Ursidae69
Expedition Leader
Rewind to last June 2006, I attempted Elbert and was denied. :smilies27 I had a heel injury in my right heel, was in poor shape, and had just hiked 8 miles the day before at Great Sand Dunes, so about half way up Elbert, I called it quits....
Now to July 28th 2007, I'm 20 pounds lighter than last year at this time, my foot is better, and I've been annoyed for a year that I didn't bag the peak last year.
I left the North Elbert Trailhead at 6:30 am and was on the peak at 10:45 am. The trail is 4.5 miles one-way to the top gaining 4700 feet in elevation. Not bad for a big man. :beer:
The view from the top was all clouds, but still cool. About half way down the clouds broke enough for a few photos. The atmosphere at the top was wild. One group of hikers were all wearing pointy birthday hats eating cake that someone humped up the mountian and another group was grilling burgers on their backpacking stove. All of this in a brisk 30 degree wind inside a cloud. :Wow1:
Took me three hours to get down to the truck and I was so tired, wet, and cold, I just opted to go home instead of camping another night. I beat the mountain, but it beat me too, I'm still sore and limping 2 days later.
Couple of photos.
Now to July 28th 2007, I'm 20 pounds lighter than last year at this time, my foot is better, and I've been annoyed for a year that I didn't bag the peak last year.
I left the North Elbert Trailhead at 6:30 am and was on the peak at 10:45 am. The trail is 4.5 miles one-way to the top gaining 4700 feet in elevation. Not bad for a big man. :beer:
The view from the top was all clouds, but still cool. About half way down the clouds broke enough for a few photos. The atmosphere at the top was wild. One group of hikers were all wearing pointy birthday hats eating cake that someone humped up the mountian and another group was grilling burgers on their backpacking stove. All of this in a brisk 30 degree wind inside a cloud. :Wow1:
Took me three hours to get down to the truck and I was so tired, wet, and cold, I just opted to go home instead of camping another night. I beat the mountain, but it beat me too, I'm still sore and limping 2 days later.
Couple of photos.
