Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: September 21, 2002
Great hike. It was little windy and cold on the summit. I couldn't drive over the big rutted section of the road with my Saturn SL2, so that added an extra 1.5 miles each way. I tried to bring the wife and dog with me on this one, but they turned back where the tundra gives way to rock. For more details see my trip report. Visit my website for a complete set of my Grays Peak photos: www.leachfam.com.
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: September 16, 2002
What a fun climb! My 3rd 14er (4th-Torreys), hiked with my compadre Anderonious. Easier climb than Bierstadt or Quandary, but still challenging for a relative newcomer like myself. Hiked on a Monday and had 1/2 hour time alone on the summit, and over an hour on Torreys (great weather for a September day!). The views on these peaks are the best I've seen yet; when i'm at the top I just can't figure which is the best direction to look. We could see Evans, Bierstadt, Longs, the Lincoln group, and Pikes, probably more if we knew what to look for. Anyway, highly recommended!
Route Climbed: From Torreys by Kelso Ridge Date Climbed: July 26 2002
Crowded but very easy trail. Climbed both peaks in about 4 hours, including 44 minutes from Grays to the Stevens Gulch trailhead. Saw a woman running uphill near the Kelso Ridge turnoff and again near the same spot 3 hours later as I came down, as she started her second lap up Grays-Torreys.
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: July 4, 2000
I had just moved to Colorado 2 weeks prior and wanted to get out for a little exercise and altitude. Fun walk up the trail and then over to Torrey's. Dead Dog Couloir looks like a great climb in late Spring -- will have to come back!
Route Climbed: From Torreys via Kelso Ridge Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
I agree with Darrin below. After the class 4 scramble up Kelso to Torreys, Grays is pretty easy. Had to bag it while I'm here though since I'm not a CO resident. I'm not as cynical about the crowd on Grays. Met some really cool people. A nice lady named Tracy from Littleton hiked down with me and took the time to explain all about the wildflowers along the way. Saw a beautiful mountain goat. Had some light snow flurries fall from clear and sunny skies. Awesome day in the mountains.
Route Climbed: Stephen's Gulch Date Climbed: July 10, 2001
My first Fourteener! On the way down saw a mountain goat that was basking in the sun near the Rascal, it did not seem to care about the hordes of hikers and their dogs who passed close by.
Route Climbed: Traverse from Torreys Date Climbed: August 1996
After the Kelso ridge on Torreys peak, Grays peak seemed like a cute little hill. Met the typical crowd on the summit. Old geezers in knickers (and still kicking some serious hiking A__), dreadlocked granolas from Boulder smoking dope, tourists from Florida who had to summit something, little kiddies drinking from plastic thermos bottles, People who just blew their REI divedend on ultra awesome hiking clothes and trekking poles, etc. etc. I felt like I was in a "Where's Waldo?" picture. There must have been 50 people on the summit, God knows how many on the trail. Hey it's all good, at least they were outside, and not watching TV.
Route Climbed: North Slopes II from Stevens Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: Oct. 7, 2001
Very cold summit day. Saw a mountain goat and was going to attempt Northwest Face II but too much snow. Fun climb that was fairly easy. Started at 7 am and was back around 12pm.
Route Climbed: Standard & Via Lost Rat Couloir Date Climbed: Several
If you have a hankering for snow climbing, Lost Rat is a great beginner climb, jump on the ridge and head to the summit. Best in June/July and very obvious.
or join the herds to the top on the standard route and meet MANY new friends. Carry an ice axe and get alot of questons and funny looks too, its great!
Route Climbed: Stevens Gulch Date Climbed: September 23, 2001
Hiked to the summit with my friend Greg and found lots of people resting on top. This was our second attempt on Grays as the first attempt we ran into a nasty weather system. This was my third 14er.
granddeity - Nov 2, 2002 10:54 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 10, 200214er #2, a good hike. Not very difficult.
rob_runkle - Nov 2, 2002 8:19 am
Route Climbed: Stevens Gulch Date Climbed: August 15, 2002My first 14er! Classic, basic climb for a 1st.
climberkjp - Oct 27, 2002 10:15 pm
Route Climbed: Horseshoe Basin Date Climbed: October 26, 2002Beautiful late October climb! Great conditions - snowshoes, enough to ski descend on the east side of Grays for sure
Andy - Sep 23, 2002 11:49 am
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: September 21, 2002Great hike. It was little windy and cold on the summit. I couldn't drive over the big rutted section of the road with my Saturn SL2, so that added an extra 1.5 miles each way. I tried to bring the wife and dog with me on this one, but they turned back where the tundra gives way to rock. For more details see my trip report. Visit my website for a complete set of my Grays Peak photos: www.leachfam.com.
jdjordan45 - Sep 20, 2002 2:08 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July 2000It was a nice hike with a great view. The coolest thing was that we got really close to some mountain goats. It was also my brother's first 14er.
ogonzoo - Sep 19, 2002 8:18 pm
Route Climbed: Up Grays down the Sattle up to Torrys Date Climbed: July 27, 2002grays peak was a good hike, my first official 14er. after that i was hooked. to much congestion and tourons on this trail during the weekends.
kcmule - Sep 17, 2002 4:35 pm
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: September 16, 2002What a fun climb! My 3rd 14er (4th-Torreys), hiked with my compadre Anderonious. Easier climb than Bierstadt or Quandary, but still challenging for a relative newcomer like myself. Hiked on a Monday and had 1/2 hour time alone on the summit, and over an hour on Torreys (great weather for a September day!). The views on these peaks are the best I've seen yet; when i'm at the top I just can't figure which is the best direction to look. We could see Evans, Bierstadt, Longs, the Lincoln group, and Pikes, probably more if we knew what to look for. Anyway, highly recommended!
odysseus - Aug 14, 2002 2:07 pm
Route Climbed: Stevens Gulch TH route. Date Climbed: Aug. 9, 2002Always enjoyable, despite the crowds. Climbed with Torreys. The 5th of 6 fourteeners over 6 days.
Matt Mahoney - Jul 27, 2002 8:21 am
Route Climbed: From Torreys by Kelso Ridge Date Climbed: July 26 2002Crowded but very easy trail. Climbed both peaks in about 4 hours, including 44 minutes from Grays to the Stevens Gulch trailhead. Saw a woman running uphill near the Kelso Ridge turnoff and again near the same spot 3 hours later as I came down, as she started her second lap up Grays-Torreys.
bps - Jul 21, 2002 12:17 pm
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: July 4, 2000I had just moved to Colorado 2 weeks prior and wanted to get out for a little exercise and altitude. Fun walk up the trail and then over to Torrey's. Dead Dog Couloir looks like a great climb in late Spring -- will have to come back!
charles97 - Jul 15, 2002 5:03 pm
Route Climbed: From Torreys via Kelso Ridge Date Climbed: June 22, 2002I agree with Darrin below. After the class 4 scramble up Kelso to Torreys, Grays is pretty easy. Had to bag it while I'm here though since I'm not a CO resident. I'm not as cynical about the crowd on Grays. Met some really cool people. A nice lady named Tracy from Littleton hiked down with me and took the time to explain all about the wildflowers along the way. Saw a beautiful mountain goat. Had some light snow flurries fall from clear and sunny skies. Awesome day in the mountains.
Summitted at 13:15, sixth solo 14'er in 4 days.
wayneaflick - Jun 17, 2002 11:51 pm
Route Climbed: Stephens Gulch Date Climbed: July 30, 1994A great trail to the summit. I was too hung over to do Torreys. It was a good thing too since I got caught in a bad hail storm on the way down Grays.
ctruscot - Jun 3, 2002 9:26 am
Route Climbed: Standard route Date Climbed: June 2, 2000Did this on a weekday. Lots of snow and sunshine. Scooted over to Torreys also.
Matt Mahoney - May 19, 2002 4:17 pm
Route Climbed: Stevens Gulch Date Climbed: Aug 10 1995Also Torreys.
NHFours - Apr 6, 2002 8:19 am
Route Climbed: Stephen's Gulch Date Climbed: July 10, 2001My first Fourteener! On the way down saw a mountain goat that was basking in the sun near the Rascal, it did not seem to care about the hordes of hikers and their dogs who passed close by.
darinchadwick - Apr 3, 2002 7:40 am
Route Climbed: Traverse from Torreys Date Climbed: August 1996After the Kelso ridge on Torreys peak, Grays peak seemed like a cute little hill. Met the typical crowd on the summit. Old geezers in knickers (and still kicking some serious hiking A__), dreadlocked granolas from Boulder smoking dope, tourists from Florida who had to summit something, little kiddies drinking from plastic thermos bottles, People who just blew their REI divedend on ultra awesome hiking clothes and trekking poles, etc. etc. I felt like I was in a "Where's Waldo?" picture. There must have been 50 people on the summit, God knows how many on the trail. Hey it's all good, at least they were outside, and not watching TV.
spyder550 - Dec 28, 2001 10:43 pm
Route Climbed: North Slopes II from Stevens Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: Oct. 7, 2001Very cold summit day. Saw a mountain goat and was going to attempt Northwest Face II but too much snow. Fun climb that was fairly easy. Started at 7 am and was back around 12pm.
nader - Dec 26, 2001 3:58 pm
Route Climbed: Chihuahua Gulch Date Climbed: August 1999Bad Weather
Zeke - Nov 28, 2001 12:03 pm
Route Climbed: Standard & Via Lost Rat Couloir Date Climbed: SeveralIf you have a hankering for snow climbing, Lost Rat is a great beginner climb, jump on the ridge and head to the summit. Best in June/July and very obvious.
or join the herds to the top on the standard route and meet MANY new friends. Carry an ice axe and get alot of questons and funny looks too, its great!
xskier77 - Nov 13, 2001 9:22 am
Route Climbed: Stevens Gulch Date Climbed: September 23, 2001Hiked to the summit with my friend Greg and found lots of people resting on top. This was our second attempt on Grays as the first attempt we ran into a nasty weather system. This was my third 14er.