Where: Colorado Rockies
Who: solo
When: July 2010
I'd wanted to hike up Mount Sopris for years, and finally found the time. The dominating mountain required a roundtrip of 13 miles and 3,800 feet of gain. I enthusiastically set out alone one morning while DB caught more zzz's in the truck. The hike was mostly scenic, and the final jaunt to the summit was enjoyable. I returned to the truck 5 hours and 10 minutes after starting out. A nice day, to be sure.
Showing posts with label Colorado Rockies (Elk Range). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado Rockies (Elk Range). Show all posts
Mount Sopris
Willow Peak
Where: Colorado Rockies
Who: Aron Ralston
When: July 2010
Willow Peak is the local name for a 13,336-ft. peak above Willow Lake in the Maroon Lake region near Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells. It was another peak on Aron's not-yet-done list for the Aspen area. Although I was a bit taxed from the previous two days worth of effort, I signed on-board for what turned out to be a splendid day in the beautiful Willow Lake region. Most excellent..JPG)
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Another (Good) 14er -- Pyramid Peak
Where: Colorado Rockies
Who: solo
When: July 2010
I set off alone early one morning to bag Pyramid Peak, one of Colorado's 59 14ers. It was said to be challenging, dangerous and generally great fun. I found it to be great fun but rather easy. The danger, in my estimation, is highly overrated (assuming your route-finding is on, and you're accustomed to loose rock, as I am). The views from the top were outstanding. The roundtrip took only 4 hours and 55 minutes.
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Views from Aspen
Where: Aspen, Colorado
Who: DB
When: July 2010.JPG)
On a rest day between frantic runs up Mount Sopris and Pyramid Peak, I took DB on a gondola ride to the top of Aspen Mountain. The views were great, the hail stung, and the interpretive hike we did with ACES was highly enjoyable. Green gentian!
Tedious Taylor and Stellar Star Peaks
Where: Colorado Rockies
Who: Aron Ralston
When: July 2010
After a fun May outing with DB and Aron at Red Rock (complimented with Thai and Moroccan food), Aron invited us to spend a few days at his place in Aspen as we came to Colorado in July. Rather than obvious objectives, Aron suggested a handful of obscurities that he'd not yet done. One of them was called Star Peak.
Star Peak is a monstrous, highly aesthetic mountain, strongly reminiscent of the Sierra, that was said to be dangerous loose class 4 via its north ridge. Aron suggested we attack it. And we did, by bouncing up and over Taylor Peak and then traversing endless talus to the northeast face, which was followed mellowly and in relative safety to the summit of outstanding Star. We descended into Ralstar Basin and then slogged out via the Lindley Hut. A fantastically fun day out..JPG)
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Capitol Peak, a Colorado 14ers Classic
When: August 2006
Partners: Walt Hutton
Route: NE Ridge (Class 4)
Mileage/Gain: 17/5,800
Heading up to the Capitol Peak trailhead, Donnie B and I met my boy Walt for the next day's climb. Turning in early, we overslept, waking an hour or two later than we'd hoped to. Donnie was out, opting to drift back into a dream, but Walt and I wanted to give the peak a shot anyway.
As it turns out, Capitol Peak was shockingly fast and easy. The infamous knife edge, which I dropped down to just below the summit of K2 (a sub-peak of Capitol Peak), was enjoyable, though mellow by Sierra Nevada knife edge standards.
I reached the summit in only a few hours, hooking up with a couple fun guys from Atlanta as I neared the top. They would join Donnie and I a couple days later for Torreys and Grays.
I began my descent from Capitol Peak about the time Walt arrived on the summit. Eventually dropping down to the good trail, I napped by a creek for awhile then continued the hike out. Finding a suitable stream shortly before the truck, I took a much-needed bath in the cold water.
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Castle Peak & Conundrum Peak
When: September 2007
Partners: Solo
Route: Loop via NE Ridge of Castle (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 4/2,500
The day after Andy and I traversed the Maroon Bells, I set out alone to bag Castle Peak and Conundrum Peak. DB, who was still healing from a June knee injury, gave it a valiant effort but soon turned back, as her progress was slow and we had a 9-hour drive home.
Racing up the standard route up Castle Peak, I passed a couple parties and arrived on top to two or three folks enjoying the views. I immediately passed by and dropped down toward the Castle-Conundrum saddle. From the saddle, the hike to Conundrum Peak's summit was short and simple. I enjoyed that summit alone.
Returning to the saddle, I dropped straight down one of the steep sand and snow gullies that lead to the bowl between the two peaks. Traversing the bowl was easy, and I was back at the vehicle in what felt like no time.
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The Maroon Bells
When: September 2007
Partners: Andy McClure
Route: Bells Traverse (5.2)
Mileage/Gain: 9/4,800
With an absurdly busy summer of 2007 that found me hiking, climbing and otherwise exploring France, Switzerland, the Canadian Rockies, the Washington Cascades, the Tetons and a significant amount of stuff in the Sierra Nevada, I only managed to make it to Colorado for two days around the Labor Day weekend.
Meeting Andy one evening after a climb of Arches National Park's Elephant Butte earlier that day, he and I set out the next morning to traverse the Maroon Bells. 
With about a 9-hour roundtrip, the traverse was enjoyable and much easier than we'd expected. Staying true to the crest for all but a couple, short portions, the going was easy 5th here and there (and certainly nowhere near as loose as the Zion choss I'm accustomed to!) Not only that, but the route-finding off the summit of Maroon Peak was elementary, with a good trail for 90% of it...contrary to prior reports I've been given.
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