marilou - Nov 29, 2012 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2012
Everybody Turned Around Except The 3 Of Us
Near white-out conditions at the summit, 70mph wind gusts, blowing snow, and the forecast just said 50% chance of rain, lol. Everybody basically turned around because they couldn't find the trail as it was covered by the snow. But, I just followed this one guy who kept going all the way to the summit. Did Wheeler Peak a couple of days before. HP #15
telemarkdude - Nov 22, 2012 11:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 1996
Nice Hike
Fun and easy hike. Placed on my list for future ski descents.
ajberry - Oct 27, 2012 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2008
Black Cloud Trail
With Katie and Megan, both 11. Down via Bull Hill. A fine route.
DougBenton - Oct 21, 2012 10:38 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2012
Great hike!
very enjoyable hike in and out, great views, a little windy at times. Had a few moments alone on the summit. Could not ask for better weather in October for a hike in the high country.
milan - Oct 17, 2012 6:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2007
7th fourteener
A nice trip to the summit of the tallest mountain in Colorado. We found a lot of mushrooms in the forest below.
mattleggett - Oct 5, 2012 2:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
Hiked
Hiked with a buddy I met in the Boulder Co, Hostel 2 days earlier. Great day from the NE trail head.
bblack99 - Oct 1, 2012 10:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2012
9th 14er, 4th state highpoint!
Extremely long day on the mountain. After fighting blisters and a lack of acclimatization plus a little icy snowpack on the upper mountain, this was a 9.5-hour marathon session! NE Ridge route has a well-defined trail, just be mentally ready for the parade of false summits and enjoy the amazing views in all directions!
My husband and I, and our two black labs, Rosie and Sugar climbed Mt. Elbert today! It was a beautiful day, so we had no problems at all. Just took our time on the final two miles...short steps, and slow and steady. Glad we knew about the false summits! The downhill was almost more painful an the ascent!
Steady uphill. Pretty big crowd with beautiful weather. Some people had huge packs. A fair number small kids. Saw a marriage proposal! Heard a wedding party was up on 9/8.
Drove from Utah and slept at the trailhead in my truck Friday night. Was hoping to get up early to beat the crowds, but didn't start til 7 am. Did the NE trail. The trail was well marked. Elbert is a gentle giant and the trail had some steep section, but nothing that bad. Perfect weather. Took me 5 hours total. Beautiful area.
jeffrawn - Aug 29, 2012 11:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
Great Day on a Great Mountain
This year's Men's Mountain Encounter from Christ Church Plano (TX) targeted the highest 2 peaks in the Rockies. 29 of us set out from the upper South Elbert Trailhead just before sun-up. Once we turned off of the CO Trail and the route became steeper, we quickly broke into hiking parties based on experience and fitness level. Still far from being acclimated, I decided not to push myself too hard when I noticed I could "hear" my pulse and calculated my HR to be too high for sustained exertion. Still made it in pretty reasonable time, summiting around 10 a.m. I was pleased that over half of the men made the summit by our 1p.m. turn-around limit (first 14er for some) and that the rest had an enjoyable hike to or above treeline. 21st CO 14er for me.
rockrat2 - Aug 26, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2012
Nice hike
NE Ridge. Perfect day, hiked to summit with my wife on her first succesfull CO 14ner. Trail easy to follow, lots of people!
pacojgarza - Aug 21, 2012 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2012
Long lonely day.
I used the Black cloud route to summit Elbert for the second time tagging South Elbert`s summit along the way. I never saw anyone else on that trail (other than the summit). This route is somewhat long but a nice alternative if you don`t like crowds. This was the second of fifteen peaks on my 2012 CO. trip.
Ruvicha - Aug 20, 2012 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2012
Commemoration
Demanding but worthwhile hike. It was a worthy summit to commemorate a hiking colleague who died of cancer last year.
Update: Hiked Elbert again on August 9, 2017. It could be the years speaking, but it felt like someone had raised the mountain even higher and made the trail even steeper ...
knotis23 - Aug 19, 2012 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
Second Time's a Charm
Tried and failed 2 years ago in October due to weather. Made it this time. Perfect weather, great mountain, loved it. Climbed with Dad.
countrykyle - Aug 7, 2012 4:48 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
Solo Summit
First solo 14er. Summited at 8am and enjoyed some summit solitude for about an hour before heading back down. (Trails: North Ridge up, Black Cloud down)
seanpeckham - Aug 5, 2012 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
from lower South Elbert Trailhead
Didn't know you could drive a wagon to the summer trailhead, so it was 11.2 miles roundtrip. Made the summit in about 4.5 hours, and got drenched on the way down despite wearing full rain gear. This was our anniversary and marks our 5th state highpoint together.
dstevenson0204 - Aug 2, 2012 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2012
State HP #4
Fun and easy hike to the top. Camped down in one of the meadows! Great experience
marilou - Nov 29, 2012 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2012
Everybody Turned Around Except The 3 Of UsNear white-out conditions at the summit, 70mph wind gusts, blowing snow, and the forecast just said 50% chance of rain, lol. Everybody basically turned around because they couldn't find the trail as it was covered by the snow. But, I just followed this one guy who kept going all the way to the summit. Did Wheeler Peak a couple of days before. HP #15
rasgoat - Nov 24, 2012 2:53 pm
Nice hillPretty Hike, good views from the top.
telemarkdude - Nov 22, 2012 11:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 1996
Nice HikeFun and easy hike. Placed on my list for future ski descents.
ajberry - Oct 27, 2012 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2008
Black Cloud TrailWith Katie and Megan, both 11. Down via Bull Hill. A fine route.
DougBenton - Oct 21, 2012 10:38 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2012
Great hike!very enjoyable hike in and out, great views, a little windy at times. Had a few moments alone on the summit. Could not ask for better weather in October for a hike in the high country.
milan - Oct 17, 2012 6:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2007
7th fourteenerA nice trip to the summit of the tallest mountain in Colorado. We found a lot of mushrooms in the forest below.
mattleggett - Oct 5, 2012 2:17 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
HikedHiked with a buddy I met in the Boulder Co, Hostel 2 days earlier. Great day from the NE trail head.
bblack99 - Oct 1, 2012 10:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2012
9th 14er, 4th state highpoint!Extremely long day on the mountain. After fighting blisters and a lack of acclimatization plus a little icy snowpack on the upper mountain, this was a 9.5-hour marathon session! NE Ridge route has a well-defined trail, just be mentally ready for the parade of false summits and enjoy the amazing views in all directions!
ezander - Sep 22, 2012 8:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
First 14er!My husband and I, and our two black labs, Rosie and Sugar climbed Mt. Elbert today! It was a beautiful day, so we had no problems at all. Just took our time on the final two miles...short steps, and slow and steady. Glad we knew about the false summits! The downhill was almost more painful an the ascent!
e-doc - Sep 18, 2012 4:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2012
NE ridgeSteady uphill. Pretty big crowd with beautiful weather. Some people had huge packs. A fair number small kids. Saw a marriage proposal! Heard a wedding party was up on 9/8.
Garfimi - Sep 17, 2012 11:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2012
First 14'erDrove from Utah and slept at the trailhead in my truck Friday night. Was hoping to get up early to beat the crowds, but didn't start til 7 am. Did the NE trail. The trail was well marked. Elbert is a gentle giant and the trail had some steep section, but nothing that bad. Perfect weather. Took me 5 hours total. Beautiful area.
GregHaz - Sep 4, 2012 6:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2001
Highest Point in ColoradoFirst 14er for both wife and our dog.
jeffrawn - Aug 29, 2012 11:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
Great Day on a Great MountainThis year's Men's Mountain Encounter from Christ Church Plano (TX) targeted the highest 2 peaks in the Rockies. 29 of us set out from the upper South Elbert Trailhead just before sun-up. Once we turned off of the CO Trail and the route became steeper, we quickly broke into hiking parties based on experience and fitness level. Still far from being acclimated, I decided not to push myself too hard when I noticed I could "hear" my pulse and calculated my HR to be too high for sustained exertion. Still made it in pretty reasonable time, summiting around 10 a.m. I was pleased that over half of the men made the summit by our 1p.m. turn-around limit (first 14er for some) and that the rest had an enjoyable hike to or above treeline. 21st CO 14er for me.
rockrat2 - Aug 26, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2012
Nice hikeNE Ridge. Perfect day, hiked to summit with my wife on her first succesfull CO 14ner. Trail easy to follow, lots of people!
pacojgarza - Aug 21, 2012 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2012
Long lonely day.I used the Black cloud route to summit Elbert for the second time tagging South Elbert`s summit along the way. I never saw anyone else on that trail (other than the summit). This route is somewhat long but a nice alternative if you don`t like crowds. This was the second of fifteen peaks on my 2012 CO. trip.
Ruvicha - Aug 20, 2012 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2012
CommemorationDemanding but worthwhile hike. It was a worthy summit to commemorate a hiking colleague who died of cancer last year.
Update: Hiked Elbert again on August 9, 2017. It could be the years speaking, but it felt like someone had raised the mountain even higher and made the trail even steeper ...
knotis23 - Aug 19, 2012 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
Second Time's a CharmTried and failed 2 years ago in October due to weather. Made it this time. Perfect weather, great mountain, loved it. Climbed with Dad.
countrykyle - Aug 7, 2012 4:48 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
Solo SummitFirst solo 14er. Summited at 8am and enjoyed some summit solitude for about an hour before heading back down. (Trails: North Ridge up, Black Cloud down)
seanpeckham - Aug 5, 2012 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
from lower South Elbert TrailheadDidn't know you could drive a wagon to the summer trailhead, so it was 11.2 miles roundtrip. Made the summit in about 4.5 hours, and got drenched on the way down despite wearing full rain gear. This was our anniversary and marks our 5th state highpoint together.
dstevenson0204 - Aug 2, 2012 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2012
State HP #4Fun and easy hike to the top. Camped down in one of the meadows! Great experience