Workers at the Little Annie's wedding site on Monday, June 9, 2014. This photo was picked up by the Associated Press.
Workers at the Little Annie\ Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The view just down the hill from the wedding site at the top of Little Annie Basin.
The view just down the hill from the wedding site at the top of Little Annie Basin. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The scaffolding on the wedding site on Monday, June 9, 2013.
The scaffolding on the wedding site on Monday, June 9, 2013. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
One of the funky cabins that characterize the Little Annie Basin, which has been protected by Pitkin County's Rural and Remote zone district.
One of the funky cabins that characterize the Little Annie Basin, which has been protected by Pitkin County\ Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A truck heading down Little Annie Road on Monday, June 9.
A truck heading down Little Annie Road on Monday, June 9. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A detail of the chapel with the peaks above the Castle Creek valley in the background, on Monday, June 9.
A detail of the chapel with the peaks above the Castle Creek valley in the background, on Monday, June 9. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The wedding site on Monday, June 9. A lot generators were hauled up the road to make the event possible.
The wedding site on Monday, June 9. A lot generators were hauled up the road to make the event possible. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A view of the wedding site on Monday, June 9, 2013.
A view of the wedding site on Monday, June 9, 2013. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A shot of the scaffolding on Monday, June 9, 2013.
A shot of the scaffolding on Monday, June 9, 2013. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A section of the Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13, 2014, the day before the wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin. While the road is passable without four-wheel drive, it is narrow, rocky and rutted in some spots. And there are no guardrails.
A section of the Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13, 2014, the day before the wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin. While the road is passable without four-wheel drive, it is narrow, rocky and rutted in some spots. And there are no guardrails. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Trucks heading down Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13.
Trucks heading down Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Dust following a platoon of trucks down Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13, 2014. The wedding organizers did hire a water truck to try and keep the dust down.
Dust following a platoon of trucks down Little Annie Road on Friday, June 13, 2014. The wedding organizers did hire a water truck to try and keep the dust down. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Some of the many trees that were brought up to dress up the wedding structures. Taken on Friday, June 14. On Monday, many of the trees were lying on their side off of the Little Annie Road.
Some of the many trees that were brought up to dress up the wedding structures. Taken on Friday, June 14. On Monday, many of the trees were lying on their side off of the Little Annie Road. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A view from Little Annie Road of the series of structures built for the wedding on June 14. Photo taken on June 13.
A view from Little Annie Road of the series of structures built for the wedding on June 14. Photo taken on June 13. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A view of the side of the big tent on the Little Annie wedding site, on June 13.
A view of the side of the big tent on the Little Annie wedding site, on June 13. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
What appeared to be part of the wedding-planning crew sizing up the chapel on Friday, June 13, the day before the big day.
What appeared to be part of the wedding-planning crew sizing up the chapel on Friday, June 13, the day before the big day. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A truck carrying tables and chairs from the June 14th wedding in Little Annie makes its way down Little Annie Road on Monday, June 16, 2014.
A truck carrying tables and chairs from the June 14th wedding in Little Annie makes its way down Little Annie Road on Monday, June 16, 2014. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
High winds on Monday, June 16 kicked up dust in an area between two tents erected for the June 14th wedding of Alexandra Steel and James Scott.
High winds on Monday, June 16 kicked up dust in an area between two tents erected for the June 14th wedding of Alexandra Steel and James Scott. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The structure that served as a cathedral for the June 14 wedding in Little Annie. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2014.
The structure that served as a cathedral for the June 14 wedding in Little Annie. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2014. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Dust from the wedding site blows over some of the shrubbery and trees used to decorate the wedding structures. Photo taken on Monday, June 16, 2104.
Dust from the wedding site blows over some of the shrubbery and trees used to decorate the wedding structures. Photo taken on Monday, June 16, 2104. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A construction worker removes decking from one of the wedding structures. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2014.
A construction worker removes decking from one of the wedding structures. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2014. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith/Aspen Journalism
Workers inspect damage after a fork lift operator loading crates full of china knocked a good portion of them onto the ground. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2104.
Workers inspect damage after a fork lift operator loading crates full of china knocked a good portion of them onto the ground. Photo taken Monday, June 16, 2104. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The site of the June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin on Monday, June 16. The winds were gusty Monday and dust clouds were rolling off of the site.
The site of the June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin on Monday, June 16. The winds were gusty Monday and dust clouds were rolling off of the site. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Heavy machinery is being used to help dismantle the structures built for a June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin.
Heavy machinery is being used to help dismantle the structures built for a June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The area behind the biggest tent on the wedding site was worn down to loose dirt on Monday, June 16.
The area behind the biggest tent on the wedding site was worn down to loose dirt on Monday, June 16. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Workers sort through a large pile of trash at the Little Annie wedding site, on Monday, June 16.
Workers sort through a large pile of trash at the Little Annie wedding site, on Monday, June 16. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A large contingent of workers were busy at the wedding site on Monday, breaking down what took a lot of time to put up.
A large contingent of workers were busy at the wedding site on Monday, breaking down what took a lot of time to put up. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin could not have happened without hundreds of truck trips up and down Little Annie Road. Photo taken on Monday, June 16, 2014.
The June 14th wedding at the top of Little Annie Basin could not have happened without hundreds of truck trips up and down Little Annie Road. Photo taken on Monday, June 16, 2014. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Dust swirling across the Little Annie wedding site on Monday, June 16, 2014.
Dust swirling across the Little Annie wedding site on Monday, June 16, 2014. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The area of the Little Annie meadow on June 23 after the removal of wedding structures used the night of June 14. When the structures had been dismantled and the site cleared, heavy equipment was used to loosen the compacted soil before seed was planted and then hand-raked in, according to a project manager on site.
The area of the Little Annie meadow on June 23 after the removal of wedding structures used the night of June 14. When the structures had been dismantled and the site cleared, heavy equipment was used to loosen the compacted soil before seed was planted and then hand-raked in, according to a project manager on site. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
A water tank being used to water re-seeded ground at the Little Annie's wedding site on Monday, June 23, 2014. The tank was slated to be removed on June 25 and the site left to its own devices.
A water tank being used to water re-seeded ground at the Little Annie\ Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
The Little Annie Basin wedding site on Monday, June 23, the day the last pieces of heavy equipment at the site were trucked down Little Annie Road. The well-trodden site had been prepared by a professional landscaper, seeded, hand-raked and hayed. On Monday, the project manager was setting out sprinklers connected to a generator and a water tank, which was expected to come off the hill on June 25.
The Little Annie Basin wedding site on Monday, June 23, the day the last pieces of heavy equipment at the site were trucked down Little Annie Road. The well-trodden site had been prepared by a professional landscaper, seeded, hand-raked and hayed. On Monday, the project manager was setting out sprinklers connected to a generator and a water tank, which was expected to come off the hill on June 25. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
One of the last truck loads of material - in this case rubbish - being driven down the Little Annie Road on June 23 rom the site of a wedding on June 14.
One of the last truck loads of material – in this case rubbish – being driven down the Little Annie Road on June 23 rom the site of a wedding on June 14. Credit: Brent Gardner-Smith / Aspen Journalism
Looking down from a public road on the Little Annie wedding site on Monday, June 23, 2014.. The project manager was setting out sprinklers connected to a water tank..
Looking down from a public road on the Little Annie wedding site on Monday, June 23, 2014.. The project manager was setting out sprinklers connected to a water tank..

Brent Gardner-Smith founded Aspen Journalism in 2011. He also served as AJ’s first executive director, from 2011 until 2021, and as its first editor, until 2020. He's also been the news director at Aspen...