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Peak(s):  French Mountain  -  13,942 feet
Frasco Benchmark  -  13,885 feet
Casco Peak  -  13,905 feet
"Lackawanna"  -  13,826 feet
Date Posted:  10/05/2009
Date Climbed:   09/20/2009
Author:  Dad Mike
 Franciscawanna   

-14.8 miles
-6160 feet
-start...4:50am
-finish...11:15am

My friend Darin Baker has inspired me to climb the top 100 peaks in the state. Now that Dani and I are only a few trips away from all the 14ers, I decided now is as good a time as any to start making a dent in the 13ers. My first trip took me to the Halfmoon Creek Trailhead to climb the peaks directly behind Mt. Elbert.

I took off from Colorado Springs on Friday after work and got to Halfmoon Moon Creek Road around 6pm. I was able to get my stock jeep wrangler to the upper trailhead. The trickiest part of the last mile is how steep it is, not the condition of the road. You really just have to gun it...no chance to be deliberate.

I started earlier than I normally would, not knowing how long this hike would take. It was probably the longest I've hiked alone in the dark. Because of the snow, it was well over an hour in complete darkness...spooky.

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On top of French...looking at the ridge to Frasco

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French Mtn as the snow broke and the sun started to poke out...the route from Iron Mike Mine tops out on the saddle

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View of Casco from Frasco

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View of the Z-shaped ridge to Lakawanna from Casco...the summit is hidden by the clouds. I read that some of this ridge was class 3, but I didn't run into anything over class 2 all day...pretty straight forward

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Looking back at Frasco, French, Casco, and Elbert. My ankles were hurting a little from side-hilling over to Lakawanna, so I decended straight back down in to the valley and then straight back up to the Casco, Elbert saddle.

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French and the road to the Iron Mike Mine. I took the obvious light line to the saddle left of French.

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Having a little camera fun with the fall colors and Cacso Peak

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A day in the mountains isn't complete without a cold one



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
d_baker
yawn
11/30/2010 5:28pm
I'm tired just from reading what you accomplished here! It took me three separate trips for all of those, with the exception of Frasco (because I was too lazy to go over there after French).
Nice job man!

Well Mike, since you've set a new goal for yourself, hopefully we can connect for some of peaks I have left (e.g., Dallas? Jagged? ;-).
But I think I better lose 20lbs and start training to keep up with you!


Jon Frohlich
User
Fast....
2/5/2011 12:22am
6.5 hours for that???? Wow. It took us 9 or so just to do FFC in summer conditions. Are you sure you didn‘t run half of it?


Dad Mike
User
Hustlin‘
8/12/2014 11:13pm
Definitely ran down the road on the way back. Had to get back to the Springs for the Bronco game.



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