My Colorado Travelings

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 14 [No-Go on Kit]

Two of us turned around. We were spent. The other two continued on.



Overlooking the South Colony Lakes.



We came across some wildlife on the way down.









We took some time to check out the upper lake. The other two had turned around in the meantime and caught up with us. They were tired too, and some clouds had been rolling in. They become concerned with the threat of rain, which never came.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 15 [Backpacking Out]

It was still early in the day after calling off Kit Carson. We packed up our camp and headed down from South Colony Lakes.


We went to the town of Westcliffe and showered at the local laundromat. We then picked up some pizza from Tony's Mountain Pizza in Silver Cliff. (Westcliffe and Silver Cliff are the same place to me. I don't understand how it's two different towns. Anyone know why?)

We drove to Gardner and found a campsite in the vicinity of Lily Lake Trailhead. We had our sights on Mt. Lindsey.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 16 [Our New Camp]

We took a rest day in a new campsite.

We made some pigs-in-a-blanket for breakfast.



There was this knife stuck in a tree. It was like the camping version of King Arthur and Excalibur. None of us had the strength to pull it out.


We drove down the road to check out the Trailhead to Mt. Lindsey. It was a 4WD road. We were in my 2WD truck. We had to move and stack rocks a couple of times, but we made it nearly to the end. We were ready to try it again the following day.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 17 [To Mt. Lindsey!]

We made an early start.


















Looking north at the Crestones.



We had gained a lot of elevation and were ready to hit the ridge.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 18 [14,042 Feet Above Sea Level]







Some climbers in front of us navigating through the crux of the route.



The final walk to the summit.



The view from the summit of Mount Lindsey. Looking over at Blanca Peak, flanked by Little Bear Peak and Ellingwood Point.



It was our last mountain of the trip. The downclimb awaited us. We chose to hit the gulleys instead of the ridge. The gulleys were a mistake.


We crossed over a couple gulleys beyond this one. We heard the terrible roar of a rockslide. It sounded like it was right above us. I took cover under the biggest nearby outcropping I had. The rockslide came down. Thankfully it was one gulley behind me. My friends were all safely out in front of me. I could see watermelon-sized rocks tumbling down from the low squat I took for cover. The whole slide lasted two or three minutes. It was a scary, powerless feeling. We later spoke to some other hikers who had a different view of it. They had seen much bigger rocks tumbling down.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2020

Part 19 [Conclusion]

We continued down. One last marmot was sunning himself, with Blanca behind him.


We made it to the trailhead and drove the the truck back down to our campsite. We were in a fairly remote place, in terms of being close to any town. Pizza and a shower would have been nice. It would have been 2-3 hours of driving round-trip for that. So instead, we took baths in the stream at our campsite and cooked dinner on the grill.

We packed up the next morning and headed home. Memories and photographs were all that was left of the trip.

Thanks for reading.

 

[pith helmet]

Great trip! Thanks for sharing. I’ve camped below those mountains numerous times on my way to or from other places. I have always wanted to get into them and hope to make them a destination in the future.

 

[greg.potter]

We chose t

We chose to hit the gulleys instead of the ridge. The gulleys were a mistake.

Yes, ridge lines are almost always a better choice up or down although more intimidating from an exposure perspective. Much less rockfall and much less loose rock. Being in gullies particularly during rain can be like being in a shooting gallery. I usually take a short (30 m 9mm) rope, slings and cord in case a rappel or some assisted downclimbing is required.

Looks like a great adventure!!

 

[TripLeader]

August 2021

Part 1 [Introduction]

The same four of us made plans to return for another go at summer in Colorado. We had decided on Mt. Elbert and the surrounding mountains--some of the Collegiate Peaks perhaps?


I took the LJ and trailer to the carwash a week before departure.



Packing up the trailer.



And with it all ready to go.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2021

Part 2 [Arrival in Colorado]

I spent the first night in a national forest.



The next day I moved on to a proper site near Elbert. I was solo at time. I had come out nearly a week ahead of my friends. The choice of a good campsite is quite the responsibility.






Dinner was a double cheeseburger on the old Coleman Camp Grill.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2021

Part 3 [Turquoise Lake]

The campsite had a view of Mt. Elbert. The light was good that morning.



I consumed a quick breakfast and headed out of camp.



I took the drive to Turquoise Lake outside of Leadville. I thought I'd take the old junky mountain bike for a spin. I started off on a trail that quickly came to a creek crossing. So I crossed it and kept going.






I put the bike away after a short ride. I drove out to the Shimmering Point overlook.



And that was that day.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2021

Part 4 [A Hearty Mountain Breakfast]

I mentioned my mountain bike was not so great. I guess I should have mentioned I also had no experience in the sport. Where better to get experience than in the mountains?


I made myself a big breakfast for my mountain biking plans that day.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2021

Part 5 [More Mountain Biking...Almost]

The weather was relatively unsettled for those first several days. A look at Elbert before I left camp after my big breakfast.



And a view of Mt. Massive from down the road on the way to Leadville.



I started out on the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville. It's a road loop around the town. I made it less than a mile when I shifted hard and sent the rear derailleur into the rear spokes.



I had to use a rock to hit it and budge it loose so I could at least have the rear tire rotate. I coasted the pile-o-junk back downhill.


I went back to camp.



I read a book and drank some bad dehydrated coffee.

 

[halseyt]

Just finished reading start to finish. Thanks for these reports and for keeping it up for this long.

 

[TripLeader]

Just finished reading start to finish. Thanks for these reports and for keeping it up for this long.

It's my pleasure.