Mt. Elbert anyone?

[azdesertfather]

Lately I've gotten my sights set on Mt. Elbert. At 14,433 ft., It's the 2nd highest peak in the 48 contiguous states (61 feet short of Mt. Whitney in CA), yet it's not a terribly difficult to do (as long as you can handle the elevation).

I don't have dates set, but I'd love to get together 4-6 guys to plan a trip up there. It's a really long haul from Phoenix (over 12 hours by car), but would cost a bit to do flights. I'm open to pretty much anything. Us desert rats would probably be well-served to build in a day or two to acclimate up there too, rather than rushing up there and rushing back.

Anyone have similar aspirations?

[sarichter]

would be cool, but i don't think i can afford that much time off at the current time with work.

[rally_toad]

Ya that would be a fun one. Drive up there and make a basecamp somewhere, acclimate a couple days while doing some other dayhikes, and then tackle Elbert. I am itching for a 14'er... or at least a peak taller than Humphries.

[big_load]

There are some good campgrounds within a few hours drive, but they fill up quick in season. Reservations help.

[easternewbie]

Might be interested...if you're waiting until mid/late August, and if I don't end up climbing it with another friend

[Jim]

Like us, June and early July before the summer storms start is probably the best time of year to do Elbert. You'll have snow, but can take your time and enjoy the hike. I always had luck on Elbert with regards to storms, and in Colorado in general, but the summer Colorado weather isn't all that its cracked up to be. Unless you get a break in the monsoon pulse in summer, September may be the best month of all. I had fantastic conditions last September on Hesperus. Just a dusting of snow.

If permits are a big deal for Whitney, and you are flexible you can probably get a walk-in. Last year on the busy Labor Day weekend I managed to get 2 overnighters for the MR. You could always do Whitney before the quota season. I loved having the summit to myself.

[big_load]

September may be the best month of all

Definitely. The only negative on September is that some of the nearby campgrounds close after Labor Day.

[Jim]

How is that a negative? I just car camp on the road that leads to the trailhead. Developed campgrounds really are overrated. Why anyone would want to pay for a table and fire ring is beyond me? Is it the joy of hearing your neighbors in close proximity, or the thrill of breathing in their campfire smoke, perhaps its the special thrill that comes with catching the occasional whiff of those forest service pit toilets? When ever I drive up or down Oak Creek Canyon in the "camping season" I hate having to roll up my car windows or else smell like I came from a smoke shack. I'm always wondering who would actually want to pay to camp in that canyon, often less than 20 feet from the road, and yet the campgrounds are almost always full. Maybe people who can't build a fire need to have the security of being around their own kind. It baffles me because in a few miles you can gain the rim and camp for free and avoid all the hassles of the developed campground. I really feel bad for the people who live in the canyon. There must be some night they can't even go outside. Thats my rant on the subject.

[easternewbie]

I would be down for September as well perhaps, work permitting (if I have it by then).

I'm also hoping to do Whitney late August, and the permit system just seems so ridiculous my friend and I are considering just doing the 60-mile backpack from the south/west. At least we'll have a chance to acclimatize...

[big_load]

How is that a negative? I just car camp on the road that leads to the trailhead. Developed campgrounds really are overrated.

I don't like them much myself, but fines on a lot of the roads around there are pretty steep. Last year near there we were threatened with $150 fine just for being pulled off the road looking at a map for likely spots. They suspected we were considering camping illegally.

[hippiepunkpirate]

I've been pondering the 14ers myself but I'm looking at a quicker trip as I'll probably have decent acclimatization from hiking the Peaks, but a limited amount of time. However, I'll keep an eye on this one!

[Jim]

How is that a negative? I just car camp on the road that leads to the trailhead. Developed campgrounds really are overrated.

I don't like them much myself, but fines on a lot of the roads around there are pretty steep. Last year near there we were threatened with $150 fine just for being pulled off the road looking at a map for likely spots. They suspected we were considering camping illegally.

Sounds like another FS pine pig was seeing what he could get away with even though he had no real justification to enforce any laws. They love to abuse their power, I suspect its because they have no real work. Where were you exactly? I saw a lot of the "no camping outside of developed sites" signs near Denver, but not near Leadville or the Twin Lakes. I camped off of the road that runs from south of Leadville to the east ridge trailhead. Its dirt and there are always a lot of people camping along the way.

[big_load]

We ended up at Twin Lakes after striking out everywhere from Aspen to there over Independence Pass. We got chased out of a couple of places that were sparsely occupied but fully reserved. The extra hassle made everyone else decide to bail on Elbert, so I turned south to the Sangres and went solo for a while.

[BobP]

I hiked Elbert in Aug last year. There are campgrounds about a half mile from the TH. Also, some people car camped at the TH. Mt Massive is about a mile up the road, and its on my list. I'll look at my notes tonite about that hike. There are a few differnt routes to summit Elbert. I think two are class 1 and one is class 2. Elevation gain between 4,100 and over 5k depending on route and between 8-12 miles RT.

[Jim]

Big Load:
It sounds like you were on HWY 82 or on other paved roads in the Twin Lakes area and near campgrounds off of them. I don't have much experience with that area, other than hiking La Plata last summer and driving though from Leadville to Aspen in 2007. I do remember there being a good deal of private land with no trespassing signs posted. I wouldn't be too upset about foregoing Elbert, (and I'm not suggesting you are) since Elbert is a good hike, but a bit overrated purely for altitude. It is still worthy of a hike if thats what you want. I think the climbs in the Sangres are far superior. What did you climb down there?

Rlrjamy is right, there are a number of campgrounds off of the dirt road that accesses the Northeast Ridge trailhead which is only a short distance from the MT Massive trailhead. They also have some access to the river in the area. All of the primitive car camping does too, it just lacks the "amenities". The Southeast Ridge trailhead is accessed off of HWY 82 and is 11 miles and 5300' round trip. The northeast ridge route which is written up on HAZ is 9 miles and 4700' round trip. The NE ridge is accessed from Leadville by US 24 and HWY 300.

[big_load]

It sounds like you were on HWY 82 or on other paved roads in the Twin Lakes area and near campgrounds off of them. ... I think the climbs in the Sangres are far superior. What did you climb down there?

That's right. There are tons of campgrounds along there, mostly small, and some closed. I did the way-too-popular Venable/Comanche loop, which was really great. A front moved in during the night and the crossed Phantom Terrace the next morning in ta howling gale, the strongest wind I've experin lower 48. I teamed up with some locals to make the crossing, and we had to hit the deck every few yards and take a few steps at a time during lulls. I'm not sure if it was brave or stupid, but we lived.

[BobP]

So far, I've hiked with all that are signed up as interested. There are 15 14ers in the Sawatch range and almost all the routes are class 2 which is no problem for any of you guys. Depending on how much time everyone can commit, there are endless possibilities. Leadville, Buena Vista, or Salida are all close areas depending on what combo's everyone wants. Elbert and Massive can be done from Leadville or Halfmoon Campground. Havard and Columbia can be done separate from cottonwood creek or as a combo from Horn Fork. Belford,oxford and Missouri can be done from Missouri basin and are aslo close to Harvard and Columbia. Just kicking out a few ideas here. It all depends on time and desire. When I went last, I did 4 14ers in 4 days using the 3k rule not doing any combo's. I always hit the trail by daybreak and was off the peaks by noon and then went fishing or napped. First day, I acclimated by doing a 14er. Although, one time on Humphrey's I had a problem so you never know. If I decide to go, I'd probably camp for a couple of days and then condo it for a couple of days.