Getting High on Mt. Elbert

“Excellent pics!

Mad postholeing skills there Roam! lol”

“We managed to perfect the "trapdoor posthole" technique. One of us would be standing still, not even moving a step, when whoooosh, now you see him, now he's waist deep in snow. I told Roamy that it's a good thing we have a sense of humor or this stuff could be upsetting.

I also told Roamy around 11,800 feet that he was "one determined son of a b!tch" cuz I thought we were gonna turn back around 10,800. "The snow just has to be firmer as we get higher" he kept saying. Riiiiight.
last edited: 4/26/07 2:53:55 PM”

“I'm nothing if not persistent!

About 11,500 the snow did get pretty firm (finally).

I knowed it wood.

I do believe I may have gotten my fill of postholing for this season too.
last edited: 4/26/07 2:55:10 PM”

“Well hell, we should have pushed for the summit then. It's not like we were tired or anything. ;o)”

“Well, chalk two up for determination and lack of snowshoes.

Welcome to the Boneheads Roam! You now have bonehead cred. ;)”

“Great pics Pennsy! Thanks for sharing”

“Glad to read that everyone had a great time in my great state of Colorado...and KUDOS to the lowland summiteers!”

“Sooo... its about time I write about Elbert Reloaded, with DeltaHiker and me taking another shot at the summit.

I can't exactly explain Delta's road trips lately, but he wound up back in Denver Monday, May 7. Despite the depressing forecast of snow and rain, he and I hit the road for Leadville and the trailhead, getting there just before midnight. Dang, that's a fun Jeep road in the dark. :)

After stomping around trying to tell the real trail from snowshoe tracks, we gave up and followed the Colorado strategy of "when in doubt, climb higher!" and headed up up up until we found a decent spot for the tents. After a few hours sleep, we were up and moving toward the summit. The forecast was wrong so far, as we had nothing but sunshine, so we decided to take our time and not risk burning out. After crossing treeline, we could see our route. We chose the direct route right up the snowy face, mixing steps and breaths as we went. We noticed some brave souls on the ridge opposite us, going up a corniced slope that I couldn't imagine trying in the winter. The next hour is best described by false summits and thoughts of "just a bit more" before finally getting to the last ridge. Delta crossed that last bit while I questioned just how much I wanted the summit. I was close enough, right? :) I don't remember deciding either way, but then I was standing with Delta at the last edge. All I can say is WOW. The sun was still out and it was just snowy peak after snowy peak. It was well below freezing in the high winds, but we hung around for maybe 20 minutes, just taking it in.

Eventually, we took out the axes and started down the slope. The snow was getting slushy, but we made good time. Just before getting back to the tents, we saw a male and female grouse couple. My Illinois background betrayed me as I thought I saw young turkeys. :) We struck camp and picked our way back to the Jeep in the dark. Leadville was pretty much closed up when we got there, so on to Breckenridge for a late Taco Bell supper. I was plenty tired on the drive home, but we made it and I even got into work the next day to show off my wind burn and sun burn. Hooray, summit fever temporarily satisfied!!


I added the new pictures to the earlier album, starting on this page:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/558790341FjtOju?start=24”

“Hello Everyone! I went on the trip, went to Rocky Mountain National Park, came back with Tmac and finally made the most amazing summit I have seen to date, traveled back to West Yellowstone, Montana and packed up to move back to Mississippi. On the way I saw Devil's Tower, Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills, and the Badlands in South Dakota.

I am sorry that I don't have any photos up yet, but I do have something for you guys... VIDS!

I posted the vids on my blog:
http://www.livedon.com

The vids are on the last 3 posts. I will have my Mt. Elbert photos up soon. I will let you know.

DH. or as everyone on the trip would call me... Delta Don.
last edited: 5/21/07 10:42:10 PM”

“Welcome back DeltaDon. What's that flower you have on?

Congrats you two! and did I hear it was someones birthday TMAC? Happy, Happy.”

“You heard correctly, hutch. Thanks. :)”

“Roam!!
I am looking for a good camera. What kind do you have and do you have a good place to buy it (Cheap)lol
See ya later.
Randall”

“I picked up a Nikon Coolpix somethingorother at Best Buy for around 120 and it takes GREAT pics - first little digi i've had that had an effective zoom - the others i had were just blur makers.

I never spend more than 140 or so on digital cameras coz I always get them wet sooner or later and they die.”

“Thanx Roam!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“I can't believe I missed Tmac's and Delta's posts. WOW!! Great pics and videos from the summit. Dang, you guys got great weather and those views are fantastic. All we saw were clouds, thanks to our inconsiderate leader.

Congrats you 2 on getting to the summit!”

“All we saw were clouds, thanks to our inconsiderate leader.


me soo sor-ree.”

“Hey guys! Sounds like an awesome trip! I'm gonna have to get back to CO one of these days for some more 14ers...:D

Great TR and pics everyone!”

“Woah! Embear!

I was actually thinking about you this weekend when i was up in the Park for a dayhike - hows Cali treatin ya?”

“Cali is great! I miss those mountains though... I'm forced to take up water sports here :D”

“gee - tough life!

:)”

“Well I have touched the snow and ice free void! Thursday morning myself, my two sons and two friends from Baton Rouge and Shreveport climbed Mt. Elbert. We backpacked up to tree line on the south trail and camped on the flat area at about 11,500 feet. After an evening of sleet, high winds and lightning we woke up early and started just after daylight for the accent. It was cloudy and a bit chilly all the way up but it was clear on top. I only have a few pics but will post them later. I've been working too much since getting back on Sunday to download them.”

“Awesome!
That's a long way up compared to the Pinnacle.”

“Way to rep the flat lands!

Were you on the south side or the trail from Twin Lakes?”

“Congrats Bateauxdriver, I didn't know you were out here.”

“Stealthy like a ninja, that one.”

“Well we can't have people sneaking into Colorado, from now on you all must register :)”

“You gonna put an electric fence around the entire state? With cameras and guards? Catch those illegal peak baggers? Send them back to the flat lands they came from?”

“Just as soon as I can raise the money for that fence. No more unapproved peak bagging!”

“Catch me if you can!”

“Excellent, bateaux. Glad you made it up there finally. Sweet place in good weather.”

“started just after daylight for the accent

i heard your accent is strong at all times of the day”

“Pictures, man. We need pictures!”

“attaboy batman!”

“Here are some of the pics from my July Mt. Elbert Trip. I still need to upload my pics from the April Elbert trip, February Ski Trip and May Arkansas trip. I promise I will. I've been to busy taking trips this year to keep up with pics.



http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560002339hCbJaP”

“Cool pics! Nice up there ain't it.

Did you show the site of the incredible floating fire?”

“nice pics!!! that's awesome that you got to go back and see the mountain in a different season.”

“Nice, Cajun! Wooo!
Keep getting out there.”

“Here are a few pics from the April Mount Elbert Trip. I had camera problems so I only have a few worthy pics. I need to steal some from Pennsey and claim them as my own.


http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560012341lrFKpo”

“Those pics came out great. Cool mountain.

Watch out for that Pennsy character. He's dangerous with an ice axe.”

“what kinda boneheads would go up there in all that snow?

did you posthole at all?”

“We had some good laughs last week remembering this trip. I love the story about Roam's waste deep posthole.”

““what kinda boneheads would go up there in all that snow?

did you posthole at all?”

No postholing in July Roam. Looked like even Massive was mostly snow free up top. If I would have had another day I would have tried Mt. Princton since I was camped right by it.

Dang it's been over a week since I been to Colorado time to plan the next trip.”

“Sure, rub it in.”

““Cool pics! Nice up there ain't it.

Did you show the site of the incredible floating fire?”
Roam Around

This is the beaver ponds area in summer.

”

“Well, I postholed in June some on a snowfield in Flattops Wilderness.

Crossed a snowfiled on the North side of Mt. Spalding on Sunday, but only went about ankle deep. :)

I love playin in the snow in JULY!”

“A glacier that I had planned to get water from was frozen solid. I left the stove at camp and only brought a filter. Had to drop down about 250 feet to a lake to get water. Loosing 250 feet of hard earned elevation is not something you want to do above treeline.”

“yuck - that does stink.

That pic of the beaver area, bet you can't pitch a tent down thru those trees now! It's probably a marsh at best and all out full on pond at worst!”

“When do people climb Mt. Elbert?

from summitpost -

http://www.summitpost.org/fact-sheet/306953/When-do-People-Climb-Mount-Elbert-.html

only 1% in April, when Pennsy, ENS and myself did it.

TMac and Delta in May (i think) - 5.5%

Bateaux and crew in July - with 31.% of the rest of CO.

Interesting stats - not scientific - it's all based off the summit log solely on summitpost.com”

“Our turn! 4th time's a charm.

Click for pictures.

”