Wouldn’t be a Colorado vacation without lotta hiking & guilt-free dining.
Kicked off the long weekend at my favourite Louisville restaurant, Zucca’s. Italian food, outdoor seating – what’s not to love? I’m a fish lover so enjoyed fresh trout but rest assured our table devoured their share of pasta. Super excited to have Ash, Tom & Stephen here thru Monday. Good reason to drop off my fairly restrictive marathoner diet!
Up & out early on Friday – whitewater rafting day plus a quick mile-half trek up to St. Mary’s Glacier in Alice/Idaho Springs. Thought it’d help acclimate my East Coast visitors to our higher elevation. Tough 1st day hike at 10,300 ft & snow but still captured lotta Flatlander smiles in my pics. Morning highlights: drinking glacial water & running downhill thru knee-deep snow ‘Killian Jornet style’. Awesome start to any Colorado day!
Kicked back & finished Friday with Mexican food on the outdoor patio at Louisville’s Casa Alegre.
Saturday was official ‘hike day’. Had targeted Lake Isabelle but was Mother Nature-limited to Long Lake. Just past Brainard, we hit knee-to-waist high snow. Generally the snow pack supported our weight but found ourselves post-holing more than a few times (which made portions of today’s hike akin to an elliptical workout). Hiking in snow & t-shirts – true Colorado experience!
Enjoyed BBQ in Nederland (remembered this tasty place from Frozen Dead Guy Days in March).
Awoke Sunday to ‘man-catching’ beignets at Lucile’s (Ashton’s fave), then walked 2 miles at nearby Wonderland Lake in North Boulder (no food guilt here – bring it :)). I chose this nearby trek to show off the newborn prairie dogs (a local landscaping nuisance but cool zoo-like experience for visiting Jerseyites). Strolled Pearl Street (a tourist must-do) & took in lunch at Boulder’s West End with Tom’s aunt/cousin Robin. ROCKSTAR life – outdoor seating 4 nights in a row!
Food, fun & hiking – super sad to see my guests go home!
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- Day 1 hike – St. Mary’s Glacier
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- come on – glacier straight UP!
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- pic from glacier base
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- Welcome to Colorado Ash & Tom!
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- Day 2 hike – Brainard & Long Lake
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- Mountain lions…are we still in Jersey?
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- snow & t-shirt weather – hiking in Colorado!
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- hike love – BEAUTIFUL Colorado!
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- website cover shot – one year later
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- sun block mishap (not a bird bombing)
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- Colorado ninjas
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- Day 3 hike – Wonderland Lake, Boulder
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- prairie dogging
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- springtime in Colorado
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- Scout
Skydiving, a half-marathon run 8 days later — how do I match my past 2 weekend activities? How ‘bout climb a 14er? Wait, I’ve done that. How ‘bout climb a 14er in winter? Yeah, that’ll work.
Joined a new hiking team called HardKore Hiking & set my alarm at 3:45am Saturday morning for a trailhead meet-up at Quandary Peak, just south of Breckinridge (2 ¼ hours way).
Because of xtreme high altitude conditions, Ro spent Friday nite & Saturday day at Camp Bow Wow. Xtreme? Heavy mountain snow, moderate to high avalanche warning & summit wind chills at or below zero. Just your average Saturday in Colorado 🙂
Missed the camaraderie of my friends John & Annmarie, but realize they also have other lives, so today was about forging new friendships – AND climbing a 14er in winter!
Crampons, poles, snowshoes, extra layers (shirt & socks), goggles, food supplies, sunblock & bottled water (Camelbak lines freeze in these conditions – yeah, even with insulator coverings). Check, done, ready to go. 2 ladies dropped off pace fast, said our goodbyes – now we were 7 (one ‘no show’ – originally supposed to summit with 10).
After tree line, found ourselves hiking as two separate groups of 4 & 3. Maintained position most of our climb to the false summit at 13,200ft. New Hampshire marathoner Alex summited first – kicked Brandon, (Minnesota) Matt & my butts. Quick pace, super efficient stride.
15-minute water & rest break at the false summit – studied the peak ahead. No visible trails today, so our choice was GPS or ski mark remnants of backcountry skiers past.
Alex started to chill so once again, she took the lead. Not that this was a competition, but as one of 2 older guys and newbie to the group – didn’t want to lag behind. Lucky for me, hills are my friend. Don’t get me wrong, I think the same way everyone else does, but I dig in mentally & can maintain a strong steady pace uphill.
Found myself out front for much of the climb but jeez my lungs were burning. Brandon caught & passed me with a ¼ mile to go. ARGH! 5 minutes back I summit 2nd. Last summer, Quandary was my least favourite of six 14ers Ro & I completed. This day however Quandary soared #1; the Rockies in winter are AMAAAZZZING!
SUCCESS! Wisconsin pharm researcher Brandon dug a summit snow shelter as protection from the bitter wind. Matt & Ed joined 10 minutes later; our final 3 hikers (Krista, Alex & Stephen) summited another 10 minutes back.
What else makes this Team ‘HardKore’? We summit parked for 30+ minutes & ate lunch. Windchill below zero. Crazy!
A majority of folks packed sleds to enjoy a quick ride down. I took the opportunity to trail run down the mountain, using poles as rudders to steady my pace & balance.
An hour half back to treeline, found myself all alone so caught a 20 minute nap on the snowpack.
High altitude, snow & sunshine – BEST combination, FAAANNNNTASTIC day!
WATCH my YouTube video ‘Quandary Peak 14,265ft’
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- early start – left home at 430am for trailhead meetup w/ HardKore Hiking
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- Saturday morning Colorado sunrise
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- no visible trail this hike, only GPS & marks left by backcountry skiers past
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- hmmm…which way to go – UP, of course!
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- Matt & Krista
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- I took the early lead (yep, super competitive)
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- NH marathoner Alex – first to the false summit at 13,200ft
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- final long climb to the summit
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- yep, I’m looking down on everyone – catch me!
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- quarter-mile more to go – UP!
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- oh no, my lungs are burning & Brandon is coming up fast
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- …and I’m now 2nd (still respectable..LOL)
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- SUMMIT SUCCESS!
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- today’s WOW shot – whatta view!
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- sweat, iced brows – AND the hint of a smile 🙂
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- Brandon (1st to summit) building a snow shelter from the bitter wind
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- below zero wind chill (yeah, May 1st is Wednesday)
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- Alex, Krista & Steven approaching the summit
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- summit man cave
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- lunch (& a flask) at 14,265ft
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- HardKore Hiking group pic
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- post-lunch photo op (bigger smile, without the sweat)
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- quick hour-half trail run DOWN to treeline (Kilian Jornet inspired)
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- not the only one trailrunning today
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- Ptarmigan
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- today’s stats – FAAANNNNTASTIC day!
After 2 previous unsuccessful attempts, SUMMIT SUCCESS on Saturday — our 5th 14er of the summer!
In March I did not realize the road to Evans would be closed. 9 miles (one-way) to Summit Lake through high winds and huge snowdrifts iced over by our bright Colorado sun – the latter ultimately thwarting my summit attempt. In August, no excuses, no unfinished business.
Arrived early, packed appropriately, paid our park fee and started the day hike at Summit Lake (road to Mt Evans open through Labour Day). Pulled on a sweatshirt while gearing up: low 60’s with a breeze – EXCELLENT day for hike! Knew in my heart: temp’s gonna be 50’s at Summit maybe even 40’s. No snow flying yet but still…couldn’t hike this day without a huge smile on a face.
The start of the hike was surprisingly vertical, no 2 mile jaunt through forest — elevation already over 13,000 feet. Found initial breathing laboured while acclimating to the altitude but 33 weeks into 2012, my body’s ready for 14ers. Passed a few hikers (good to see folks on the trail) and proceeded to Mt Spaulding after a few extended stares at Summit Lake. So clear, so serene up high…crazy amazing beauty. Again, hard not to get all spiritual in my posts – just so divinely perfect/balanced. WOW moment!
From the parking area at Summit Lake, go north past the rock shelter house to the north end of the lake and locate the trail that climbs up Spalding’s east ridge. Follow the trail through the rocks and stay below the ridge line in order to bypass more difficult terrain to the summit of Mt Spalding. From the top of Spalding follow cairns south down to the Evans/Spalding saddle, continue south toward the end of the west ridge. Follow cairns to a notch before the large hump near the end of the ridge. Drop to the right and follow the trail to the east. The trail stays below the ridge for most of the remaining hike to the summit.
Consistent with 30% of this year’s hikes, I lost the trail during the ‘cairn following’ section. Cairns are piles of rocks — that’s it, no more. You’re hiking through boulder fields and looking for ‘piles of rocks’ – clearly I’m not comprehending. Luckily, this day I spotted a fellow hiker less than a half-mile away and promptly righted my path. Hoisted Ro twice as we navigated through the notch just past Evans/Spaulding saddle. Doesn’t matter how long we co-habitate, Ro hates being carried; assumes I’m gonna toss him thousands of feet to his canine death. Ro – I love ya man…it’s not gonna happen. LOL>
Upon approaching summit, we are joined by tens of ‘cheaters’ – those who drove to the top of Evans and parked near the observatory. That said, more than happy to share the view; awesome to see so many people enjoying our Colorado outdoors.
Wildlife check this hike – marmots (of course), mule deer, big horn sheep and mountain goats. LOVE LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
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- All layered up! LOVE August in Colorado!
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- Summit Lake ~13,000ft elevation
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- vertical climb start
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- amazing climb UP
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- Chicago Lakes
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- cairns mark the way (pic center)
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- summit view from Mt Spaulding (not our end destination today)
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- beautiful tundra colours (& marmot in pic center)
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- climb to Mt Evans (destination now in sight)
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- UP UP UP!
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- Ro needed a boost thru the notch past Evans/Spaulding saddle
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- SUMMIT SUCCESS! W-O-W moment!
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- ‘cheaters’ parked near Observatory; road open thru Labour Day
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- summit lunch break
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- mountain goat on hike return
