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Party: Jason, Adam (avs88fan), Mike (Adam's coworker)
Start: 4:30 AM
Summit: 7:30 AM (Adam & Mike at 8:00 AM)
Depart Summit: 8:00 AM
Iron Nipple Summit: 9:00 AM
Elevation Gain: Approx 3850'
TH: 11:30AM
Due to dinner plans Saturday afternoon Adam & Mike graciously agreed to start the hike early to allow for the drive time back to Denver. We left Denver Friday evening at 5:30 and got slowed down on the north side of COS. Arrived at TH at 10:00 PM and bedded down around 10:30PM. Alarm clock went off (too soon) at 3:10 AM. Packed gear, ate some food - we were going to leave around 4AM but figured it would put us starting the North Face gulley in the dark so we waited until 4:30AM to start. Ultimately this probably didn't matter too much as we got slowed down at 2-3 spots due to "faint" trail issues. Fortunately 3 sets of eyes makes for better trail finding so we only lost around 15 minutes due to these issues. We also slowed the pace for the first 2 miles so overall we could have cut about 30 minutes off our times. As I was the first one up the North Face gulley it made life easier as I could kick as much rock down as I wanted. Once Adam & Mike summitted I headed back down to allow for us to be staggered going down the gulley. There were very few hikers on the trail today (only 4 total, which I encountered at the saddle after returning from the Iron Nipple). The rock on the Iron Nipple was far more solid than Lindsey and I also "summitted" the tallest rock tower for fun, which made for great scrambling. Weather was superb - starting early has its benefits!!
Cloud "blanket" south of Lindsey (approx 12,000 feet)
Summit view of Huerfano valley
Blanca & Ellingwood at dawn, shadowed by Lindsey and Iron Nipple
Closeup of North Face gulley
The Iron Nipple
Rock towers south of the Iron Nipple
Lindsey North Face taken from ascent to Iron Nipple
Point 13,828 (Centennial peak) taken from the Iron Nipple
Blanca - Little Bear traverse with Little Bear summit shrouded in clouds, taken from Iron Nipple
Iron Nipple (left) and Lindsey silhouetted into the 12,000' basin
View of lower portion of the route
View from meadow near the TH. Great day for climbing!!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
great pictures Jason, especially the dawn shot of Lindsey‘s shadow on Blanca. I was one of two guys who spoke to you on the saddle between Lindsey and the Nipple. I was the one who asked the dumbass question about the risk of falling in the gully. It wasn‘t nearly as daunting as it looked from afar. Weather was fabulous...great day to hike. Thanks for sharing your pics.
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Once Adam & Mike summitted I headed back down to allow for us to be staggered going down the gulley. There were very few hikers on the trail today (only 4 total, which I encountered at the saddle after returning from the Iron Nipple). The rock on the Iron Nipple was far more solid than Lindsey and I also "summitted" the tallest rock tower for fun, which made for great scrambling. Weather was superb - starting early has its benefits!! 
