Mount Yale Climber's Log

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Grant

Grant - Jan 17, 2003 10:35 am

Route Climbed: Denny Creek TH Date Climbed: June 23, 2001  Sucess!

I made it to the trailhead at 7:30. I knew that this would be a steep hike because it was only 3 ½ miles to the summit. The trail went up right at the beginning for only a couple hundred feet or so. Then it flattened out and the trail followed Denny Creek. After about ¾ mile of steady slopes was the first uphill part of the hike. It was 800 feet of vertical in about a half mile. There were numerous switchbacks and the trail led me out of the timber to the tundra. The trail let up a bit but it was still quite a hike. Looking ahead I could see about a half mile in front of me a steep trail that lead up to the saddle. Once at the steep part it was full of switchbacks and I made my way up. This was the toughest part of the day. Once at the saddle it was another 600’ to the summit although not as hard as the trail up to the saddle. It was steep and was nothing but a boulder field.

I only spent about five minutes on the summit and the main reason for that was that I went on a Wednesday and I only saw six people all day. I knew that there was only one person behind me. So I didn’t want to be out there all alone. On the way down I saw a Red Columbine and from what I understand they are uncommon in our state.

I believe it was a good hike. It had its more difficult parts but I just took my time and made it.

mtnhiker13

mtnhiker13 - Dec 27, 2002 8:21 am

Route Climbed: Denny's Gulch Date Climbed: Summer 1993  Sucess!

I don't remember too much about this mountain except that I must not have been in very good shape as it seemed like the last mile took forever. I do remember the very nice views from the top and the astonishment that I actually made it. Since I grew up right next to Yale University - I was happy to summit it's mountain namesake.

steve simmons

steve simmons - Dec 10, 2002 3:56 pm

Route Climbed: eastern ridge Date Climbed: August 23, 2002  Sucess!

Summated around noon during the 2002 nolans '14 endurance event. Beautiful and fun climb.

GOD bless! Praise JESUS!!!



http://mattmahoney.net/nolans14/index.html



climberkjp

climberkjp - Oct 22, 2002 11:50 am

Route Climbed: Denny Creek Date Climbed: May 2002  Sucess!

Climbed with wife - Alexis, roommate - Andy, and cousin - Tad (his first 14er, and perhaps his last)

Beautiful snowy conditions on top. A fun early season climb.

rmjwinters

rmjwinters - Oct 6, 2002 2:29 pm

Route Climbed: North Slopes Date Climbed: August 4 2001  Sucess!

In a shroud of clouds we made the summit. Up and back in 6 hours. It was cold and windy for an August morning.

odysseus

odysseus - Aug 14, 2002 1:27 pm

Route Climbed: Denny Creek TH Date Climbed: Aug. 6, 2002  Sucess!

This one will DEFINITELY test your legs! A rock mass near the top must be gotten around (or over) before the summit can be reached. Great views in all directions from the top. The 3rd of 6 fourteeners my partner and I bagged over 6 days.

ctruscot - Jul 3, 2002 8:41 am

Route Climbed: Denny Creek I think Date Climbed: summer 1995  Sucess!

This was my first Colorado 14er - I recall bad altitude headache :)

wayneaflick

wayneaflick - Jun 25, 2002 6:22 pm

Route Climbed: Denny Creek Trail Date Climbed: July 11, 1996  Sucess!

This was a long time ago. I remember that the trail was great but the long scree climb above the tundra was kinda hard. The summit has the biggest rocks I've ever seen. Good thing too, it snowed like hell while I was on the summit and the rocks came in handy for getting out of the weather. The snow lasted about 20 minutes. I down climbed in bright sunny weather, oh well, this IS Colorado.

EL Mwucko

EL Mwucko - Jun 21, 2002 9:20 am

Route Climbed: Standard Swiss Family Robinson route. Date Climbed: 1987?  Sucess!

Good god! I remember that one! The climb up seemed longer and tougher than it should have been. On the trip down, the weather beat the daylights out of us. We didn't even have time to get our raingear on.



After fleeing the weather (common practice), we had stopped under some trees. I was pulling my raingear out of my pack when I heard Betsy say "Look at that!" Just then, the whole side of the mountain gave way in a horrendous mudslide.



I felt a hand grab my shoulder, yanking me upwards. It was not the first time, nor would it be the last.



And I still remember Aaron's words:

"LET'S BOOGIE!"



And boogie we did. As we approached a gulley, one by one, we slipped and slid straight down a rut, right into the mud (reminiscent of the scene in Romancing the Stone).



I'll never forget the looks on the faces of the locals as we dragged into the Dinner Bell Cafe at Johnson's Corner. We were covered from head to toe in mud, drenched, and tired. We must have been a sight! A woman at the cash register looked up, and did a triple-take in shock and terror.



It's funny how the worst experiences make the best stories.

Matt Mahoney

Matt Mahoney - May 17, 2002 5:45 pm

Route Climbed: Avalanche chute from north Date Climbed: Aug 18 2001  Sucess!

10th summit of Nolan's 14. After 48 hours 3 runners had dropped and 7 were ahead, but I had caught up to Dennis Herr, who was taking a nap after no sleep the first night. We started about 7 AM from the N. Cottonwood aid station straight up the avalanche chute strewn with wreckage from a 50 year old plane wreck. Dennis was faster so he pulled ahead, and we took separate routes to the summit, he to the west and me to the east. On the summit about 11 AM there were about 50 people and another 300 coming up the Denny Creek trail. It was the 300'th anniversary of Yale University. We had 7 hours to make it to the Princeton summit before the 60 hour race cutoff expired. Dennis decided not to try it.

nader

nader - Dec 26, 2001 4:28 pm

Route Climbed: Avalanche Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: August 1996  Sucess!

Successful summit, however, suffered with a bit of altitude sickness

Zeke

Zeke - Nov 28, 2001 1:51 pm

Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: Nov. 1999  Sucess!

Did it w/a first time 14er climber. very easy and direct. especially like the rock hopping at the top.

Peter Eliassen

Peter Eliassen - Aug 23, 2001 8:15 pm

Route Climbed: Denny Creek Date Climbed: 8/19/01  Sucess!

Pretty easy climb...very direct...can be completed in about 5 hours if you are moving.

miztflip

miztflip - Aug 8, 2001 3:08 pm

Route Climbed: Denny Creek Date Climbed: July 27, 2001  Sucess!

Climbed with my girl friend on a full moon night, only to find out the next day that she had been climbing with a fractured tibia from a rock climbing accident. What a tought chick.

theplugger

theplugger - Jul 27, 2001 2:58 pm

Route Climbed: Southwest slopes via Denny Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: 8-3-94  Sucess!

We had attempted Mt Yale previously from the old Denny Gulch trail, to be stopped short of the summit by a nasty thunderstorm. This time, however, we climbed it with a group from the CMC during one of their Instate Outings, and from the Denny Creek trailhead. It was a fun climb, a beautiful day, and everyone made it including one lady who was skittish and hesitant at the very top.

climbcolorado

climbcolorado - Jul 23, 2001 8:00 am

Route Climbed: Denny Creek Trail  Sucess!

I have climbed Yale in both summer and winter from the Denny Creek trailhead. Summer climbs are easy but winter climbs are more demanding, be in good shape!

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