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My first 14er and it was a long one. 11 miles round trip and 4000‘ elevation gain. I left at 5:00am from east Colorado Springs. Probably left trailhead around 7am and made it back down at around 4:30p. Yes it took me almost 10 hours to complete the hike. It was a good hike, but the altitude started getting to me above 13,000. I was planning to eat a cheeseburger and some donuts at the summit house, but I was feeling really sick so instead I just put my head down on a table inside and sat for a while trying to recover. I made it back down and felt better once I got back to around devil‘s playground. Looking back, I know not drinking enough water during the ascent exasperated most of my symptoms. I also got way too much sun and should have reapplied sunscreen at least a few times during the climb. I even called my wife considering the best way to bail but I realized that my car was a long way away from any alternate routes down so I had to tough it out. It was starting to get dark on the way down and I only saw a few people on the trail by then. I was starting to get visions of bears or mountain lions jumping out at me in the dusk, so I hurried to make it back down quickly. The hike ended uneventfully and I was happy getting my first 14er.
In the shadows until about 10am. Watching the sunlight gradually move to catch up to us was very cool. The pic was facing west towards south park.
another view northwest I think
the final scramble to the summit
looking southeast with summit house and cog railway train in view
The perfect clear blue sky at 14,110ft
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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