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Peak(s):  Grays Peak  -  14,275 feet
Torreys Peak  -  14,272 feet
Date Posted:  10/04/2014
Date Climbed:   09/02/2014
Author:  rob runkle
 Grays and Torreys - Stevens Gulch   

Scott and I chose Grays and Torreys as our final mountains for this trip. We chose them primarily because of close location to Denver, but we also had gotten a four-wheel-drive vehicle and knew that that would be useful getting up that particular trailhead. And we didn't know if in future trips we would get a four-wheel-drive. Plus I had already done Grays and Torreys three times, and honestly, it is still one of my favorite groupings. I knew that Scott would love it. He would get two peaks, if we were successful, and there was a slight possibility that we would do the Kelso Ridge, one of my favorite routes. Like every other morning we got up at around 430AM, left the hotel, and were at the trailhead around 530AM in the morning. We decided the previous night that we probably wouldn't end up doing the Kelso Ridge. We both just wanted a nice mild hike for the final day, and thought it would be more enjoyable just to take the regular route.

I should mention that the road up to the trailhead was pretty nice. I had heard that earlier in the season it was not quite passable by 2WD, but today I felt like I could've made it in a 2WD. Along the road we did pick up another hiker who had parked at the bottom. He appreciated the drive to the upper trailhead. As already mentioned we got started about 530AM in the morning. We quickly crossed the bridge that marks the clear trailhead start and started up the trail. The bottom sections of this trail are easy and actually pretty enjoyable. Overall this is one of the more enjoyable 14ers. This being the fourth day, I was actually feeling pretty good today, and Scott was also feeling pretty good. Today's weather conditions were probably the best of the trip. It was windy but it wasn't sustained and we are able to get behind a windbreak for a majority of the hike. I'd say that winds were 20 to 30 miles per hour max and certainly not sustained. We continued up the trail and to the base of Grays. At that point the trail becomes only mildly more difficult, but still stays class one. It's a little more rocky.
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Torreys!
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Heading up Grays
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Pic down in the Basin

We made it up the switchbacks up the face Of Grays, and somehow missed the final set of switchbacks go completely up the face. Ultimately we ended up on the saddle between Grays and Torreys. We're able to easily gain the summit of Grays from the saddle. When we got to the top it was a bit windy but not too bad. At this point I hadn't had a jacket on. I put my jacket on but I was quite comfortable. We made the summit of Grays in about three hours. We spent just over 10 minutes on top of Grays, took some pictures, made some phone calls, then headed towards Torreys.
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Torreys from Grays Summit

The route off of Grays, towards Torreys, wasn't too bad. It was a little icy. It wasn't dangerous, by any means, but you did have to watch your footing, if you didn't want to land on your butt. We got down to the saddle and back up to the summit of Torreys in about 45 minutes. Torrey's was probably my favorite peak of the week, similar to Lincoln, with its summit more exposed and having a nice prominence.
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Grays from Torreys Summit
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Pic down the Kelso Ridge
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Rob and Scott on Torreys

Reminiscing, I walked over to the top of the Kelso Ridge and took a look down. It was pretty windy today so I think doing the ridge probably would not have been quite as enjoyable. So I'm glad we took the regular route. It was good to be able to see the ridge from the top. I've done the Kelso Ridge twice and honestly I don't think I've ever turned around and looked to see the crux from the top. From the top of Torreys, looking down the Kelso Ridge, you can clearly see the final crux moves, the knife edge and the crux slab. So if you're interested in doing the Kelso Ridge and have time to do the regular route first, I would recommend doing the regular route, getting up there to look at it, and if you have a really good day possibly descending that route. We spent about 15 minutes on the top Torreys, then headed back down to grab the trail at the saddle. The trail actually intersects slightly up on the Grays Ridge; may be about 50 feet above the saddle. I think that the trail was rerouted in order to avoid a snowfield that seems to be almost year-round right at the very base of the saddle.

The descent was great and my legs were actually feeling probably the best they've felt after a four-day trip. I think my shoe combination really worked out for me well. I think the routes and the conditions, even though it was windy and a little snowy also made for a great experience.

We made it back down the trailhead in about two hours. Similar to Quandary, the descent down from Grays and Torreys is a nice hike down.

This was Scott's first Fourteener trip. He managed to get seven peaks and one soft summit. I got a chance to repeat a couple, starting on my second round of the 58. It was nice to do a 14er trip without having to expect to use my arms and upper body, rather just use my legs for the whole trip. To a certain extent this was mentally relaxing. I was able to add a soft Summit, South Elbert, to my resume. In addition, I was able to add second round count on six 14ers. This brings my total count for the second round up to 11 unique 14 years. I guess when I get to 20 or so I'll get serious about trying to finish them all a second time. I just can't get enough of these things
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GPS Track



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
MtnHub
User
Kelso Ridge
10/5/2014 3:00am
Hey, Rob! We were right behind you on the Kelso Ridge that day (see my report). Since the forecast was a 0% chance of precipitation, we didn't start until around 8:15. And even with all the people there climbing on the 2nd, I think we were the only ones doing Kelso. Would've been fun to meet you. Congratulations to Scott for his first set of 14ers!


rob runkle
User
The Ridge
10/6/2014 11:14am
MtnHub, I think that another group got up the ridge earlier in the morning. I would loved to have done the ridge. One of my favorite routes.



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