Bored at work: a 14er?

[Jim]

So, while going through some dull mandatory module, I start looking at the web and end up at 14ers.com. It gets me thinking, do I want to make the drive to Colorado this summer to hike a 14er? No, not climb, but hike. I long ago lost my love for cold, wet Colorado, and the Rockies in general (when compared to the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada), as there is just something miserable about freezing in July, but there is a beauty to the alpine plants which seem to be at their best development in the Colroado Rockies, and I can do a 14er on a 3 day weekend. Also, it isn't another Humphrey hike (not that there is anything wrong with that) and it can be fun to get up high. An interesting 4000 meter peak is fine, but when in Rome..... Not sure if I would go in May, June, or July, but August is peak monsoon month and the flower display is over by labor day.

Anyone have any thoughts on a good one to hike? I would rather save my scrambling for solid rock and California where I don't need to start at some ridicuolusly early hour to avoid being killed by lightning or stuck on a ledge in a freezing cold hail storm. I lean towards a nice Sawatch or Misquito (there is an appealing name for a place to vist) Range peak. Any one from Huron to Sherman, to Hardvard and everything in between. I just want it to be one I didn't do in 2007 or 2008 when I was really into them. Got to say, looking over my thread, I hardly seem enthused to go to Colorado at all, let alone hike there, but I suspect if I was there at a trailhead on a nice day, I would be excited.

So, thoughts, recommendation? Anyone up at at work at 11:30 at night?

[azbackpackr]

No, I wasn't at work. I was at a bonfire party at the beach, drinking beer, playing the guitar, listening to other people play the guitar, and singing "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "Smoke Two Joints." Like a cruel time warp, transported from the beach of my youth to this beach in Costa Rica, not quite certain where the time went, but I am way too old to get next to any of the cute guys... ;)

Have you thought of doing 13rs? Everyone I've talked to who's really into it says there are a lot of really interesting ones, and they don't get the peakbagger fad traffic.

[Jim]

Ah, as said, an interesting 4000 meter peak is fine, with 13,123' being roughly 4000 meters, but when in Colorado, it makes sense to hike the highest peaks. In an endless sea of nondescript mountains and peaks, being on the highest ones just makes sense. I wouldn't go to bag peaks, or do a check list, just thought it would be fun to hike one. Besides, over the last few years, I haven't done a new, interesting, or high peak since Grand Teton, and haven't done anything new and over 14,000' since Russell in 2009. Last year, Whitney in February was fun, but my 3rd time there. It might be fun to hike a 14er, especially a pretty one. Also, being out of shape, I'm concerned about my ability to hike the 11,000' for Telescope, and this may offer a way to train and get 4000 to 5000' of AEG. Who knows, maybe I'll even post it as an event?

[hippiepunkpirate]

As you know, hiking a 14er is high on my list. Shavano was the one I intended to do in '09...let's
do that one! I have no idea if or when I would be able to go.

[Jim]

Shavano is a good one. Plus, you can combine it with Tabeguache for additional elevation. Also, at the south end of the range, it's closer to me. Hotels and camping in the area, and the valley is low (for Colorado) to the east, so it feels more like a mountain than just a peak in a high range. Not a lot of alpine flowers in the pics, though. Seems you need the really broad summits with gentle approaches for that.

[hippiepunkpirate]

I'd really be game for any of them. Harvard sounds nice, and it shouldn't be too far from Buena Vista.

[PrestonSands]

I'd really be game for any of them.

Me too.

[Jim]

It all depends. The peaks at the south end of the range have a lower valley, so might be more interesting. The ones to the north look like they are more rounded and gentle, so the flowers look to be better developed.

[Jim]

We could try Clown College, Mount Princeton. It appears to be granite. You know how I feel about that. Plus, according to 14ers, it's 5400' and 13 miles RT if you start at the main TH at 8900'. Close to a town with services, too.

[hippiepunkpirate]

A guy I met on Humphreys back in 09 who had just gotten back from a week hiking the 14ers told me that Princeton was a major pain in the butt due to tons of nasty ball-bearing scree. He talked highly of a bunch of other Sawatch 14ers though.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Actually, maybe it was Yale. My memory is fuzzy, but I think he talked of Yale.

[SUN_HIKER]

Shavano is a good one. Plus, you can combine it with Tabeguache for additional elevation. Also, at the south end of the range, it's closer to me. Hotels and camping in the area, and the valley is low (for Colorado) to the east, so it feels more like a mountain than just a peak in a high range. Not a lot of alpine flowers in the pics, though. Seems you need the really broad summits with gentle approaches for that.

Shavano is a good choice (but then again, I love all them all). Did Shavano twice, the first time in deep fog and last year I could actually see where I was going. http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/5807 ... rs&start=0
Unfortunately all the 14ers require an early start. You should be hitting the TH no later than 6am since the weather is so unpredictable.

Last year when I did Shavano I was hoping to make it to Tabaguage, however once I reached the Shavano Peak I hesitated looking at the sky. I could actually see some folks on Tabeguache, (my thoughts) should I or shouldn't I? Spent about one hour enjoying the view from Shavano when a couple of hikers appeared who just came back from Tabeguache. They told me they had to start at 4:30am since they knew the trek to Tab from Shavano is slooow going. Lot's of rock climbing from Shavano to Tabeguache. Round trip from Shavano peak to Tabeguache you can count on approx. 3 hrs. Glad I didn't go as the thunder clouds were hitting 1/2 way back to the TH.

[Jim]

So, I have been reading that the Colorado, and Sawatch snowpack is fading fast, so I am optimistically going to plan to hike on Saturday, May 19. My early plan is for Princeton, because I like it. I will put this up in a new thread on the Calendar. If the conditions are bad and there ends up being more snow than ideal, or fresh snow, I will reschedule for the first Saturday n June, June 2nd.

If am able to get Princeton on the 19th, I might go back to the Upper Arkansas to hike another high peak on the 2nd. If I am not, I may go at the end of June, or very early July before the monsoon comes in . Then, perhaps in September after the season fades, but that is getting ahead of myself.