Category Archives: Colorado 14er

Longs Peak

I hiked Longs Peak again in early September. It was that ONE day when the weather was super nice. Sleeveless top at 14,259ft? Check!

Fairly crowded as you can tell from the photo of the “homestretch”.
Out of the forty hikers at the summit not a single one had a mask. People (including myself) were swapping phone to get each other’s picture. Very friendly place 🙂
What was fascinating is that later on, going back down, passing by other hikers as I was getting closer to the trailhead, I noticed that more and more were wearing masks. I’ve noticed the same thing on Grays Peak and also Torreys Peak (different time); confident hikers at the top of mountains not wearing any mask while, hikers who were not sure of themselves, either slow ones or those starting late in the day were wearing mask. The difference was striking really.
Some have tried to push the idea that this was a “macho” thing but really experience showed me otherwise.  One third of the hikers at the summit were women; not a single mask in sight.

 

Happy Birthday I guess. Anyway,

Hiking Torreys peak and Grays peak on July 10th, 2020.
2020 won’t be remembered as a particularly great hiking year that’s for sure but I’ll try to hike a few 14ers anyway. Even on a Friday it was very crowded (for a 14er that is) – People are really eager to get out there.

I love my new watch. Garmin Fenix 6 Sapphire.
A small plane passed over the summit of Torreys peak when I arrived. Very very close…

Mount Elbert, Colorado

Mount Elbert being the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains it was an obvious destination for my current training.
14,440 ft / 4401 meters
Hiking along the Black Cloud trail.
(note: photo of the full moon above Mt Massive the next morning. Shot from Leadville, Colorado)

Great view of Rinker Peak (center) and La Plata on the right

Reaching the ridge. Mount Elbert is still 2.1 miles away (right) along a ridge full of false summits.

Finally reaching the summit after seven hours and forty five minutes

Great views from the summit. La Plata Peak is the giant massif in the center.

Grays Peak, Colorado

April 14th. 2019

Still training for the climb of Mount Rainier, WA early May. Current routine is to be at the local gym between 4:30am and 6:30am for a two hour workout. Alternating cardio and weights.

Climbed Grays Peak starting from I70 since the road is mostly impassable. 13 miles round trip. 4400ft elevation gain. Very windy during most of the day with zero visibility from the summit.

Will try to do two more 14ers before leaving for Washington at the end of the month…

Mount Bierstadt, Colorado

After hiking up Bear Peak, Boulder last Saturday and Morrison Peak last Sunday I thought I’d climb my first 14er of 2019

Guanella Pass being closed I had to start at Naylor Lake Trailhead so it took a little bit longer than usual; 7:30 hour total for a 10.5 miles RT

Cold & windy. About 0 degree Fahrenheit with a windchill at -17F at the summit. Deep snow in the plain. I was sinking 2ft into the snow  even with snowshoes on.

Grays Peak Trail

Along the trail to Grays Peak. I turned around about a mile away from the summit at 12500ft. I wasn’t really expecting that much snow. Towards the end I was knee deep in snow if not worse. Time to start carrying winter gear I guess…

I’m glad I have that Jeep. The road up to the trailhead was a bit challenging…

Old house is still standing after all these years…

Little Bear Peak

There are 58 Peaks of +14000ft in Colorado. I’ve now hiked / climbed 57 of them. Culebra Peak (the private 14er) is left. I have mixed feelings about paying $150 for the permit and the place is closed for the season anyway so I have to wait for October 1st.

Little Bear peak is a whole different animal compared to the other Colorado 14ers. Very short in terms of distance but very steep. There are essentially three parts;
1) An 800ft climb in a steep gully full of rocks
2) A long hike on the southern slope going up 1000ft
3) Final climb through the infamous ‘Hourglass’

I met a group of climbers on my way up so I had some good company for most of the climb.

Chicago Basin – San Juan Mountains

08-27-2017

This group of +14000ft mountains required a little bit more work than usual. After driving for seven hours we took the train (narrow gauge) for a little while until a drop off at Needleton. Then we hiked…

These mountains (mostly Sunlight & Windom) are more technical and have more exposure than your regular 14er but are so much fun 🙂

  • Climbed North Eolus and Mt Eolus on Saturday 26th
  • Climbed Sumlight Peak and Windom Mnt on Sunday 27th before hiking the 13 miles back to the Purgatory trailhead. We failed 1.5 miles  before the TH and setup camp for one more night in the wild…

There was a fox near North Eolus playing / fighting with a marmot. The marmot ended up scaring the hell out of that fox 🙂
I also have quite a few shots of a mountain goat at the very summit of Mount Eolus.

Overall a great & long weekend of backpacking / climbing to bring my total number of 14ers to 54. Four to go…

Mt Sneffels, Colorado

08-19-2017

Since I was in the neighborhood after climbing El Diente Peak and Mt Wilson I thought I’d try Mt Sneffels…

Soon after the start at the Yankee Boy Basin…

Passed the saddle. First view of the gully…

Getting crowded here. Only Class 3 pitch of this 14er…

Summit view:

Summit view:

Parking lot on the way back. Mostly Jeeps 🙂

Road on the way back. Carved into the mountain.

El Diente Peak, Wilson Mountain

August has been crazy busy. Trying to finish all the Colorado 14ers I have left.

So far this summer; Wilson Peak, North Maroon Bell, El Diente Peak, Wilson Mountain, Mt Sneffels, N Eolus, Eolus Mountain, Sunlight Peak and Windom Mountain.

I’ve climbed / hiked 54 Colorado 14ers out of 58. Getting there…

Late afternoon arrival following the Dolores River. View of El Diente in the distance:

Class 3 only. Final approach through a gully:

Summit view of El Diente:

Traverse from El Diente to Mt Wilson. A few Class 4 along the way. It was a long long way…

From a gully about 200ft below Mt Wilson:

Mt Wilson summit view:

 

North Maroon Peak

Hiked / climbed North Maroon Peak last Sunday. A bit foggy but great climb.

Photo selection with comments. My shoes are awful for technical climbing I must say so I need to fix that problem before the next one.


Above: View of Pyramid Peak


Above: Maroon Lake / Crater Lake at sunrise


Climbing up the second gully…


Rest of the climb; big mess…


Summit view


View of Maroon Peak


On my way back. View of the trail up the first green gully.


View back at Maroon Lake. North Maroon Peak is the one in front / center.

Wilson Peak Climb

Climb of Wilson Peak from Navajo Basin Trailhead.

16 miles total and 5,000 feet elevation gain.
Here’s a visit of our beautiful Colorado. It‘s been an exceptional year in terms of snow pack and summer hiking still feels like Springs. The West Dolores river up to Navajo Lake is roaring. The weather was not particularly friendly but I managed to climb one 14000+ feet peak out of three. I guess I’ll have to come back…