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trips - From Earth to Sky on Mt. ElbertTrip Info
DescriptionDirections to Trailhead: I-70 West to the Minturn Exit - Hwy 24 (first exit past Vail going west). Follow Hwy 24 through the town of Minturn, noting the location of Chilly Willy's for burgers on the return trip. There's also a quick shop (with bathroom and gas) in Minturn. Hwy 24 passes over Tennessee Pass and into Leadville - watch signs going through Leadville. Out of Leadville (try to watch the road and not the view to your right) take a right on Hwy 82. Follow this to the Twin Lakes area and look for a right hand turn on County Route 24 (blue signs). The turn to CR 24 is just past a sign for "Mt. Elbert Power Plant Service Road". Follw CR 24 uphill a little, go past the Lakeview Campground and look for a parking area on the left in a curve that overlooks Twin Lakes down below. There's a sign here "South Elbert Trailhead". Just past the parking area a 4WD road proceeds up the hill - Road "125 1B". This 4WD road is the trail (the first mile or so at least). If your hiking this jeep road you'll come to a place where the road turns right and a trail continues straight up the hill. DO NOT proceed up the hill. Rather, follow the bend in the trail to the right and you'll go over a small rise and soon come to a bridged creek crossing. Follow that and you'll come to a sign that reads "Mt. Elbert". Our campsite is just downhill in the flat area from the sign. Please note: our group size is now considered full. Thanks Ok, ENS is headed West - FINALLY! He said Mt. Elbert was the goal - the highest peak in the Rockies and the highest in Colorado. Snow will be heavy - bring your snowshoes and lets make tracks! We'll take the Mt. Elbert route from the Twin Lakes trailhead - as far up the road as we can drive. Good beta on what we're getting into is right here: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150325/mount-elbert.html Here is some good info and good pics from another website - www.14ers.com. Mt. Elbert Info
It appears that most people are planning on arriving Thursday night. Friday we will proceed to the trail head in a leisurly fashion and set up a basecamp most likely in the area where the Mt. Elbert trail branches off from the Continental Divide Trail. Saturday will be our climbing day. Weather (and lungs) permitting we'll summit at the highest point in Rocky Mountains (2nd highest in the lower 48) and return to our base camp for a little celebration.
The map above shows the trail starting where the 4wd road turns off the paved road. We should be able to drive partway up that road. However, worst case the route shown is 5.7 miles with an elevation gain of 4,791 feet. While I do not think that technical climbing gear will be required, having an ice axe along would add a significant element of safety to this endeavor. If you have an ice axe and crampons, we have several options available for Sunday and Monday One option would be to proceed to Rocky Mtn National Park and do some snow couloir climbing on the Dragon's Tail Couloir of Flattop Mountain. This would necessitate crampons and ice axes. Weather Forecast NOAA point weather forecast for the mountain
 = Yes,  = Maybe
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