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Mt. Huron
July 23, 2014
Total ascent 4,423 feet
Total distance 6.47 miles
Start time 0650
End time 1420
So we turned down Mt. Huron for our first family 14er the week before and climbed Elbert instead, but I had wanted to climb Huron for a couple of years, thanks to all the great trip reports about the beauty of the mountain (especially the wildflowers), and we were certainly not disappointed.
It was an absolutely wonderful hike, my favorite so far. If you have not done so yet, hike Huron. These pictures don't do the beauty justice, but here are a few examples.
This has been the summer of taking newbies to the top of mountains. We had taken two of our children's friends, Sport and Libby, to the Great Sand Dunes for a couple of days of camping (and hiking High Dune for sunrise - another beautiful experience), and while we were there, they asked to hike a 14er, so instead of returning to Westcliffe, we headed north to camp at the 2wd trailhead just outside of Winfield.
Our alarm went off at 0515, and we had breakfast, broke camp, and were on our way up the 4wd drive road by 0615. We have a 2008 AWD Hyundai Santa Fe, and we made it up without too much difficulty. A half mile into the drive we crossed a nice moving stream and then a pretty big dip in the road.
The rest of the road wasn't too difficult as long as you drive slowly, and we arrived at the trailhead (10,577 feet) and began hiking at 0650. Here we are, ready to go: our daughter Brett (11), Karen, our son Will (15), Libby (11), and Sport (one day shy of his 15th birthday).
We hit the creek crossing at 0700 and during the switchbacks came upon a very nice waterfall.
We arrived at the clearing with a wonderful view of the Three Apostles at 0750.
And then hit treeline at 0820 at 11,840 feet and 1.57 miles. It was at that point we split up with the boys going ahead and Karen and I staying behind with Brett and Libby. Here is a great early view of Huron in the distance.
We passed through the most beautiful fields of wildflowers and met a couple and their dog Yogurt who had camped in the basin - what a camping spot. We reached the high pond in the basin at 0900 at 1.98 miles and 12,323 feet. Sadie certainly enjoyed herself.
From there we slowly made our way up the switchbacks to the ridge. It was slow going with many stops, but the girls kept climbing. At 1035 we reached the beginning of the steep rocky section at 13,500 and 3 miles into the hike. This was by far the least fun part of the hike, both going up and going down.
We made it through that section thirty minutes later, reaching the upper ridge before the summit at 1105 and the summit itself at 1115 for a one way distance of 3.2 miles at an elevation of 14,003 feet. Here we are the top.
Here are Will and Sport at the top.
And here are the girls at the top, Brett's third and Libby's first 14er. Congratulations!
Brett again celebrates at the top of the mountain.
This was the twentieth 14er for Will and me so we needed picture in front of the Three Apostles to commemorate the event.
We left the summit at 1200, made it past the rocky section by 1235 and hit treeline by 1345. Unfortunately, we weren't able to linger in the beautiful basin because a storm came in. Here is a nice shot of us scampering down to treeline with the rain (and a little hail) falling.
We made it back to the trailhead by 1420 for a total distance of 6.47 miles and an elevation gain of 4423 feet. The kids made it. Another beautiful day on the mountain. And we finished with a celebration meal at Amica's in Salida.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
for a good trip report, especially the info about making it to the TH in a Santa Fe. That was particularly useful, as my hiking buddy has a SF and was apprehensive about driving beyond Winfield.
My kids (7 and 9) and I did this hike on Saturday the 2nd (we were at Florissant Fossil Beds the day of your hike). We had a few other climbs in our sights for that week, but it seemed to be raining everywhere we wanted to be!
I don't have anywhere near as good pictures so I doubt I'll write up a report of my own, but I'll add here that we started around 6:30 AM and made it back to the trail head in just under 7 hours. It is indeed a beautiful hike and very do-able for the kids. Our only issue was some tricky iced-over patches along the rain-soaked trail on the ascent.
Congratulations to you and your party on a successful climb!
I've been in Colorado for 2 years, and after many sedentary years in the Midwest, I've started biking again and took up hiking. I fell in love with Mt Shavano on a trip through Salida/ Poncha Springs, but knew I wasn't ready for that climb yet.
I read your Trip Report for Mt Elbert and made up my mind to tackle my first 14er. I hiked to 13000 feet on Elbert on 9/3 before my legs said stop. It was great!!! The weather was perfect, except for a really strong wind. The people on the mountain were so friendly and I spoke with a ranger lugging a big signpost to the top of the mountain who answered all my questions about which mountain was which and how do you climb down in scree. I now have summit fever!!
Your Trip Reports are so encouraging and positive as to be inspiring. The photo of a joyful Bree jumping in the air helped me to realize my new found dream of attempting a 14er. Thanks!!!
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