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Peak(s):  Mt. Bross  -  14,178 feet
Mt. Lincoln  -  14,293 feet
Mt. Cameron  -  14,248 feet
Mt. Democrat  -  14,154 feet
Date Posted:  07/09/2012
Date Climbed:   07/08/2012
Author:  CO Native
 Ethereal Sunrise   

Distance: 7.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,520
Round trip time: 4 hours

My family had left town for a week. The prior weekend I had plans to climb Mount Massive but that fell through due to being on standby still for the Waldo Canyon Fire. The 4th of July I had plans to climb Little Bear with a friend, but due to vehicle problems we never made it down there. Saturday I climbed Castle Peak with a friend (see my earlier trip report) but since we were able to drive so high up the road I was left a little unsatisfied. My family wouldn't be home until Sunday afternoon. I didn't have a partner so I wanted to stick to an easy route, and I didn't have a lot of time since I needed to be in Colorado Springs by 11:30. I decided to try for Bross and Lincoln since I'd only climbed them once. I'd already climbed Democrat and Cameron a few times so I wasn't worried about getting them.

I left my house in Woodland Park at 3 am, got to the trailhead at 4:20 and was hiking by 4:25. I made the summit of Bross by 5:30 and while on the Bross-Lincoln saddle watched one of the most beautiful sunrises I'd ever seen. I didn't leave the summit of Lincoln until 6:20 after deciding I should go to the Cameron Democrat saddle and decide about getting Democrat as well. I reached the saddle at 6:55 and decided to go for it. I was on the summit of Democrat by 7:20. I spent a little time there chatting with another hiker and waiting to see if the clouds would clear off. They didn't. I then hiked back to my car and was there by 8:15. Just under 4 hours round trip.

I must also add a warning about the speed trap west of Alma. The town now owns about a mile and a half of the lower part of the road. They've posted a ludicrous speed limit of 15 mph and are enforcing it heavily (I'm assuming to fund their police department). Do not speed on this section of road.

Full Trip Report Here

Lincoln on Fire:
Image
Lincoln on Fire


Speed trap (thankfully not me):
Image
Speed Trap


Pre-sunrise:
Image
Pre-sunrise


The summit of Democrat?:
Image
Democrat Summit?



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4


Comments or Questions
ameristrat
User
That pre-sunrise picture
7/10/2012 3:49am
is gorgeous. What kind of camera do you use?


CO Native
User
Point & Shoot
7/10/2012 4:07am
I just have a point and shoot camera. It's really nothing special. It's several years old too. It's discontinued and even it's replacement model has been replaced now. It is a Canon though, tough to go wrong with that brand.


zdero1
User
Wow
7/10/2012 5:25am
Amazing lenticular over Bross and the Mt. Lincoln shot is incredible. Not only that but getting to touch the clouds, viewing tons of wildflowers, and probably seeing lots of streams and waterfalls. Plus a few summits. What more could you ask for in a hike. Thanks for posting.


kangell
User
Partner any time
7/10/2012 2:04pm
You know that I can go just about any day during the summer?


CO Native
User
Kevin
7/11/2012 2:10pm
I didn't even come up with the idea until Saturday afternoon so I just assumed everyone else would have had plans already. I'll keep that in mind next time though. You do have quite a flexible schedule. The pay teacher's get is pretty sad, but man am I jealous of the summer vacation.



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