Will be out in 3 weeks with 3 friends for biannual adventure. We have 4 days with only goal to summit Elbert. One member had suggested one day climbing around Mt Lincoln, 2 days near Crested Butte then a day at Mt Elbert. I haven't been to Colorado except San Juans. I'm not too interested in driving from Breckinridge to CB and back as I'm not flying out to Colorado to drive around. How about a day at Lincoln, 2 days in Mt Massive Wilderness and finish at Elbert (not necessarily in that order.) ANy suggestions? Are the Maroon Bells too far away? May answer here or PM. Thanks

Aspen isn't too far from US 24 if you go over Independence Pass (maybe a little under an hour?). If you decide to climb the Bells, the shuttle bus doesn't run after Labor Day, so you can drive further in to park. If you drive in before 9am you can avoid the $10 usage fee.

I'd recommend the south slopes route on Massive as your second option in the Elbert area. As for your other two days you have a lot of choices. You could stay in Georgetown on your way out and hit Grays, Torrys, Evans or Bierstad (if the weather is stable you can bang this out in a few hours in the afternoon) and then move on to Breck and you have Linclon and Democrat. Then head to Leadville for Elbert and Massive.

The itenerary is 2 days at Crested, a day at Elbert and 4th day at Democrat. I don't know Colorado and the trip planned by a friend who knows the area well. We've got 8 guys and nothing in stone.

I would recomend Mt. of the Holy Cross. That whole area is awesome and more rugged then most of the other stuff in the Sawatch.