The alarm gently sings “nature sounds.” . . . It is 4:15 a.m. Yet, I am already awake. The planning, the training, the preparation, the scouting, the praying. . . . Summit Day has arrived.
Dressed and backpacks loaded in the car, we share pancakes “to go” while making the forty-five minute drive to the South Elbert trailhead. Crisp 48 degree mountain air greets us as we lace up our boots, don our packs, pray and embark upon the ascent. It is 6:20 a.m.
In all my years of outdoor adventures, fifty degrees, no wind and a little sunshine is the perfect mixture for a hike in a base layer and shorts. There’s a bit of a chill in the first five to ten minutes; however, once in rhythm – boots thumping across the roots in the forest floor – core warmth fills from within. The perfect balance.
This morning is pristine. Greeted with a vast grove of aspens, we cross two creeks over the first two miles and navigate switch backs up through this glorious forest. Aspens give way to spruce and pine as our first view of Twin Lakes emerges. We are cloaked with intermittent cloud cover – a literal walk in the clouds at eleven thousand feet as the fourteen thousand foot ridges above us stand sentinel behind the veil. Surreal.
Pines yield to alpine meadow and thicket as the clouds part and we are bathed in sunlight. Perfect timing, as the sun’s warmth offsets the ever cooling air with altitude gain. We cover the first four miles in two hours and enjoy a packs-off break with snacks, hydration, and soak in the view of the forests, lakes, and expansive valley below.
Pace on target, the gift of a perfect morning, and energized from both our break and surroundings – we traverse this alpine meadow, winding around an unnamed peak, then through a grassy saddle that yields to stone. Facing the rocky crag, an arduous climb beckons.
A steady breeze prompts another layer for core warmth as our foot falls slow, and we traverse the variegated and at times, loose quartzite rock. At thirteen thousand, five hundred feet and our goal in sight, we wind around to the final leg of the southern ascent. We are determined and deliberate, with the primary obstacle being acclimation, not strength or conditioning.
I won’t speak for the others, but I had a bit of a struggle bus moment. It passed – with some grit and encouragement from my friends.
With the vast blue sky above, the warmth of the sun, and the encouraging words from those descending – “You are almost there and it is so worth it!” – we conquer the final crag and are rewarded with a breathtaking, 360 degree view of layer upon layer of mountain ranges, as far as the eye can see. It is 11:30 a.m, 6.2 miles away and 4,400 feet up from the trailhead.
After congratulatory hugs and a plethora of pictures, we enjoy a leisurely lunch at 14,440 feet – the tallest peak in Colorado. It was a Rocky Mountain High!
Storing our gear and donning our packs, we pause for one last gaze across the vast and glorious expanse of the Rocky Mountains at this altitude. We then turn our attention to what is now a precipitous initial descent – for which finding one’s footing emerges as the next challenge.
Safely off the steepest crag and grinning widely, we wind back around and down the rocky face. After recovering my long lost Chaco (story for another day) waiting for us in the middle of the trail, we embark on the final rocky section below.
Our trail leader is in one moment hiking and the next moment unexpectedly pirouetting down the mountain, attempting to right her balance as loose rock gives way beneath her. With her water bottle flying, she sprawls, unceremoniously coming to a sliding stop on her side.
Gratefully, she suffers only bruising and abrasions. No fractures, sprains or need for air rescue evac! We dress her wounds, pray over her and resume the return trek.
We reach the tree line at 3:30 p.m. The sun is now high in the deep blue sky. With no breeze and descending altitude, we shed layers and hydrate. All the while, the nourishing view of Twin Lakes ever before us.
The winding walk down through the forest is steady, leisurely, and thankfully uneventful. Through the years, descending the mountains has consistently been more challenging for me than climbing. This adventure is no different.
My energy level feels solid, my muscles are working well, breathing is comfortable. However, my knees are protesting the decline, long before level ground is an option. So, my personal challenge the last two miles is to find a pace and strategy that accommodates said protestations and persevere.
We triumphantly traversed the final creek crossing at 5 pm, shortly thereafter doffing our packs, donning our Chacos and offering more high fives and hugs; the newest members of the Mt. Elbert Summit Club!
All praise, honor, glory and gratitude to our Good Good Father, who went before us, strengthened us, protected us and provided an absolutely perfect day for this glorious adventure.
And a shout out to my hiking partners, without whom I would not have achieved my goal of summiting a 14er! Thank you for your faithfulness and encouragement throughout this day. I treasure your friendship and will cherish these memories, always.
