After so much run, run, running – was super happy to touch base with my Fort Collins-based hiking friends & schedule much needed time in the mountains. Nothing provides more clarity & re-centers the spirit like time on our high peaks. Cammy listed 4 or 5 14ers on her summer wish list (yeah, she’s pretty hardcore) & I chose Sherman (Blanca Peak is next on my list).
Exactly what I needed. Biking & swimming will soon be on hiatus as I return to my true love. Still sticking with this year’s Ironman challenge – at least I’m gonna try – but after August 3rd, you’ll find me in the mountains. Rainier, Hood, Shasta, Denali – so many West Coast peaks are calling.
Caravanned to Mt. Sherman trailhead Friday night. Just past Fairplay, first snow. Couldn’t stop grinning.
The drive ended on rough dirt roads, lotta rocks for a low riding Prius (my next car will be a truck 🙂 ). Cammy & Erik set up camp near a small runoff stream – their huskies Knook & Nikita expected to keep the two warm from blowing wind & 31 degree temps. I chose the easy way out, unpacked my sleeping bag & slept inside the car. Blindfolded a shirt over my eyes after struggling an hour in search of darkness – the night’s full moon shone bright.
Woke in time to watch the moon slip beneath the ridge – my first clear vision of the snow-covered peaks.
Packed up, watered up, ready to hike. Passed an old mining shack, remnants of Colorado past.
Chose to bypass a series of switchbacks & scree scramble UP to the saddle. SNOW!! Conditions couldn’t have been any more perfect. I brought poles this day & easily moved up the ridge. Wind blew cold, helping to regulate my internal temp (running hot under 3 layers). Straight ahead I could see my first 14er summit of 2014. Woo-hoo!
Have never felt so strong before on a hike – attribute 50% to mental drive (I really wanted to summit today), the other half to consistent marathon training. Crazy lung capacity these days.
Summited at 8am – what to do? How ‘bout descend & climb nearby 13er Mt. Sheridan. Sheridan was lot more rock scramble (not my fave) but the payoff was the same – that view. SPECTACULAR! No bigger rush in life. Absolutely nothing like it.
Slid down two glaciers (super fun) & examined an old mine shaft on our descent.
Day’s over? Heck no – it’s not even noon yet.
On our drive return, stopped in Fairplay & toured South Park City – a historical mining town reconstruction from the days of the Colorado Gold Rush. LOVED it!
Marathon in Duluth next weekend, followed by two triathlons – training for Ironman Boulder. Most every other weekend between now & Columbus Day, you’ll find me sleeping under the stars anticipating my next climb.
-
- daybreak, Mt Sherman trailhead
-
- Saturday morning playground
-
- SNOW!
-
- Cammy & Nikita approaching the summit
-
- lotta adrenaline – first 14er of 2014
-
- SUCCESS – Mt Sherman 14,035ft
-
- down 1,000ft, then UP again to 13er Mt Sheridan
-
- Mt Sheridan approach
-
- 2nd summit of the day – WOW!
-
- Cammy, Erik & their fur family
-
- Knook
-
- fastest way to descend – CRAZY FUN!
-
- old abandoned gold mine
-
- reconstructed mining community in Fairplay
-
- one room schoolhouse
-
- pharmacy
-
- old mining town – with a VIEW!
“The mountains are calling and I most go” – John Muir
Ironman training, right on track. Bad news – really missing the mountains. Gotta find a healthy way to juggle both.
Drove to Loveland Pass – destination Mt Sniktau. Not just hiking, hiking in heavy snow. Big smiles.
And although we haven’t received much snow yet in Boulder County (couple inches in October, 4 or 5 inches last week), the mountains have been getting socked with winter precip. All ski resorts now open – life is good in Colorado 🙂
Sniktau is considered the easiest of our 13ers.
An initial false summit, 2 lesser summits, then BAM – there’s the peak. Hike no more than 4 miles roundtrip.
Ro couldn’t have been more excited. He’s BAAAAACK! Completely covered in snow, ice formed on Ro’s beard & coat – creating doggie dreads. Temps stayed just above zero so found myself jacket shedding early on – well layered this day.
Top of the first false summit – BEAUTIFUL! Quiet, stunning, everything WHITE. A-Basin, Keystone, Breckinridge & Loveland all visible. Grizzly Peak & Torreys too. Better than a class reunion – I missed you guys!
Ro & I pushed passed both lesser summits & caught a glimpse of Sniktau – probably another 45 minutes ahead. Snow flying, visibility diminished, blowing wind. Layered back up – yep, even a jacket.
Quick shot of the peak, good enough – today was about the journey, not the destination.
Ended the day with chili & nachos in Idaho Springs. Mighty good to be back in the mountains.
-
- November mountain hike
-
- beautiful blue skies (for an hour anyway)
-
- Sno’ Ro is BACK! Check out that beard!
-
- Hello Paul & Terri – what are YOU two doing here?
-
- SPECTACULAR!
-
- fast moving clouds
-
- yep, all smiles
-
- Grizzly Peak
-
- Sno’ Ro & Sniktau (another hour out) — we’ll conquer this 13er another day
-
- WHITE-OUT hike return
-
- proof this boy can eat — chili & nachos…YUM!
Today’s hike destination, Mt Princeton – my 14th 14er. Woo-hoo!
Early 3am Saturday start. Drove to the Collegiate Peaks near Buena Vista with my friend M, 3 hours away. Geared up – water, sandwiches, cranberry-almond trail mix & sunblock. Ready to start the 13 mile trek up this Class 2 mountain.
3 miles to the radio tower, then another half mile to the trailhead turnoff. REWARD – cool mountain air and the beginning of autumn. Aspens are turning yellow – fall time in the Rockies (fade in, a John Denver tune 🙂 )
Past treeline, the trail snaked over miles of ‘broken mountain’ – boulder fields. Rock, rock and more rock.
Lost the trail approx a mile/mile half from summit. ARGH! Our only solution – hike UP.
Looking UP 1500 vertical feet, just seemed impossible.
Broke it down in parts. Ro went off leash as we climbed in short calculated bursts with brief oxygen breaks. Quick climb to a large rock outcropping, followed by another brief break. Tough climb. Kept a good attitude and encouraged Ro up the steep slope. Clapping, cheering, whistling – UP UP UP we climbed.
Almost 2 hours later we popped over the top – maybe 200-300 feet from the summit. Amazing limit-less day!
Positives – (1) perfect weather, (2) amazing team attitude (made ALL the difference), (3) physically pushed to another level.
Probably my hardest hike mentally – just behind Barr Trail-Pikes Peak in July & my lightning strike on Mt Audubon in Aug 2012.
The REWARD – HUGE boost in self-confidence. I pushed myself. I finished. I can do ANYTHING.
Ended the day with a natural hot springs soak. Super nice, highly recommended 🙂
-
- my 14th 14er – Woo-hoo!
-
- nice day in the mountains
-
- 3 miles to the radio tower, then 4 miles UP to Mt Princeton
-
- Hello Autumn – I missed you!
-
- doing their thing – Aspens are turning yellow 🙂
-
- treeline
-
- trekked across a boulder field for miles
-
- lost the trail – options?
-
- UP UP UP we climbed
-
- 2 hours later, popped out 200-300ft from summit
-
- SUCCESS!
-
- Amazing limit-less day!
-
- Tough hike – but going home with a smile on our face!
