Grays Peak Trip Report 09/05/2014

Peak(s):	Grays Peak - 14,275 feet
Date Posted:	09/05/2014
Date Climbed:	08/29/2014
Author:	paul109876

Finally...Success!!!!
Over my last few trips out west I've had a heck of a time trying to get Grays under my belt. A couple of years ago we started to head up Grays, my wife and I hiked up from the parking lot right off of the Bakersville exit. We arrived to the trail head, I went inside to use the outhouse, came out and it was snowing like hell. She was not prepared for a snow hike. And I was not prepared to drag her somewhere she did not want to go. The following year, we drove from Indiana to the Bakersville exit, camped out there overnight in the light of a full moon. It was beautiful. We woke up early started up the mountain and when we reached the point where the trail splits to the saddle towards Torreys or up the hill towards Grays I got sick. The altitude caught up with me and I had a skull buster going on. We shouldn't have camped out over night at 10,000+ feet coming directly from Indiana with a grand altitude of 850 ft. So this year I had my routine physical ( I'm 50+) and the Dr. told me that I was anemic. A couple of months prior I was at my peak condition but started feeling run down a bit. My run times were slower and I could not pound out as many verticle feet on the treadmill as I could previously. I ignored the Dr's diagnosis, manned up and headed to Colorado to hike in late May hoping to get in a snow climb. What a dumbass. I got sick as hell. Hiked to Sniktau and paid a heavy price. I did some research and asked some questions and long story short It turned out that the anemia was due to prescription NSAID's I was taking for arthritis. I stopped them, managed the pain a different way and the blood work came back to normal over a 10 week period. So, here it is late August, I've got all of my red blood cells and was just itching to put them to good use. So we headed out.... Flew into Denver and stayed the night, the next day we went to Central city and gave money to the cause. Then drove to West Vail and stayed there. Spent a day in Glenwood Springs Seeing the sights ect. Each day I was performing some shorter cardio sessions in the hotel while wearing my wrist/heart monitor to try to set my pace. August 29th at 5:00 a.m. I hit the trail!!!! I drove to the Bakersville exit and drove 1.3 miles up the dirt road and decided not to push my luck and parked. (this was based on some the TH reports I had read) which after hiking the road I could have easily driven the rest of the way up in the Kia Sportage AWD. It was cool hiking in the dark, seeing the stars hearing the water running down stream and seeing a few glowing eyes. A couple of vehicles stopped and offered me a ride up which I greatly appreciated but declined. I wanted this hike to be all me. I got to the trail head a little after 6:00 and the sun light was just starting to break so I could shed my headlamp drank some Gatorade and headed on. I put on my head phones and had at it. Stopping about every 40-45 minutes to drink up, take photos and say Hello to a few folks. Lorde, Fergie, Eagles, Rob Zombie, Blake Shelton and Red Hot Chili Peppers they all helped. I apologize to anyone who may have been behind me, I tried to keep a close eye out as to not to hold anyone up or subject them to the shallowed breathing tones of the "Girls Round Here", " Give it away now" or " London Bridge" At 1st the clouds covered the summits of Grays and Torreys and the saddle but as the day went on the mist slowly burned off and the skies cleared to leave some scattered puffy clouds floating around. I reached the summit around 10:15 and a group of younger folks followed up behind me. We took pictures for one another, I grabbed some summit photos of the valleys and headed back down in quick fashion. I did not want another one of those anvil pounding headaches to show up. I'd trot, skip, slip and dance around the rocks for a while and then stop to fuel up again. By noon I was back down to the trail head and headed down the road. Again, folks offered me a ride down, which again I greatly appreciated but turned down. My goal was set to make this a 12 mile hike which I did. After that last couple of years I needed this success, it did my heart, mind and soul good. But played hell on my legs. The following morning I walked like I had been on a long cattle drive riding a barbed wired saddle in a thong. Soaked in the hot tub at the hotel, did the steam bath thing and stretched repeatedly. And by golly by Sunday morning they were just about like new again and ready for Democrat. This turned out to be a great trip.There's nothing much better than the taste of success. Lessons learned: Listen to the Dr. Acclimate slowly Plan a little better on what I carry Be Careful on which songs I sing out loud. (Milk Shakes don't really bring boys to my yard!) Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Finally...Success!!!!

Over my last few trips out west I've had a heck of a time trying to get Grays under my belt.

A couple of years ago we started to head up Grays, my wife and I hiked up from the parking lot right off of the Bakersville exit.
We arrived to the trail head, I went inside to use the outhouse, came out and it was snowing like hell.
She was not prepared for a snow hike. And I was not prepared to drag her somewhere she did not want to go.

The following year, we drove from Indiana to the Bakersville exit, camped out there overnight in the light of a full moon. It was beautiful. We woke up early started up the mountain and when we reached the point where the trail splits to the saddle towards Torreys or up the hill towards Grays I got sick.
The altitude caught up with me and I had a skull buster going on. We shouldn't have camped out over night at 10,000+ feet coming directly from Indiana with a grand altitude of 850 ft.

So this year I had my routine physical ( I'm 50+) and the Dr. told me that I was anemic. A couple of months prior I was at my peak condition but started feeling run down a bit. My run times were slower and I could not pound out as many verticle feet on the treadmill as I could previously.
I ignored the Dr's diagnosis, manned up and headed to Colorado to hike in late May hoping to get in a snow climb. What a dumbass. I got sick as hell. Hiked to Sniktau and paid a heavy price.

I did some research and asked some questions and long story short It turned out that the anemia was due to prescription NSAID's I was taking for arthritis. I stopped them, managed the pain a different way and the blood work came back to normal over a 10 week period.

So, here it is late August, I've got all of my red blood cells and was just itching to put them to good use.
So we headed out.... Flew into Denver and stayed the night, the next day we went to Central city and gave money to the cause. Then drove to West Vail and stayed there. Spent a day in Glenwood Springs
Seeing the sights ect. Each day I was performing some shorter cardio sessions in the hotel while wearing my wrist/heart monitor to try to set my pace.

August 29th at 5:00 a.m. I hit the trail!!!! I drove to the Bakersville exit and drove 1.3 miles up the dirt road and decided not to push my luck and parked. (this was based on some the TH reports I had read) which after hiking the road I could have easily driven the rest of the way up in the Kia Sportage AWD.
It was cool hiking in the dark, seeing the stars hearing the water running down stream and seeing a few glowing eyes.
A couple of vehicles stopped and offered me a ride up which I greatly appreciated but declined. I wanted this hike to be all me.

I got to the trail head a little after 6:00 and the sun light was just starting to break so I could shed my headlamp drank some Gatorade and headed on.
I put on my head phones and had at it. Stopping about every 40-45 minutes to drink up, take photos and say Hello to a few folks. Lorde, Fergie, Eagles, Rob Zombie, Blake Shelton and Red Hot Chili Peppers they all helped.

I apologize to anyone who may have been behind me, I tried to keep a close eye out as to not to hold anyone up or subject them to the shallowed breathing tones of the "Girls Round Here", " Give it away now" or " London Bridge"

At 1st the clouds covered the summits of Grays and Torreys and the saddle but as the day went on the mist slowly burned off and the skies cleared to leave some scattered puffy clouds floating around.
I reached the summit around 10:15 and a group of younger folks followed up behind me.

We took pictures for one another, I grabbed some summit photos of the valleys and headed back down in quick fashion. I did not want another one of those anvil pounding headaches to show up.
I'd trot, skip, slip and dance around the rocks for a while and then stop to fuel up again. By noon I was back down to the trail head and headed down the road.

Again, folks offered me a ride down, which again I greatly appreciated but turned down. My goal was set to make this a 12 mile hike which I did.

After that last couple of years I needed this success, it did my heart, mind and soul good. But played hell on my legs. The following morning I walked like I had been on a long cattle drive riding a barbed wired saddle in a thong.
Soaked in the hot tub at the hotel, did the steam bath thing and stretched repeatedly. And by golly by Sunday morning they were just about like new again and ready for Democrat.
This turned out to be a great trip.There's nothing much better than the taste of success.
Lessons learned:
Listen to the Dr.
Acclimate slowly
Plan a little better on what I carry
Be Careful on which songs I sing out loud. (Milk Shakes don't really bring boys to my yard!)

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

paul109876	Thank 14ers.com 9/6/2014 10:45am Over the last few years I've posted a few questions on this site and have gotten great responses from a lot of people. Planning, exercise, equipment and even some medical experiences. This site has a fantastic community that generally supports and teaches one another. Not only online but on the trail as well.
Wish I lived in CO	Great Job! 9/11/2014 7:48pm Congrats on your determination over a few attempts / years. I've been there too.

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App