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Grays Peak - Slaying the dragon. |
Headed out for my first ever 14er right after my graveyard shift. Made it to the bottom of Stevens Gulch road at around 2:30 AM. I decided to sleep there instead of heading up to the trailhead in the dark. I missed my 5 AM alarm and slept in until 7 AM. I started up the dirt road in my Honda Accord. A road with rocks that I swear were shipped in special to make the road more difficult. I made it about a mile and a half before my forward progress was halted by 3 enormous craters that my Accord could not negotiate. I had a fun time backing down the road and turning around on what was essentially a one lane road with a precipitous drop on one side. And by fun I mean stressful. All part of the adventure though, right?
I hiked the rest of the distance to the trailhead and started the ascent. My plan was to summit Grays and then cross the saddle to Torreys Peak. At this point I must admit that I was fooled by this hike being classified as the easiest 14ers. That word "easiest" tricked me into a false sense of security and I figured this would be a walk in the park. I am almost 40 and considered myself to be in fair to average shape. This was one of the most physical demanding things I have ever done. I was a bit psychologically trying at times as well.
At about 200 yards in from the trailhead I was already pretty winded from my Stevens Gulch hike. This is where the first defeatist thoughts tried to creep in. The altitude definitely affected me on this hike. I have been in Denver for about a month and thought that would be enough to make me immune to the altitude. It was not. I soldiered on though and continued to put one foot in front of the other. On my way up I already started to meet people coming back down. Everyone I met on the trail was friendly and I even received quite a few words of encouragement. Those really helped especially further on up the mountain and the cramps, and lack of oxygen were trying to add their voices to the doubts in my head.
I don't remember exactly when I started coughing, but it was only when I tried talking to other hikers, I found that a bit worrisome as I know that is a symptom of altitude sickness. I embraced my inner cave man, stopped talking, and just nodded and grunted instead. I saw plenty of people hiking without trekking poles or a hiking stick, but I don't know how they did it. It would have taken me twice as long to get up and down the mountain without them and I likely would have fallen multiple times. I strong recommend hiking poles! I saw a guy hike up in cowboy boots so I guess it can be done without poles and in uncomfortable foot wear. He was scootin' too! He passed me on the way up and on the way down!
As the morning wore on and I neared the summit of Grays I started seeing darker clouds and the hikers coming down were talking about the darkening clouds too. I lit the afterburners and finally made it to the top of Grays! The sense of accomplishment and the views were/are worth all the muscle cramps and sore joints. I made it up somewhere around noon. I stayed up top for about 25-30 minutes and ate my lunch. It was pretty amazing how quick those clouds rolled up on me. I realized Torreys Peak wasn't in the cards that day and though I was disappointed I knew I needed to get down off the mountain.
I started back down the mountain and about 20 yards from the top I heard the thunder. I am still amazed at what the combination of eating a good lunch and the fear of being in a lightning storm, exposed on a mountain and holding two metal poles can do to get a person moving! I was trucking down that mountain. (I was standing by a metal swing set that got struck by lightning when I was a kid. Even though it wasn't a direct hit it was enough to let me know that I never want to find out why a direct hit feels like!) I was passing people left and right. Those hiking poles really helped going downhill! There were only a few more peals of thunder, but they were enough for me to keep the pedal to the floor. About halfway back to the trailhead though, my reserves were again exhausted. I walked through a few sprinkles but nothing too heavy.
As I reached the trailhead the prospect of continuing another mile and half to two miles back to my car was less than appealing, but having no other choice I continued onward. Luckily for me a very nice couple offered me a ride. I graciously accepted their offer and am so thankful for their help! I was pretty dead on my feet at that point. As they dropped me off at my car, the skys opened up with a torrential downpour accompanied with lightning and thunder. I never would have made it to my car on time if it wasn't for them!
All in all, it was one of my greatest accomplishments and I am really proud to have conquered my first 14er!
Lessons learned:
1. There is no such thing as an easy 14er.
2. The altitude and lower oxygen levels are no joke.
3. Set more than one alarm and you could likely get both peaks in.
4. Trekking poles are your friend.
5. A 4WD vehicle, or at least a vehicle with high ground clearance will be needed to get to the trailhead until those craters are fixed.
6. Hikers are awesome people. Encouragement from fellow hikers really helps, make sure to pass it along to others.
7. For me, the psychological aspect of the climb was a surprise.
If the couple who gave me the ride to my car with the bike on it sees this I just want to reiterate my thanks! I'll be sure to pay it forward.
If you are planning a quest to slay this dragon I hope my report helps.
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