Mount Elbert, Part II

I always hope to see some wildlife when I hike a 14er. Last year on Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, some mountain goats were my unexpected treat.  This year, I was pleasantly surprised by pikas!

I was resting at the summit when one came out practically at my feet!  My past experiences with them had all been from a distance, chirping at me with what always seemed like annoyance before disappearing into their rocky labyrinths.  This one, however, was completely at ease.  I almost had too much lens to get a good shot!

And it wasn't just one!  A buddy -- or girlfriend, or spouse, or possibly even a rival I suppose -- poked its head out shortly after the first.  I noticed its coat was much more brindle compared to the predominantly gray fur of the other one.

I only saw the second pika briefly, and it didn't return.  But the first one came back repeatedly.  Even gave me a pretty serious stare down.

Seriously, this pika was braver than any little begging ground squirrel I'd ever shared a summit with.  I couldn't believe how he moved around among the other hikers and our gear.

Wikipedia describes pikas as having a "very round body."  Not this one.  Not from where I was sitting.

Heading back down the mountain I heard the telltale chirp I was more familiar with.  And sure enough, I was being watched by a little tough guy who seemed to be making it clear to me that I was in his territory.

I felt pretty hardy, summiting another 14er.  Then I saw butterflies like this Edith's Checkerspot, and thought if they could make it up there me doing so probably wasn't all that special after all.

We stopped at treeline again for a break, and another hiker pointed out this red baby fir cone.  The afternoon light was hitting it just right, and it made a fitting final shot for a fabulous day!

Related Links:

• Mount Elbert, Part I
• Grays Peak and Torreys Peak
• Mount Sherman, Take One
• San Luis Peak

Mount Elbert, Part I

Back in Colorado for our annual summer visit, which for the second year in a row also included a 14er. This year the choice was Mount Elbert, the tallest peak in the North American Rockies at 14,439 feet.  I wondered if this would be the year that living practically at sea level would finally catch up with me and I wouldn't be able to summit.  Time would tell...

I left at about 4:30 in the morning to make the two-hour, 15-minute drive to the trailhead for the peak's north route, where I connected with a small group that included my former co-worker and frequent climbing partner Alicia Miller.  We were off before 7 a.m. and breezed through the fairly moderate section below treeline.  Emerging from the forest, the first false summit came clearly in view.

The weather was perfect, and the view of neighboring Mount Massive to the west was our constant companion.

I was really glad I'd read about the false summits along this trail, although by now I pretty much expect every climb to have them.  Kind of reminds me of that line from The Lost Boys: "One thing I never could stomach about Santa Carla -- all the damn vampires."  Except replace Santa Carla with Colorado, and vampires with false summits.

The final ascent to the first false summit was the most challenging part of the entire hike -- steep, rocky, and fairly exposed near the end.   But folks on their way back down were very encouraging, telling us that the trail got easier.  As the second false summit came into view, it was clear to see they were right.  A much gentler ascent with fairly solid footing and no exposure to speak of.

The views only got better as I got higher, like this look at Twin Lakes to the east ...

... and this vista to the southwest.

I forgot to mention that those view weren't even from the summit!  There was one final push to still be made, though it was admittedly short and not very steep.

I reached the top after a little more than five hours on the trail.  The altitude did affect me -- I had a hard time catching my breath once I passed treeline.  But my energy level, hydration, and muscle fatigue were all fine.  I was the third out of our six-person group to summit, which made me feel pretty good about my fitness level.

I know I keep harping about the views, but they really were tremendous.  Gorgeous sights in every direction, with the perfect amount of fluffy clouds in the sky.

Related Links:

• Mount Elbert, Part II
• San Luis Peak
• Mount Sherman, Take One
• Grays Peak and Torreys Peak

Mount Sherman, Take One

It's been more than two years since I climbed San Luis Peak. So when a friend asked if I wanted to join a group climbing Mount Sherman, I figured I was past due to bag another 14er.

We got an early start -- met at 5:30 and were on the trail by 7:45.  I was surprised how many other folks had started even earlier, as evidenced by all the parked cars.  It was chillier than I'd expected, too.  But it began to warm up quickly when the sun found a gap in the clouds.

Unfortunately that gap didn't last long, as clouds continued to roll in from the west.  And once we passed this talus field and mining ruins the wind picked up considerably.  Of course I'd neglected to bring gloves or a winter hat.  A fellow coming back down the trail said the winds near the summit were gusting about 50 miles an hour.  He'd stopped short and turned around due to safety concerns.  We decided to press on for now.

The pictures make the conditions look much better than they were, since I only stopped to shoot when the sun made a brief appearance.  My fingers were so numb I'd shoved my hands in my pockets trying to get the blood flowing again.  The clouds on the ridge were so thick we couldn't see the summit, and the wind was whipping tiny ice shards at our faces.  Once someone had the guts to suggest that we give up and head back, the notion was quickly approved by the group.

Of course, the clouds started to break up once we'd made it back down off the ridge.  But the wind was still blowing just as hard, so we didn't question our decision.

The fast-moving clouds did add to the great views on our descent.

I'm amazed at some of the ruins of old mining equipment you can find high in the mountains.  It was all I could do to carry my backpack up this high.  It's hard to imagine how people got some of this massive machinery up there, but easy to be impressed at the ingenuity, effort and determination it must have taken.

Frankly, the closer we got to being back at the trailhead the nicer the conditions became.  At least, the conditions down at 12,000 feet were nice.  Back up at 14,035 feet, I'm not so sure.

The sign we'd made and beers we'd brought to celebrate reaching the summit didn't go to waste.  They looked lovely amidst some remaining wildflowers.  And the beers still tasted pretty good.

Despite not reaching our goal, we had a really fun three hours.  Hopefully we'll get together again for another hike soon!