Where: Sawatch Range, Colorado
When: July 2008
Partners: Solo
Route: Blank Gulch & Traverse (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 10/5,000
Setting off alone one morning from the Blank Gulch Trailhead, I made quick time up Mount Shavano, reaching the summit well ahead of others (the ones smart enough to sleep in a little).
Oh yeah, and on the way up I snagged a couple decent photos of some bighorn sheep on the slope above me. They weren't as pleased by my presence as I was their's.
Making the quick traverse to Tabeguache Peak, clouds began to form above the two peaks. Enjoying the views north to Mount Antero, North Carbonate, and even beyond toward Mount Princeton, I eventually dropped back down toward Shavano and worked my way back to the trail below the Shavano-Esprit Point saddle.
I returned to the trailhead a touch over five hours after beginning.
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Mount Shavano & Tabeguache Peak (Two 14ers for Nearly the Price of One)
"North Carbonate" (A Centennial, 13870 Feet) & Mount White (Just Some Mountain)
Where: Sawatch Range, Colorado
When: July 2008
Partners: Andy McClure
While we were in the neighborhood, Andy Mac and I tackled "North Carbonate", a locally-named Centennial peak that's actually higher than the named and nearby Carbonate Mountain. Mostly a talus slog, the views, however briefly I enjoyed them, were nice and the plunge stepping down a longish snow slope on the southeast slope of the mountain made for a quick return.
Afterward, Andy and I went over and bagged Mount White, more popular for its gems than its mountaineering opportunities. 
And with thunder rumbling and occasionally flashes of lightning in the south, we moved on and outta there...
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A Crag-Bag on Mount Antero (14,276 Feet)
Where: Sawatch Range, Colorado
When: July 2008
Partners: Andy McClure & DB
Route: South Ridge Cragfest (Variably Class 2-5)
If you don't climb Mount Antero gracefully, climb it interestingly. So, when we found ourselves staring up at the south ridge leading to the summit of the high, mellow peak, Andy and I knew immediately and instinctively that we'd be bagging the row of nice aesthetic, granite crags that lay before us upon the crest of the serrated ridge of the otherwise sedate mountain. Let's go!
Having a blast, touching every single summit along the fun class 2-4 (and sometimes a class 5 move or so) craggy ridge, we were soon shut down by "The Thumb." There was a particular spire that just didn't seem intelligent to tackle without a rope. Having no idea that we'd be confronted with such terrain, we'd not bothered to bring a rope. With a boost from me, Andy was able to stick a hand onto the summit of "The Thumb," while I walked away with my tail between my legs...and onto the next crag! 
But remembering that we were in the Sawatch Range, eventually the spine petered out and we found ourselves once again slogging up talus toward the flat summit and its elegant, far-ranging views.
Briefly immersing ourselves in the pure joy of a relaxed high summit, we too soon found ourselves heading back down the way we'd come...
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Ice Mountain & North Apostle - Two Centennials
When: July 2008
Partners: Andy McClure
Route: NE Ridge (Class 4) & traverse to North Apostle (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 8/3,500
Hiking up nearby 14er Huron Peak a week earlier, I'd gazed over at the steep, snowy cluster of mountains to the south and asked Andy Mac what they were called. "The Three Apostles," he replied. Unusual for the otherwise gentle and rolling Sawatch Range, The Three Apostles are striking mountains hosting a variety of interesting snow and rock routes on their steep faces. And two of the three Apostles, Ice Mountain (13,951 feet) and North Apostle (13,860 feet), are high enough to be members of Colorado's elitist Centennial Club, those hundred highest peaks in a state known for tall mountains. 
One morning, Andy Mac and I found ourselves hiking below Huron Peak and making the approach to The Three Apostles. Andy was interested in a traverse of the three peaks, while I, in usual form, wanted to get back to DB waiting in the vehicle at the trailhead. I would only be doing the two higher peaks, Ice Mountain and North Apostle.
Making good time to the base of the massif, Andy I soon gained the Ice-North saddle. From there, I headed right for the northeast ridge of Ice while Andy scrambled up North Apostle.
The route up Ice Mountain was fun, never very hard, but certainly interesting and spicy enough to be careful on. Before I knew it, I stood on the small, exposed summit.
Dropping back down the northeast ridge from Ice's summit, I came upon Andy near the crux of the route. We said our hello's and continued on our respective ways.
Soon reaching the summit of North Apostle, I looked over at Ice Mountain...and there was Andy, on that peak's summit! Cool!
Before heading down from North Apostle on my way back to the trailhead, I snapped a shot of lonely, little West Apostle, the final Apostle that Andy would be visiting on his extended tour of the group. See you in a few hours, Andrew!
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Huron Peak and Browns Peak
When: June 2008
Partners: DB, Andy McClure & Tony and Roberto from Denver
Route: West Face (Class 1)
Mileage/Gain: 4/3,400
Despite being one of Colorado's lowest 14ers, Huron Peak was said to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the entire Sawatch Range. Let's check it out!
Starting out with DB and Andy Mac one morning, we made good time up the lovely forested trail that works its way up Huron's steep west face. Along the way, we ran into two men from Denver, Tony and Roberto. With Tony on one of his first ever mountain hikes, he, a big man, was struggling a bit. But with plenty of good conversation and encouragement from all, he trudged on along with us.
Teaching Tony the rest step and offering plenty of verbal support, we all soon reached the lofty summit of this high and beautiful peak. There, we enjoyed the views, especially south/southeast over to The Three Apostles. A striking collection of peaks, I had difficulty taking my eyes off of them. I told Andy that I simply must climb those peaks!
Soon, it was time to head down. But I told Andy that I wanted to bag that little peak over there, to the northwest. And so he and I set out for Browns Peak while the others headed back down the trail.
Making the quick traverse with Andy, we soon stood atop the summit of Browns Peak, then cut back down the bowl to meet the others on their way down the trail. A fine day out!
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Big Bad La Plata Peak & the Twin Lakes Milk Challenge!
When: June 2008
Partners: Andy McClure
Route: NW Ridge (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 9/4,300
At 14,336 feet, La Plata Peak is Colorado's 5th highest peak. With easy access directly from a paved road, the peak is an excellent half-day jaunt to an impressive highpoint with awesome views of the Sawatch Range.
With DB enjoying a rest day, Andy Mac and I set out one morning on the northwest ridge route to the peak. With Andy hoping to loop back down the Ellingwood Ridge route, he eventually moved on ahead in anticipation of a long day. As much as I'd liked to do the classic route, I didn't want to leave DB bored at the vehicle longer than needed and intended to return the way I'd come.
Soon reaching the summit, I spotted Andy already started down Ellingwood Ridge. The views over to the ridge and to the high peaks all around were magnificient!
Heading down, I ran into a friendly woman from Evergreen, Colorado called Nancy. She was heading down too. Joining up, she and I talked at length about our experiences in the mountains and our views on life in general. Good times!
Bidding Nancy farewell at the trailhead, I rejoined DB and we waited a full 5 hours for Andy to return to us. His eventual report on Ellingwood Ridge: "Tedious and barely worth doing." Glad I skipped it.
The Twin Lakes Milk Challenge
Heading into nearby Twin Lakes, DB, Andy and I stopped off in a little roadside diner for a bite to eat. With surprisingly good green chile bean burritos, I soon picked up on a conversation between the teenage female clerk and a teen boy at the counter flirting with her. She was insisting that he could not, in fact, drink an entire gallon of whole milk in an hour. He protested, and insisted that he could. And that's when I spoke up and put out the challenge... 
Running to the grocery next door to buy two half-gallons of whole milk, the young man quickly returned, sat at a table in front of the restaurant, and started to chug. Such determination.
Barely through 20 minutes and his first half-gallon...
...We were off to Huron!
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Mount Princeton and Its Satellite, Tigger Peak
When: June 2008
Partners: DB
Route: East Ridge (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 8/3,500
After a day of soaking and people-watching at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs, DB and I again set out for more mountain fun. Initially following the old road up toward 12,000 feet, we picked up the trail that would take us up the mountain. Soon, though, the trail, still covered in snow in a few spots, became obscured and tediously talus-y in a few spots.
With plane window-like views as you near the top, the enormity of this giant mountain becomes more and more apparent as the air thins.
Then, just below the top, with splendid views of Mount Antero to the south, I stumbled across a memorial plaque for Catherine Pugin, a woman tragically killed by lightning in that very spot barely thirteen years earlier.
Enjoying the summit of Princeton for a bit with a strange man who (inaccurately) told us he'd summited in only two hours or something from the pavement some 5,200 feet below us, DB and I dropped back down and headed across the ridge to Tigger Peak, Mount Princeton's locally named southeastern satellite peak. 
Rather a nicer peak than Princeton in certain ways, we enjoyed it tremendously. Dropping down Tigger Peak's southeast ridge, we again picked up the old road near Bristlecone Park and hiked out.
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"Blarney Peak" (Peak 13,480+)
When: June 2008
Partners: DB
Route: South Ridge (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 3/1,400
The morning after arriving in Colorado, DB and I headed straight through Aspen and up to Independence Pass to check out the snow situation on the high peaks. What we found...was lots and lots. Independence Pass was mostly buried under white.
Making the short hike up Blarney Peak from the pass, we enjoyed the spacious views of the snowy Sawatch. There, we were joined by a couple of skiers who intended to ski down the snowy bowl on the north side of the mountain.
Enjoying the sun and views, we watched the skiers drop down the mountain then began the short hike back to the car.
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Mount Elbert, Colorado's Highest Peak
When: June 2008
Partners: DB and Andy McClure
Route: NE Ridge (Class 1)
Mileage/Gain: 9/4,200
Perhaps not the most inspiring peak I've been on, but it was a pleasure to reunite with the recently healed Andy Mac for a hike up Colorado's highest peak. With little snow on the trail, the views of the snow-covered nearby high peaks were wonderful.
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