You’d think after last weekend’s super long trek to Russia, I’d be kicking back/lying low for a few weeks. Not true, blame Ash. Texted a high-altitude pic last week – snow, alpine lakes, Aspens popping yellow. Autumn in Colorado. Wanna/hafta/gotta 14er hike before the snow blows…usually that’s September, so this hiker’s on borrowed time.
430am start. Backpack, pup, treats – packed, all ready to go. 2 hours west on Colorado’s East-West highway (I-70). Bakerville exit, 8 miles shy of Eisenhower tunnel, east of the Divide. Mountain road weathered by the long summer hike season – 5 miles of dirt & massive potholes. Road wash-out 1.2 miles from the trailhead. Today’s 14er destination: Grays Peak 14,270ft.
My third trip to Grays – first summited September 2012, returned last August (2015). Good day for a hike. Summer lightning season’s passed, day’s seasonal snow squall not forecasted ‘til 3pm.
Chilly start; kept Ro leashed thru the first 2 miles of willow thicket. Easily distracted by ground critters.
Shed layers before the first switchback, crossing & climbing the open Colorado steppe. Glacier remnants on the peaks, blunted tundra colour, nipping wind, tree line disappears just before 12,000ft. Mountain heaven.
Left to Grays, slight right to Torreys. Stopped & took in the landscape.
Not a lotta down time today…Ro was a climbing machine. Stop, stare, wait for me – then hastily UP UP UP. Dog on a mission. Crampon-free day, not enough snow to warrant the trouble.
Summit SUCCESS! Wind stilled. Took advantage & soaked in the magic.
Peaks all 4 corners, expansive Lake Dillon to the west. Ash ice fished there 2 winters back. Appears I missed leaf peeping by at least 2 weeks. Would have to slow-lane the ride home to see any remaining Aspen colour (lower elevation along the highway).
Hike day did not disappoint. WOW. Just WOW! LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.
Ro update: car ride snooze, followed by his favourite spot on the bed – out ‘til morning. Heck yeah I’m jealous. HA!
-
- chilly trailhead start
-
- willow thicket, open steppe, then UP UP — high above glacier snow
-
- blunted tundra colour, nipping wind — mountain heaven
-
- dog on a mission
-
- impossible not to SMILE
-
- westward: Lake Dillon
-
- N S E & W, peaks all 4 corners
-
- my 3rd SUMMIT of Grays (2012, ’15, ’16)
-
- LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
-
- car ride snooze, followed by his favourite spot on the bed
Grays Peak 14,270ft
Lucky in life. My North End neighbor Larry had an extra concert ticket to Red Rocks Sunday nite.
Ray LaMontagne. Never heard of him – didn’t matter. Great company, great music, great venue, great night.
Don’t be afraid to say YES to the unexpected. Be spontaneous, life is meant to be lived.
-
- SOLD OUT!
-
- best amphitheatre in the USA
-
- first Red Rocks
-
- Grammy WINNER Ray LaMontagne
-
- check out the moon (upper right)
Grammy WINNER Ray LaMontagne (audio only)
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure near Morrison, Colorado, where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. Red Rocks Amphitheater is a naturally formed, world famous outdoor venue just fifteen miles west of Denver. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a seating area for up to 9,525 people.
Rolling Stone magazine has ruled the best amphitheater in the United States is Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison. Red Rocks was judged to be better than even New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl, which were Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
Public, organizational and private performances have been held at Red Rocks for more than 100 years. The earliest documented performance at the amphitheater was the Grand Opening of the Garden of the Titans, put on by famed editor John Brisben Walker on May 31, 1906. Featuring Pietro Satriano and his 25-piece brass band, it was the formal opening of the natural amphitheater for use by the general public after Walker purchased it with the proceeds of his sale of Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Dropped Ro at Divine Canine & vehicle-loaded Thursday after work – weekend destination: Utah. Monday, Colorado Springs; Saturday, Salt Lake City – count it, 5 days between marathons. FAAANNNTASTIC!
8 hour drive to Salt Lake. Well that’s no fun – breaking it up over 2 days however, no problemo 🙂
Lived B-I-G and slept Thursday nite at the historic Hotel Colorado (scored with mid-week, off-season pricing). Presidents Teddy Roosevelt & William Howard Taft plus multiple governors & early-20th century celebrities adorned hotel walls in black-n-white photographs – super cool…unfortunately, little time to browse. Quick ‘express’ hike planned.
Hanging Lake.
Crystal clear water, emerald green hue, and a mountain waterfall. SPECTACULAR view!
That’s the way I described the hike in June 2012. 4 years later – same SPECTACULAR view.
Quick UP & down trek – returned coated in a thick layer of human salt. No wish I woulda. Absolutely no regrets.
Lunch, 3 hours of desert, then north an hour – greeted by the backside of the Colorado Rockies. “Welcome to Cottonwood Heights” and the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. City slogan: “City Between the Canyons”, flanked by Big Cottonwood Canyon to the North and Little Cottonwood Canyon on the South.
Tomorrow a.m. – marathon #70, my third in 13 days.
-
- world’s most irresistible toy — the teddy bear — received its birth at Hotel Colorado
-
- 1.2 mile vertical climb
-
- W-O-W!
-
- clear, clean & emerald green
-
- behind the Falls
-
- life is meant to be LIVED
Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs CO)
