Mount Elbert Climber's Log

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Scott

Scott - Mar 18, 2014 12:14 am Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2014

Elbert  Sucess!

March 9 2014

I did the climb of Mount Elbert with several 14ers.com members. The climb was supposed to be on Saturday, but bad weather caused the postponement of the trip.

After a late start the night before, I arrived very late at the trailhead and didn't sleep. It was -2F in the morning, but the weather was clear.

The group was pretty spread out and I left at 7 am. I took 10 hours 15 minutes round trip, but several other people were faster.

The climb was straightforward, but long and it was windier and colder than the weather forecast had predicted.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten my sunscreen, but I was able to borrow some early on. I still could have used more as I got burned in places. It was a very sunny day and the sun was intense!

November 28-29 2003

We (Jeff, George, and myself) set out to do a "faux winter" climb of Mt. Elbert on November 28. Jeff lives in Denver and George flew in from Chicago. The astronomical winter is December 22-March 21, but the climatological winter is November 22-Feb 21 (coldest 1/3 of the year), so it would be fair to say that it was a "winter conditions" climb.

We left the South Elbert Trailhead at 1:30 PM and made 11,200 feet 3 hours later. We set up camp at this spot.

The morning was very warm, a near tropical 14F (-10C). Not bad for this high. I had carried a 70lb pack expecting much harsher conditions.

Snowshoes helped in the ascent, but an ice axe and crampons were not required. We had carried them anyway.

Jeff was the quickest of the bunch and reached the summit, back to camp, and to the trailhead in well under 7 hours. I took about 7 hours. George had to turn back at 13,900 feet because he wasn't acclimatized, he being from Chicago. Had he had more time for acclimatization, he certainly would have made it. He'll try again soon. It was pretty cold and windy on top, but not too bad. We were the only ones to sign the summit register in a month. Certainly others must have reached the summit within a month, and hadn't signed the register?

regolithe

regolithe - Mar 15, 2014 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2014

Perfect Day on the East Ridge  Sucess!

There's a great view from the summit. This was my first (real) Colorado 14er, and it was a fun winter climb. Long, but fun.

JBR1969

JBR1969 - Mar 10, 2014 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2007

Nope

Up the Black Cloud trail. My partner was slow and we got turned around by an afternoon thunderstorm.

chicagotransplant

chicagotransplant - Jan 19, 2014 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2014

East Ridge  Sucess!

East ridge on a beautiful winter day - warm, calm and sunny - for Sarah's winter 14er finisher. Congrats again Sarah!

iamrwood

iamrwood - Jan 14, 2014 2:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2013

Black Cloud Trail  Sucess!

Took the Black Cloud Trail up to Mount Elbert with Pocket Rocks

Cambot

Cambot - Jan 13, 2014 11:29 am Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2014

first black toenail  Sucess!

Brief windy weather window between storms and only one other climber on the mountain. Deep snow below treeline and lovely snowfields for glissading on the ridge. Unfortunately wore new boots!

Kevintheclimber

Kevintheclimber - Dec 27, 2013 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2012

A walk up   Sucess!

Didn't even stop once on the ascent, drank two beers on summit. Awesome day.

RaymondShevsky

RaymondShevsky - Dec 19, 2013 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2010

Class 1 trail  Sucess!

Crowded, popular summit with incredible views over the Rockies.

Judd97

Judd97 - Dec 11, 2013 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Nov 29, 2013

HP #22  Sucess!

Wore snowshoes to the summit and back. Perfect Black Friday conditions, sunny and warm, no wind!

Woodswalker

Woodswalker - Nov 24, 2013 8:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2005

Mount Elbert  Sucess!

Love Colorado mountains!

MadGrad96

MadGrad96 - Nov 1, 2013 7:41 am

Elbert  Sucess!

Standard route

alpineair - Oct 28, 2013 9:55 am

Elbert  Sucess!

No crowds in winter.

AFmountaineer

AFmountaineer - Oct 23, 2013 7:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2013

Top of the world  Sucess!

Hiked through at times maybe a couple feet of snow and it was certainly quite cold but the views were amazing, definitely felt like i was on top of the world.

jamesglaze - Oct 18, 2013 12:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013

HP No. 23  Sucess!

Summited with my two daughters (No. 11) and a long time friend and fellow ExxonMobil annuitant. We also had the company of a good 150 others and a dozen dogs on this great day for climbing. We started about 4:15 a.m., summited 9:15, back down 1:15, just ahead of a rain/hail storm. Hiked via the northeast ridge route, which is very steep (the girls feel it is tougher than Whitney) with four false summits. This is one I have targeted for many years so was very happy to bag it. The pizza in Leadville afterward was very good as well. Mt. Elbert was number 3 on a 5 state highpoint trip.

bruno baschung

bruno baschung - Oct 8, 2013 12:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2013

north east route  Sucess!

A very enjoyable hike on Colorado's highest and contiguous US highest N°2 on a very windy day (it was gusting up there at 45/50 mph), and there was some snow above 13500 ft or so, whihc make the summit quite intresting to reach on that day (several hikers didn't push all the way to main top).

But at least there was no issue of thunderstorms. The landscape was very beautiful (nice colours of early autumn, nice view as well). The NE route is easy and quite rapid to go donw as well, which is also enjoyable. Though reaching the top late (3pm), going down slowly it took me only 3h20 to reach trail head.

Bruno Baschung

DanielL

DanielL - Oct 4, 2013 11:44 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2013

East Ridge Ski  Sucess!

Climbed and skied the East Ridge route - a bit bony in places but a great ski route!

thefinalfrontier

thefinalfrontier - Oct 1, 2013 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2013

NE Ridge-Tough but Awesome!  Sucess!

Mt. Elbert was my first 14er! I really had a good time and even though I was super tired at the top, it was so incredible seeing all the mountains and lakes around you. It was breathtaking! Would recommend! Start early though!
Route: NE Ridge
Start Time: 5:30 am
Summit Time: 10:21 am
Time on Summit: 1 hour
Return Time: 3:30 pm
Total Time: ~10 Hours

Marlin

Marlin - Sep 28, 2013 7:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2002

1st Colorado 14'er; 2nd HP  Sucess!

Climbed via the North Mount Elbert Trail on September 9th, 2002. My second state highpoint. Unfortunately, a light drizzle greeted me at timberline and accompanied me to the summit. Visibility on the summit was limited to approximately 50'. Quite the workout for a "flatlander" like myself.

Vagabond Manifesto

Vagabond Manifesto - Sep 24, 2013 11:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2013

Elbert  Sucess!

Southeast ridge. The climb out of Black Cloud Gulch is a workout!

shanman

shanman - Sep 10, 2013 3:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2013

Possible youngest Elbert climber?  Sucess!

Climbed with my two youngest sons, ages 9 yr 1 mo, and 5 yr 11 mo. The only assistance to the youngest was to carry his camelbak most of the way and hold his hand when the trail was wide enough:)

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