Mt. Elbert (14,443')

7.24.2011

Mt. Elbert, Standard Route

Climbing Party:  Aaron Dover, Amanda Harnden (1^st), Kelsey Breen, Kathryn Young, Katie Lewis, Scarlet, Henry & Oscar

Colorado High Point

10 miles round trip
Strenuous

After working a full shift at the Hyatt, left Denver at 2330 and met up with the rest of the party who had already set up camp at Elbert Creek campground, near Leadville.  After a quick kiss with Amanda, and breaking camp, we were on the trail at 3:00am.  

Smiling and pumped at the trailhead!

We quickly got on the trail, all 8 of us, and started making our way through the never ending forest.  This part of the trail is pretty daunting, and we all agreed on the way back down, its best we didn’t see this part of the trail during the daylight hours.  The truth is, it is a huge climb from the parking lot to treeline.  Without seeing the terrain too well, you just know you are climbing, and climbing, and climbing.  You finally reach treeline at about 11,900’.  Its about 2500’ vertical from where you start.  This is about the halfway point.  Luckily, we had clear skies, and a great view of nearby Leadville.  After gaining treeline, we started to see the evidence that the sun would be rising, and time to put away the headlamps and break out the cameras!  

Once above treeline, the trail starts to switchback, rather gently I might add, until you reach the eastern ridge.  Our early morning start rewarded us with spectacular views to the east as the sunlight started to paint the remaining low clouds with a red undertone that could only be described as “beautiful”.  Mt. Massive to the north looked, well, MASSIVE.  When the sun rose, it dawned on us, hey, we are going to go higher than that.  We saw what appeared to be a quick scamper up the remaining 1000’.  Most guidebooks describe this as the crux of the climb.  It is the peak that is in the foreground, and seems readily attainable after gifting your body to the mountain.  Once you get to the visible peak, you learn there is another summit to be gained, and after that, another one.  Wow, just found out my truck has a cracked head gasket.  The multiple false summits on this trail are very discouraging.  Each time you think you are at the top, there is one more summit to gain.  Repeat times four. 

Anyways, you keep climbing, and then see the summit along a ridge to your left.  It’s a quick traverse left to the summit.  What awaits? Gorgeous views all the way around, and if you have a great girlfriend, some bumps on a log!  There it is, the top of Colorado!  A view most will never see, and even fewer will see at sunrise.

X-Factor

This trip was complicated by a member of our party breaking in a new pair of hiking shoes.  The ascent was fine, but on the way down, the ill fitting shoes gave way to hot spots and blisters.  Trying to descend a mountain like this where every step is excruciating can be a very difficult situation.  It was actually more comfortable for the person to descend wearing two pairs of VERY thick wool socks.