s still my ride-or-die, and our conversations flow effortlessly, never missing a beat.

As we wound through the mountains, we lost service but didn’t care — we were too busy diving deep into everything from our love lives to the highs and lows of navigating the first year of our thirties. It was one of those road trips where you completely lose track of time, just soaking in the moment. The scenery was surreal, and before we knew it, we were crossing Kebler Pass, which just so happens to be the largest aspen grove in Colorado. Pure magic.

In true “Shannon and Taylor” fashion, we were so engrossed in conversation that we failed to notice the gas gauge inching toward empty. At 20 miles to empty, panic set in. Of course, there wasn’t a gas station in sight for miles, and we were in the middle of the most remote part of the drive. Fortunately, we found a ranch near Kebler Point where a kind stranger topped us off with just enough gas to make it to Crested Butte. Crisis averted!

As soon as we arrived, we bee-lined it to Secret Stash, the go-to spot in town. Our two other girlfriends were waiting for us on the patio, drinks in hand, looking fabulous as ever. It was like a scene straight out of Sex and the City — four girls, Aperol Spritz in hand, gossiping and giggling under the warm afternoon sun. Kali had just gotten back from her honeymoon in Italy, and we were all dying to hear every detail. Let me tell you, nothing beats girlfriend catch-ups over pizza and cocktails. I hadn’t laughed that hard in weeks.

After a leisurely lunch and some retail therapy, we set out for a hike to the Umbrella Bar. Aspen’s leaves hadn’t fully turned yet, but Crested Butte was at its absolute peak. The trails were carpeted with golden leaves, and we couldn’t stop ourselves from repeating, “This is so beautiful!” over and over again. Honestly, the photos we took don’t even do it justice. That night, we retreated to Kali’s place, where she’d set up the most Pinterest-worthy charcuterie board you’ve ever seen. She’s one of those hostesses who just gets it — groceries pre-ordered, wine uncorked, and her famous salmon sizzling on the stove. We spent the evening around the firepit, roasting marshmallows and chatting about everything under the sun. Nothing fancy, just real moments with real friends.

The next morning, we hit the Upper Loop trail for a quick hike before our big horseback riding adventure at Fantasy Ranch. I’ve always felt a deep connection to horses, and this ride was no exception. My horse was majestic, strong, and undeniably beautiful. As we meandered through aspen groves, I couldn’t help but feel like I was living out some sort of fairytale, riding through this picture-perfect landscape. It was one of those moments where you wish time would just stand still.

After the ride, Shannon and I — feeling particularly silly — decided to attempt a TikTok dance. She’s probably the only friend I have who will humor me with things like that, and I love her for it. There’s something liberating about letting your guard down and just being goofy with your best friend. We laughed so hard, probably botched the dance entirely, but it didn’t matter. It’s moments like these that make me appreciate how lucky I am to have a friend like her.

Dinner that night was at The Breadery, a cozy spot perfect for our group. We stumbled upon the Vinotok Festival, which was this quirky celebration of harvest and community. We didn’t see much of the festival itself, but we got just enough of a taste to appreciate the town’s charm. The Breadery served everything family-style, which was ideal for us — we shared, we laughed, and we soaked in the last few hours of what had been the dreamiest weekend.

As I sit here reflecting on our girls’ trip, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful. The four of us are so different in so many ways, but those differences are exactly what make our friendship work. We all met in Aspen in our early twenties, navigating new careers, new relationships, and new challenges. Even though we now live in different cities, our bond remains. Weekends like this remind me how vital these friendships are — they ground me, uplift me, and make this wild journey through life that much more enjoyable.

Where would I be without my girlfriends?