Bark Eater wrote:IagosGhost wrote:My summer 2014 plans are Kings Peak, Utah on July18, and Mt. Elbert, Colorado on August 30. They will be HPs #10 and #11 for me. It's going to be fun!
Hotoven, Andy, and I successfully summitted Kings Peak on July 4th. A few short snow fields to cross...no big deal. The famed hordes of mosquitoes did not materialize. We did not find the short cut herd path along West Gunsight so dropped into the Painter Basin. Apparently we needed to go directly up from Gunsight Pass in order to get above the cliff band on the south side of the mountain. Painter made a longer day but was good to get off the ridge due to storms. Get to the top as early as possible. We hit the peak at 11:30 AM. By noon it was threatening to storm. Long but very enjoyable day trip.... 15 hours RT from trailhead. I was warned it would be very crowded due to the holiday...yet we only counted 13 (including ourselves) making a summit attempt. Most had set up base camp.
Lots of moose in the Henry's Fork Basin! #37 for me, #36 for Hotoven!
Congrats! I did not attempt Kings Peak. During week two of my training, I injured my left knee while doing weighted step-ups. It was a freak injury that the doc could not explain. I sprained my MCL and strained some tendons in my knee. My physical therapist said I could probably still do the climb, but that I would be very sore and wouldn't enjoy it. I erred on the side of caution. I'm almost fully recovered from it--done with PT--and I'm looking forward to Mt. Elbert in September.
The Peak Bagger Training Plan I bought from Moutain Athlete is really good but excessive on the step-ups. If you're not already used to that movement, it will aggravate any knee problems or weaknesses you already have. I had a good base of fitness, but not for 1000s of step ups.