Mt. Elbert Trip Report 09/09/2007

Peak(s):	Mt. Elbert - 14,438 feet
Date Posted:	09/09/2007
Date Climbed:	09/02/2007
Author:	jasper9890

Mount Elbert via Northeast Ridge, First 14er!
My first summit in the books and I'm hooked. It's only fitting I pop my cherry to this altitude in and around what's becoming my home away from home of Leadville, CO. I've been to this area something like 4 of the last 5 weekends for various events (Boomdays/Burro race, 100 mile MTB, 100 mile Run, 14er..) (no I didn't compete in any of those, only crewed the MTB and watched the others). Camped at halfmoon near the trailhead. Labor day weekend so the campgrounds were pretty full. Found a good spot though. Pretty uneventful night, oh yea, except for the wife swapping orgy going on at the pop up camper next door. Who knew those camper beds could squeak so loud. Seriously. I'm pretty darn liberal and far from conservative but man this would have made me lose it if I had kids. Ok I digress... Started pretty early, hit the trail at about 5:30am. A few cars in the lot so we didn't think we were the first out. Pretty chilly in the 30's but had quite a few layers on so I was good. Too many infact, as my temperature rose fast as we got going. I never considered hiking was going to be just like fall/winter running when you really don't need much on to say warm while your moving. The trail may be technically classified as easy, but it sure takes it's toll on you as it's unrelenting straight up and straight down with almost no deviations to give the legs a break. My lungs and legs seemed to be just fine on the way up. Slow goes it at parts. Taking time to take in the view (and catch your breath). We missed sunrise at treeline by roughly 20 minutes. Did get some great views thru the trees and in a clearing Passed two groups on the way up to be the first at the summit for the day. Quickly we were joined by a group on the other route and then the throngs of people begain. (Man I want to open a starbucks/gear shop up there and retire). Great views from the summit of course as this is the tallest mountain in the state. The way down took it's toll on our legs though. Even with poles the constant downhill was brutal. I've been hiking in some really awesome trail running shoes the last few months, but I'm going to have to re-break in my boots as my ankles took a beating on the rocks when I rolled them multiple times. Once bad enough that I went straight down. Though the ankle was tender the rest of the day it was fine the next. Great hike for newbies for sure, just be ready for the effort. Start early to avoid the crowds. Pick a different one if you want solitude for sure. This one is very dog-able too - maddie was still pulling when we reached the car! More pictures on flickr Picture from GatorChick on flickr Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Mount Elbert via Northeast Ridge, First 14er!

My first summit in the books and I'm hooked. It's only fitting I pop my cherry to this altitude in and around what's becoming my home away from home of Leadville, CO. I've been to this area something like 4 of the last 5 weekends for various events (Boomdays/Burro race, 100 mile MTB, 100 mile Run, 14er..) (no I didn't compete in any of those, only crewed the MTB and watched the others).

Camped at halfmoon near the trailhead. Labor day weekend so the campgrounds were pretty full. Found a good spot though. Pretty uneventful night, oh yea, except for the wife swapping orgy going on at the pop up camper next door. Who knew those camper beds could squeak so loud. Seriously. I'm pretty darn liberal and far from conservative but man this would have made me lose it if I had kids. Ok I digress...

Started pretty early, hit the trail at about 5:30am. A few cars in the lot so we didn't think we were the first out. Pretty chilly in the 30's but had quite a few layers on so I was good. Too many infact, as my temperature rose fast as we got going. I never considered hiking was going to be just like fall/winter running when you really don't need much on to say warm while your moving.

The trail may be technically classified as easy, but it sure takes it's toll on you as it's unrelenting straight up and straight down with almost no deviations to give the legs a break.

My lungs and legs seemed to be just fine on the way up. Slow goes it at parts. Taking time to take in the view (and catch your breath). We missed sunrise at treeline by roughly 20 minutes. Did get some great views thru the trees and in a clearing

Passed two groups on the way up to be the first at the summit for the day. Quickly we were joined by a group on the other route and then the throngs of people begain. (Man I want to open a starbucks/gear shop up there and retire). Great views from the summit of course as this is the tallest mountain in the state.

The way down took it's toll on our legs though. Even with poles the constant downhill was brutal. I've been hiking in some really awesome trail running shoes the last few months, but I'm going to have to re-break in my boots as my ankles took a beating on the rocks when I rolled them multiple times. Once bad enough that I went straight down. Though the ankle was tender the rest of the day it was fine the next.

Great hike for newbies for sure, just be ready for the effort. Start early to avoid the crowds. Pick a different one if you want solitude for sure. This one is very dog-able too - maddie was still pulling when we reached the car!

More pictures on flickr

Picture from GatorChick on flickr

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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