Mt. Elbert Trip Report 09/12/2007

Peak(s):	Mt. Elbert - 14,438 feet
Date Posted:	09/12/2007
Modified:	09/13/2007
Date Climbed:	09/09/2007
Author:	megavolt512

Elbert - NE ridge - harder than I thought
Yet another Mt. Elbert trip report. I'm sure none of my pictures reveal anything most haven't seen before, but it was a beautiful September day and my first 14er (I've done some 13ers in New Mexico: Truchas Peak and Wheeler). It was also my first solo overnight camp. I live in Texas near sea-level. Work is really crazy right now and I needed a break to recharge the batteries. It's also around 100 degrees with 90% humidity every day. It can feel oppressive after some time. This trip was a gift to myself on my 45th birthday. I flew into Denver Thursday afternoon. Denver traffic sucks. Almost LA-style. But I finally made it to Leadville and ultimately to the Elbert Creek Campground right at nightfall. The campground was deserted. I did pass a few folks camping in pull-offs along Halfmoon Rd. To be honest, that's really the best place to camp. What's the big deal with the official campgrounds? I'm not sure. Many of the pulloffs have fire-rings, nice flat places to park, etc. And the restrooms at the trailheads are far better than what the campgrounds provide. No people, nor any signs mentioned anything about paying a fee to camp - Is this only during the Summer? The check-in kiosk looked vacated. Some people have posted here asking where one can camp in this area. I can assure you it's full of great camping places. Just drive down Halfmoon Rd and you'll find a great spot. Elbert Creek campground did have a hand-pump spigot... but the water looked nasty (rusty). Definitely bring in your own water - I was glad I did. Anyway, I camped near the river, and the roaring sound of rapids was very peaceful. No strange animals or noises during the night - it was very nice. Got up at 4am. By 5am, I had broken down my camp and was on the trail. A nice couple from Wisconsin had pulled up in their van just as I was leaving, and I would run into them several times during the ascent. It was pitch black the first 45-min or so of the ascent. I was making great time. The trail at this point was easy. After arriving, I realized I had forgotten mosquito repellant. Some of the trip reports here mentioned getting eaten alive below treeline. But the mosquitos were no-where to be found this weekend. Not a single bite. As I got to around 13,000ft I began to feel the altitude. No AMS symptoms... just no lung capacity. This was humbling. I cycle 100 miles/week. Swim. Trail run... I thought I was in good shape for this. But Elbert kicked my butt. This was harder than I expected. The pictures seem to portray this gentle incline you could simply run up. But at 14,000 I would take 5-6 steps... my heart rate and breathing would soar, and I'd have to stop. After 30 seconds they came back down and I would repeat over and over until I ascended. At the summit there were the Wisconsin couple (who had passed me), and 2 guys from Norway who seemed able to briskly walk uphill as if they were at sea-level. I spent a short time at the top admiring the view, then began what was a slow decent. My boots didn't really fit well and I could feel blisters forming. A young woman was hiking up, and asked me how far to the top. To my surprise she passed me 1-1/2 hrs later - and said she had spent an hour on the summit! I ran into several other people making late starts up the mountain. Some appeared to have started as late as 2pm. Risky? Back at the car, I popped open a beer, drove back to Leadville where I had reserved a room at The Alps motel. My camping experience was so nice, next time I'll probably spend 2 nights and camp in one of those great places just below treeline. The Alps is a good, cheap place to stay. The owner-operator "Linda" was very nice. The hot shower was very welcome, and then a walk up to Quincy's for a $10 prime rib dinner, with salad and baked potato (and more beer). Next morning, I'm on flight home. This was a good trip - though as stated harder than I expected. I had sort of planned Long's Peak as my 2nd 14er. After this, I'm not so sure of that. Maybe Mt. Massive next. This is the view near Half Moon Rd. and 300. After a long drive down Half Moon Rd, you reach the Elbert Creek Campground. There were actually many good places to camp along Halfmoon Rd. Nothing special about Elbert Creek other than it's right across from the trailhead. There are many places to camp in the immediate area. I got my camp set up just as the sun set. I was the only person in the area spending the night (as far as I could tell). I started out on the trail at 5am - in the dark. As the sun came up it was a beautiful day. My first glimpse at treeline out of the still-dark forest. First view of the false summit. Actually the real summit is just beyond it, and not much higher. But you can get discouraged when you realize this is not where you are going. This is pretty much the scene as you pass through the thinning forest toward treeline. You could camp here easily. Many good places, and I saw evidence of several campsites a hundred yards or so off the trail. Just starting out above treeline. The trail continues like this until you reach the steeper scree area a couple of miles ahead. In pictures this looks so easy - but the incline was steeper than I imagined from pictures. It gets a little steeper and more rugged. Looks like you could just run up huh? I first started feeling the effects of altitude here. probably 13000ft My hands started swelling. Nothing painful, and no numbness - but I could barely get my gloves on. The swelling went away during my decent. Trail gets much steeper here. I found this the most difficult part of the hike. I was really feeling the altitude here. Finally approaching the summit ridge. I felt better now that the steep scree was mostly behind me. finally! I spent around 30 minutes here, and felt pretty good. Spectacular views from the summit. Looking back down as I decended. Going down was harder for me. My boots were on their maiden voyage - and they hurt my feet. It took me nearly 4 hours to reach the trailhead again. I was surprised at the number of people just heading up at such a late hour. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Elbert - NE ridge - harder than I thought

Yet another Mt. Elbert trip report. I'm sure none of my pictures reveal anything most haven't seen before, but it was a beautiful September day and my first 14er (I've done some 13ers in New Mexico: Truchas Peak and Wheeler). It was also my first solo overnight camp.

I live in Texas near sea-level. Work is really crazy right now and I needed a break to recharge the batteries. It's also around 100 degrees with 90% humidity every day. It can feel oppressive after some time. This trip was a gift to myself on my 45th birthday.

I flew into Denver Thursday afternoon. Denver traffic sucks. Almost LA-style. But I finally made it to Leadville and ultimately to the Elbert Creek Campground right at nightfall. The campground was deserted. I did pass a few folks camping in pull-offs along Halfmoon Rd. To be honest, that's really the best place to camp. What's the big deal with the official campgrounds? I'm not sure. Many of the pulloffs have fire-rings, nice flat places to park, etc. And the restrooms at the trailheads are far better than what the campgrounds provide. No people, nor any signs mentioned anything about paying a fee to camp - Is this only during the Summer? The check-in kiosk looked vacated. Some people have posted here asking where one can camp in this area. I can assure you it's full of great camping places. Just drive down Halfmoon Rd and you'll find a great spot. Elbert Creek campground did have a hand-pump spigot... but the water looked nasty (rusty). Definitely bring in your own water - I was glad I did.

Anyway, I camped near the river, and the roaring sound of rapids was very peaceful. No strange animals or noises during the night - it was very nice. Got up at 4am. By 5am, I had broken down my camp and was on the trail. A nice couple from Wisconsin had pulled up in their van just as I was leaving, and I would run into them several times during the ascent. It was pitch black the first 45-min or so of the ascent. I was making great time. The trail at this point was easy. After arriving, I realized I had forgotten mosquito repellant. Some of the trip reports here mentioned getting eaten alive below treeline. But the mosquitos were no-where to be found this weekend. Not a single bite.

As I got to around 13,000ft I began to feel the altitude. No AMS symptoms... just no lung capacity. This was humbling. I cycle 100 miles/week. Swim. Trail run... I thought I was in good shape for this. But Elbert kicked my butt. This was harder than I expected. The pictures seem to portray this gentle incline you could simply run up. But at 14,000 I would take 5-6 steps... my heart rate and breathing would soar, and I'd have to stop. After 30 seconds they came back down and I would repeat over and over until I ascended.

At the summit there were the Wisconsin couple (who had passed me), and 2 guys from Norway who seemed able to briskly walk uphill as if they were at sea-level. I spent a short time at the top admiring the view, then began what was a slow decent. My boots didn't really fit well and I could feel blisters forming. A young woman was hiking up, and asked me how far to the top. To my surprise she passed me 1-1/2 hrs later - and said she had spent an hour on the summit! I ran into several other people making late starts up the mountain. Some appeared to have started as late as 2pm. Risky?

Back at the car, I popped open a beer, drove back to Leadville where I had reserved a room at The Alps motel. My camping experience was so nice, next time I'll probably spend 2 nights and camp in one of those great places just below treeline. The Alps is a good, cheap place to stay. The owner-operator "Linda" was very nice. The hot shower was very welcome, and then a walk up to Quincy's for a $10 prime rib dinner, with salad and baked potato (and more beer). Next morning, I'm on flight home. This was a good trip - though as stated harder than I expected. I had sort of planned Long's Peak as my 2nd 14er. After this, I'm not so sure of that. Maybe Mt. Massive next.

This is the view near Half Moon Rd. and 300.

After a long drive down Half Moon Rd, you reach the Elbert Creek Campground. There were actually many good places to camp along Halfmoon Rd. Nothing special about Elbert Creek other than it's right across from the trailhead. There are many places to camp in the immediate area.

I got my camp set up just as the sun set. I was the only person in the area spending the night (as far as I could tell).

I started out on the trail at 5am - in the dark. As the sun came up it was a beautiful day.

My first glimpse at treeline out of the still-dark forest.

First view of the false summit. Actually the real summit is just beyond it, and not much higher. But you can get discouraged when you realize this is not where you are going.

This is pretty much the scene as you pass through the thinning forest toward treeline. You could camp here easily. Many good places, and I saw evidence of several campsites a hundred yards or so off the trail.

Just starting out above treeline. The trail continues like this until you reach the steeper scree area a couple of miles ahead. In pictures this looks so easy - but the incline was steeper than I imagined from pictures.

It gets a little steeper and more rugged.

Looks like you could just run up huh? I first started feeling the effects of altitude here.

probably 13000ft

My hands started swelling. Nothing painful, and no numbness - but I could barely get my gloves on. The swelling went away during my decent.

Trail gets much steeper here. I found this the most difficult part of the hike. I was really feeling the altitude here.

Finally approaching the summit ridge. I felt better now that the steep scree was mostly behind me.

finally! I spent around 30 minutes here, and felt pretty good.

Spectacular views from the summit.

Looking back down as I decended. Going down was harder for me. My boots were on their maiden voyage - and they hurt my feet. It took me nearly 4 hours to reach the trailhead again. I was surprised at the number of people just heading up at such a late hour.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

helenasandell	Good Work! 12/8/2007 7:21pm I hiked Mount Elbert in July, also my first 14er. It was tough, but a cool experience. I was overpacked, with water and snacks, and also surprised about people going up so late in the afternoon... I guess not many Swedes have hiked Mount Elberg before Good luck with your next mountain! Helena
mtgirl	Congrats ! 11/30/2010 5:20pm Hey, congrats on your first 14er ! Nice pics, I enjoyed your trip report. Looks like you had awesome weather for your 45th birthday trip. I'm sure coming from TX, the altitude kicked your butt. I'm coming to TX in December to run a marathon in Dallas. I'm hoping by living and training in the altitude in CO, it'll make me run like the wind in the lower altitude in TX.

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