Route Climbed: Halfmoon Lake Date Climbed: December 4, 2004
After a long slog through deep snow below timberline, we enjoyed mostly wind-compacted snow until we finally reached the summit. It was a very clear day, with relatively low wind, despite the cold temperatures. Great climb!
Route Climbed: Mt. Elbert Trail Date Climbed: September 2003
I think we were the only two people on the mountain that day, we haven't seen anyone at all. Met some people at the parking lot when we came back, but they were there just to look around. The trail is a walk up, no big deal, but it's all uphill so make sure you have enough time. There was a bluejay who kept following us the whole trail until the tree line ended. We fed him some trail mix from our palms!
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 4, 2002
What a great place to be on July 4! It was a little crowded on top but looking east and knowing that you are higher than everything until you get to the Alps in Europe is a great feeling.
Route Climbed: East Ridge / Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: September 17, 2000
Started from the 4WD parking area, and hiked up through a nice fall-colored area. The trail was very nice, and we made very good time. The weather was so nice we wore shorts the entire way. From the TH, it was only 5 hours round trip. Good views of Twin Lakes and Massive, which had all of the trees changing with loads of colors.
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: October 2, 2004
Hiked the southeast ridge over South Elbert and then to the summit of Mount Elbert. Hiked down the southwest ridge and over Bull Hill before decending back to the Black Cloud Trailhead. This route made for a fun touring loop of Elbert and we saw some wonderful views of La Plata and the Ellingwood Ridge along the way in addition to the Findelity Mine which has a cabin that is still in very good shape with an intact roof.
Route Climbed: Mt. Elbert Trail Date Climbed: August 15, 2004
My 12th fourteener and highest point on earth outside of an airplane. Nice day. My friend Arthur and I had the summit to ourselves for 15 minutes before anyone else arrived, on a Sunday in mid-August!
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: August 17, 2004
Took my dad up it for his first fourteener. Having come right out from NC he huffed and puffed, but we made it in fine time; pretty impressive for a 56 year old man.
Route Climbed: South Elbert Trail Date Climbed: August 5, 2004
My second successful 14er!
Weather was a little odd: foggy in early morning, clearing up partially allowing for good views by noon with light, and fleeting, rain showers on the way down.
Hitched a ride over the 4 wheel drive approach coming and going, glad I did.
Lots of people out on trail that day, most of which were in a group benefiting an orchestra. I was surprised that many of them were Coloradoans for whom this was their first hike in the mountains (figure that one out).
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 12 2004
We started our climb from the Black Could Trailhead at 6 am (27 degrees F). The weather was great till we reached South Elbert. Once we reached South Elbert the wind picked up significantly and it started snowing. The trip up the ridge was a true challenge and we were misserably cold. Once we reached the summit we saw several groups that summitted using the normal route. They were in high spirts, joking, laughing, ... (had no weather problems at all). We were ready to decent, since it looked as if the weather might continue to worsen. We decended the route labled 3V1 in Roach and encountered some route finding challenges. -- overall we had a great day.
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge and Mount Elbert Trail Date Climbed: July, 1984
One of the more memorable summits, as it provided a terrific demonstration of how fast lightning storms can move in. Aaron Johnson, Mike Kloepfer, and myself were malingering during a perfect early afternoon on the summit when we heard a rumble behind us, turned, and just like that were running down the mountain as fast as humanly possible! The rocks were humming, my wool shirt was crackling with static electricity, Mike's hair (almost waist long at the time) was standing straight up--indeed a sight!--and timberline, on that mountain, under that circumstance, is a long, long flight to shelter. We made it (obviously), but have never forgotten the experience, and have since been more than a bit more attentive to the weather! We were so exhausted from the experience we called ourselves the "Noodle Knees Express." 'Nuff said.
Route Climbed: South Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: June 28, 2004
Overcast morning, was able to hike up through the clouds and then look down at them. Great hike, beautiful mountain. I celebrated my first wedding anniversary with my wife at the summit.
Trevor Simmons - Dec 5, 2004 1:07 am
Route Climbed: Halfmoon Lake Date Climbed: December 4, 2004After a long slog through deep snow below timberline, we enjoyed mostly wind-compacted snow until we finally reached the summit. It was a very clear day, with relatively low wind, despite the cold temperatures. Great climb!
syzygy - Nov 22, 2004 9:45 pm
Route Climbed: Echo Canyon up, Black Cloud Gulch Date Climbed: June 7, 2004Very nice climb. would do it again in a heartbeat. We had company at the summit.
usarock69 - Nov 3, 2004 7:27 pm
Route Climbed: Mt. Elbert Trail Date Climbed: September 2003I think we were the only two people on the mountain that day, we haven't seen anyone at all. Met some people at the parking lot when we came back, but they were there just to look around. The trail is a walk up, no big deal, but it's all uphill so make sure you have enough time. There was a bluejay who kept following us the whole trail until the tree line ended. We fed him some trail mix from our palms!
csmcgranahan - Oct 31, 2004 5:12 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 4, 2002What a great place to be on July 4! It was a little crowded on top but looking east and knowing that you are higher than everything until you get to the Alps in Europe is a great feeling.
Natasha - Oct 14, 2004 2:57 pm
Route Climbed: South Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: July 4, 2002Great day! Weather was sunny the entire route, sumitted in shorts.
ChuckO - Oct 12, 2004 10:46 pm
Route Climbed: south side Date Climbed: jun 2002Good climb. I was slower than expected, maybe 9 hours round trip.
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 9:02 am
Route Climbed: East Ridge / Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: September 17, 2000Started from the 4WD parking area, and hiked up through a nice fall-colored area. The trail was very nice, and we made very good time. The weather was so nice we wore shorts the entire way. From the TH, it was only 5 hours round trip. Good views of Twin Lakes and Massive, which had all of the trees changing with loads of colors.
xskier77 - Oct 3, 2004 6:49 pm
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: October 2, 2004Hiked the southeast ridge over South Elbert and then to the summit of Mount Elbert. Hiked down the southwest ridge and over Bull Hill before decending back to the Black Cloud Trailhead. This route made for a fun touring loop of Elbert and we saw some wonderful views of La Plata and the Ellingwood Ridge along the way in addition to the Findelity Mine which has a cabin that is still in very good shape with an intact roof.
Brad Snider - Sep 21, 2004 9:54 pm
Route Climbed: Mt. Elbert Trail Date Climbed: August 15, 2004My 12th fourteener and highest point on earth outside of an airplane. Nice day. My friend Arthur and I had the summit to ourselves for 15 minutes before anyone else arrived, on a Sunday in mid-August!
Larry V - Sep 12, 2004 6:42 pm
Route Climbed: northeast ridge Date Climbed: July 1994Beautiful day. Set the land speed record on this climb, with Aaron. The false summits were annoying.
thebeave7 - Sep 10, 2004 3:20 am
Route Climbed: Elbert Trail Date Climbed: July 31st, 2004A lovely trail run up the standard route, got me up top before the masses. Always love a quiet day at 14K, second state high point for the summer.
Eric J Lee
jomal - Sep 7, 2004 6:31 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: August 17, 2004Took my dad up it for his first fourteener. Having come right out from NC he huffed and puffed, but we made it in fine time; pretty impressive for a 56 year old man.
pennibocker - Sep 2, 2004 2:14 pm
Route Climbed: North Elbert Date Climbed: June 11, 2004My third attempt. The weather held this time. Massive the next day.
Ryan Kowalski - Aug 22, 2004 9:32 pm
Route Climbed: South Elbert from Black Cloud Trailhead Date Climbed: July 3, 2004A good day on a surprisingly secluded trail. The summit was a bit of a mall, but Bull Hill made up for it!
shawniemc - Aug 9, 2004 2:33 pm
Route Climbed: South Elbert Trail Date Climbed: August 5, 2004My second successful 14er!
Weather was a little odd: foggy in early morning, clearing up partially allowing for good views by noon with light, and fleeting, rain showers on the way down.
Hitched a ride over the 4 wheel drive approach coming and going, glad I did.
Lots of people out on trail that day, most of which were in a group benefiting an orchestra. I was surprised that many of them were Coloradoans for whom this was their first hike in the mountains (figure that one out).
georgbetsy - Jul 30, 2004 7:28 pm
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 12 2004We started our climb from the Black Could Trailhead at 6 am (27 degrees F). The weather was great till we reached South Elbert. Once we reached South Elbert the wind picked up significantly and it started snowing. The trip up the ridge was a true challenge and we were misserably cold. Once we reached the summit we saw several groups that summitted using the normal route. They were in high spirts, joking, laughing, ... (had no weather problems at all). We were ready to decent, since it looked as if the weather might continue to worsen. We decended the route labled 3V1 in Roach and encountered some route finding challenges. -- overall we had a great day.
Saintgrizzly - Jul 27, 2004 6:59 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge and Mount Elbert Trail Date Climbed: July, 1984One of the more memorable summits, as it provided a terrific demonstration of how fast lightning storms can move in. Aaron Johnson, Mike Kloepfer, and myself were malingering during a perfect early afternoon on the summit when we heard a rumble behind us, turned, and just like that were running down the mountain as fast as humanly possible! The rocks were humming, my wool shirt was crackling with static electricity, Mike's hair (almost waist long at the time) was standing straight up--indeed a sight!--and timberline, on that mountain, under that circumstance, is a long, long flight to shelter. We made it (obviously), but have never forgotten the experience, and have since been more than a bit more attentive to the weather! We were so exhausted from the experience we called ourselves the "Noodle Knees Express." 'Nuff said.
joel2lounge - Jul 25, 2004 12:52 pm
Route Climbed: NE ridge Date Climbed: July 20001st Fourteener
awillson - Jul 8, 2004 9:08 am
Route Climbed: Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: July 27, 2001This was my first 14er. Might as well go big on your first try. Climbed with my dad, 2 brothers, and a cousin.
granddeity - Jul 2, 2004 1:09 am
Route Climbed: South Mt Elbert Trail Date Climbed: June 28, 2004Overcast morning, was able to hike up through the clouds and then look down at them. Great hike, beautiful mountain. I celebrated my first wedding anniversary with my wife at the summit.