Gray Wolf Mountain Trip Report 09/25/2012

Peak(s):	Gray Wolf Mountain - 13,604 feet Mt. Spalding - 13,863 feet The Sawtooth - 13,780 feet "West Evans" - 14,257 feet Mt. Blue Sky - 14,268 feet
Date Posted:	09/25/2012
Date Climbed:	07/23/2012
Author:	rking007

The quiet neighbors of Evans
Viewing with large photos only increases the sweetness of the eye candy... Lately I've been enjoying 13ers and more to the point, 13ers in the Front Range. It's actually a pretty great way to see some of the more popular 14ers from a different vantage and it also almost guarantees some solitude and peace to just... be. I've also been working hard on my photography and this would be my first trip out with my new 24-105 L series IS. Sorry this is a late entry but I finally had some time to edit my photos. July was a small tour of Evans from Summit Lake. I really do enjoy this area even if it tends to be as busy as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It just takes a little more walking to get outside that bubble and into your own. Heading up the standard Spaulding trail right at sunrise. The locals seem to enjoy it as much as I do. As I begin to leave the shoulder of Spaulding I duck down on the north side on a small ledge and sneak Long's Peak into the shot above the jagged south face of the Chicago Lakes valley. I follow the rim and marvel as the sun rises further to bathe this cool area in warm morning light. As I top out onto Gray Wolf, I turn around to find this scene. I rest, reflect, and snack. I love this. I can be still here and turn my thoughts inward. There is no wind and the new days sun is warm enough to chase out the dark places inside. As I make my way back down the marshy valley and back towards the proper summit of Spaulding, I get a little pano practice in. I really do hate the stitching software Canon gives you with the 30d (or even 40d) as it doesn't blend well at all but for now, it will do as I continue to hone the shooting portion of the skill. Squaretop, Argentine, Wilcox, Grays and Torreys The climb back up to Spaulding yields one of two meetings I would have that day. Two women out for a dayhike. I chat with them and discover that they have both finished all the 14ers and are still going strong into their fifties and sixties. I can only hope I will have that much vigor in another 25 years. En route to the Sawtooth, this little guy tried to camouflage himself and I almost tripped right over him. Standing on one of the pointy points right below the summit of the Sawtooth I grab a pano of the Sawtooth traverse. Three image vertical pano I pause on the summit of the Sawtooth and remember it as my first class three maneuver with my brother a few years ago, thinking how exhausted I was and scared to walk that ledge but now, I would gladly do it again and almost do but it's not the goal for the day. Now it's time to head up to West Evans and then Evans and back down to the lake. I meet another climber who has just come off the Sawtooth and we hike for a bit together. I'm sorry I don't remember your name but glad you had a great climbing trip! Hope you made it back to Texas safely. He passes me as I continue to shoot and stick to the ridge of Evans bypassing the trail. The ridge of Evans with Spaulding and Gray Wolf in the background At the summit, there are the expected crowds and I kinda feel funny dressed for adventure while everyone else is in jeans and t-shirts and carrying mini poodles and etc... but it's cool. This was one of my first places to experience the awesomeness of the Rockies. I came down the standard gully and I don't care how you slice it, it sucks. There is no relief gained from poles, or switching back or following the... 'trail'. Just a big crap-fest. While walking back to the lake I see several people out in the fields with cameras for a photo class trip, several nuns up at the shelters milling around a bus and a group of Middle Eastern folks making their way down to Summit Lake. It's like people watching at the airport but in a way better venue... Anyhow, a great day spent on the 13ers around the Evans area! Thanks for reading! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

The quiet neighbors of Evans

Viewing with large photos only increases the sweetness of the eye candy...

Lately I've been enjoying 13ers and more to the point, 13ers in the Front Range. It's actually a pretty great way to see some of the more popular 14ers from a different vantage and it also almost guarantees some solitude and peace to just... be. I've also been working hard on my photography and this would be my first trip out with my new 24-105 L series IS. Sorry this is a late entry but I finally had some time to edit my photos.

July was a small tour of Evans from Summit Lake. I really do enjoy this area even if it tends to be as busy as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It just takes a little more walking to get outside that bubble and into your own.

Heading up the standard Spaulding trail right at sunrise. The locals seem to enjoy it as much as I do.

As I begin to leave the shoulder of Spaulding I duck down on the north side on a small ledge and sneak Long's Peak into the shot above the jagged south face of the Chicago Lakes valley.

I follow the rim and marvel as the sun rises further to bathe this cool area in warm morning light.

As I top out onto Gray Wolf, I turn around to find this scene. I rest, reflect, and snack. I love this. I can be still here and turn my thoughts inward. There is no wind and the new days sun is warm enough to chase out the dark places inside.

As I make my way back down the marshy valley and back towards the proper summit of Spaulding, I get a little pano practice in. I really do hate the stitching software Canon gives you with the 30d (or even 40d) as it doesn't blend well at all but for now, it will do as I continue to hone the shooting portion of the skill.

Squaretop, Argentine, Wilcox, Grays and Torreys

The climb back up to Spaulding yields one of two meetings I would have that day. Two women out for a dayhike. I chat with them and discover that they have both finished all the 14ers and are still going strong into their fifties and sixties. I can only hope I will have that much vigor in another 25 years.

En route to the Sawtooth, this little guy tried to camouflage himself and I almost tripped right over him.

Standing on one of the pointy points right below the summit of the Sawtooth I grab a pano of the Sawtooth traverse.

I pause on the summit of the Sawtooth and remember it as my first class three maneuver with my brother a few years ago, thinking how exhausted I was and scared to walk that ledge but now, I would gladly do it again and almost do but it's not the goal for the day.

Now it's time to head up to West Evans and then Evans and back down to the lake. I meet another climber who has just come off the Sawtooth and we hike for a bit together. I'm sorry I don't remember your name but glad you had a great climbing trip! Hope you made it back to Texas safely. He passes me as I continue to shoot and stick to the ridge of Evans bypassing the trail.

The ridge of Evans with Spaulding and Gray Wolf in the background

At the summit, there are the expected crowds and I kinda feel funny dressed for adventure while everyone else is in jeans and t-shirts and carrying mini poodles and etc... but it's cool. This was one of my first places to experience the awesomeness of the Rockies.

I came down the standard gully and I don't care how you slice it, it sucks. There is no relief gained from poles, or switching back or following the... 'trail'. Just a big crap-fest.

While walking back to the lake I see several people out in the fields with cameras for a photo class trip, several nuns up at the shelters milling around a bus and a group of Middle Eastern folks making their way down to Summit Lake. It's like people watching at the airport but in a way better venue...

Anyhow, a great day spent on the 13ers around the Evans area! Thanks for reading!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

theguydog14	Awesome pictures 9/26/2012 1:28pm love the wildlife
SolarAlex	that shot of the goat 9/29/2012 1:59am that shot of the goat on the ledge is one of the best photos ive seen in a while. he looks so perfectly content...very cool
cftbq	Nice 9/29/2012 7:20pm Photo #5 is a real winner.
Ritzn1	Amazing Pics 5/3/2021 11:35am I've been up on parts of this route, in less sunny conditions. I really want to explore it more thoroughly in better weather. Thanks for the perspectives! I will be back!

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