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trips - Colorado Fourteener Peak-Bagging Summer 2008Trip Info
DescriptionFriday: Fly in and meet at the car rental office. Go to REI for supplies, get lunch and any other last minute stops, then head to Gray's Peak trailhead and set up camp Saturday: Grays Peak (class 1) with an optional sidetrip to Torreys Peak (class 2). There is good trail all the way to the top of Grays, and trail most of the way from Grays to Torreys, so it'll be simple, but not necessarily easy. Drive to Elbert Creek Campground near Elbert/Massive trailhead. This will be our basecamp for 2 nights. Sunday: climb Elbert (class 1, trail all the way to the top) Monday: drive to Colony Lakes trailhead and hike in to basecamp. The vehicle I reserved will likely get us part-way up the 4wd road, leaving us about a 4 mile hike in from S. Colony Creek. We will spend 3 nights here Tuesday: climb Humboldt Peak (class 2, trail most of the way, some minor route-finding on the summit ridge; if youre not blind, you should be able to find the summit). this is the shortest climb of the trip, leaving us plenty of time to tackle some other peaks, explore the area, or relax in camp. if the weather looks good and there's time, I'd like to give Kit Carson, or Broken Hand Peak a go. or both, if we have a perfct day. KC is a class 3 14'er, with the crux of the climb a descent from a false summit. this will be a challenge, and really something to hang our hat on if we can accomplish it. BHP on the other hand, is a "only" a class 2 13'er, but is very useful in that we can have a perfect view of the following day's route up the Needle, plus gives us another, shorter, option if KC is not do-able. and if any peak-bagging after Humboldt is not do-able, then we can still explore Upper and Lower S. Colony Lakes Wednesday: climb Crestone Needle (class 3; trail part-way; more difficult route-finding and some scrambling). Possibly go for Crestone Peak via the standard route (class 3). The more adventurous may go for the traverse (class 4). If we're parked at the lower trailhead (instead of the upper), we'll have to hike out this day, also. Please study your guidebooks and/or 14ers.com carefully for these climbs as well as the next one. Thursday: Hike out. Drive to Capitol Creek trailhead, about a 5-hour drive. Hike to Capitol Lake, about 6 miles in. Longest hike-to-camp of the trip, but the gain is moderate, and we should be acclimated well by now Friday: Climb to K2. Decide whether to stop there or go on to Capitol. I've seen pictures taken from here, and theyre magnificent, so this is a respectable goal if we can't make it to Capitol for whatever reason. The route is listed as class 4, mainly due to the Knife Edge and beyond, where a fall could be serious. The route-finding actually sounds a little less difficult than Crestone Needle, but still should not be taken lightly. After gaining the summit ridge, we will descend to the other side, and hike in the boulder field below the ridgeline until we are below K2. Then it's a climb straight up to the ridge again. Once on the ridge, we will favor the top of the ridge or the left, where it is less steep, until we reach the Capitol Summit. Saturday: Hike out. Sunday: Fly home. Please don't book your flights out for any sooner than Sunday. I don't want to have to rush the last day on the trail. Routes: Grays (via Gray's Peak Trail): http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=gray1&peak=Grays%20Peak%20and%20Torreys%20Peak Grays/Torreys combo: http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=torr5&peak=Grays,%20Torreys Elbert (northeast ridge): http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=elbe1&peak=Mt.%20Elbert Humbodlt Peak: (west ridge) http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=humb1&peak=Humboldt%20Peak Broken Hand Peak: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/153003/broken-hand-peak.html Crestone Needle (south face): http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=cnee1&peak=Crestone%20Peak%20and%20Crestone%20Needle Crestone Peak (south face): http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=cpea2&peak=Crestone%20Peak%20and%20Crestone%20Needle Capitol Peak (northeast ridge): http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=capi1&peak=Capitol%20Peak%20and%20Snowmass%20Mountain This is a very ambitious itinerary for me. I will be taking the approach that I will push myself to the limit physically, while still staying within bounds of what is reasonably safe. I will have set turnaround times and will not be lured recklessly by summit fever. The peaks were chosen to be roughly in ascending degree of difficulty, culminating in a class 4 climb of Capitol. I urge anyone considering this trip to buy and read Gerry Roach's "Colorado's Fourteeners". I am not a guide, nor am I experienced at mountaineering, although I am experienced at backpacking, having logged over 200 bag nights in various locations. Although there will be some time spent on the road driving from trailhead to trailhead, I do not plan to spend any more time than is necessary in civilization. You need to schedule your flight to arrive in Denver no later than Friday morning, August 8th, and fly out a week later any time Sunday, August 17th. I'll rent a vehicle that we can all split the cost of, and we can drive it to the mountains. I'd also like to mention that although I am the trip organizer, I know for a fact that I'm not the strongest hiker in the group, nor the most experienced in the mountains, especially the Rockies. I know Roam Around is a stronger hiker than I am, and it sounds like Chowdahead is, too. Those two guys, plus Toejam and MsDoolittle, have done their fair share of 14er tramping. I'd like itif we stayed more or less together on the class 3 and 4 stuff, especially those in the rear. Also, everyone please get the guidebooks and be familiar with the maps and the routes that we are taking. It'll be a big load off my mind contact info: scottfchr@aol.com home 765-453-7893 cell 765-461-6500 (this is the new number) capitol knife edge video: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/showvideo.php?video=CapitolKnife_1b.mpg&vidnum=1 www.14ers.com just has a buttload of great pictures, general info, trip reports, etc on all the 14'ers. a highly recommended site the view from k2. scroll to the right to see capitol in all its glory: http://www.rexheadd.com/summitpans/full/k2SummitPan.html GEAR suitable footwear for both on and off-trail hiking, with some moderate scrambling bear canister, ursack, or other way to secure food out of bear's reach a helmet is essential for the class 3 and 4 climbs climbing gear is optional a guidebook to the 14'ers (i recommend the one by Roach) good maps of the routes: National Geographic Trails Illustrated 128,104,127, and 138 cover the area we will be hiking and climbing in. 14ers.com and roach have decent maps as well if you have a gps, bring it (shut up, jimmy san) 2-way radio (optional) altimeter (optional) sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) along with all the standard gear for safety and comfort for camping and hiking in an alpine wilderness, both car-camping and backpacking MOUNTAINEERING IS DANGEROUS: Mountaineering is inherently dangerous and the risk of death or serious injury can never be completely eliminated. It is up to each individual to make his or her own choices regarding acceptable risk. By signing up for this trip you acknowledge that you recognize these risks and are prepared to be responsible for your own safety.
 = Yes,  = Maybe
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