Mt. Elbert Trip Report 09/03/2011

Peak(s):	Mt. Elbert - 14,438 feet
Date Posted:	09/03/2011
Modified:	03/27/2012
Date Climbed:	09/03/2011
Author:	dehrlich101

Mount Elbert - Northeast Ridge
Mount Elbert - Northeast Ridge Standard Parters - Mike, Ranger, and Bentley Time - 5:15:19 Elevation Gain - 4, 648 Ft. Distance - 9.18 Miles Mike and I, started our trip in Denver at 3:00 am, and drove up the Mount Elbert Trailhead. We arrived at the trailhead at 5:00 am and started up the trail at 5:15 am. Ranger and Bentley our Red Heelers joined us for the hike. As was expected the parking lot at the trailhead was decently full for the holiday weekend. Sign at the Colorado Trail, Turn left After turning left on the Colorado Trail junction, it became an easy rolling trail towards our next right turn. Mount Elbert Juction from the Colorado Trail, Turn Right After this point the trail became steeper, and continued up to the tree line. Maybe we were preoccupied with the trail but we do not remember seeing the old shack along the trail... We arrived above tree line at Sunrise, and there were quite a few groups of people already on the trail watching the sunrise. The larger group was from the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville doing their freshman orientation. That would be an awesome experience for the first week of College, other than the many kegs I experienced during my first week of college. Sunrise over the Sawatch From this point, there is a great trail leading all the way to the summit. When you reach the talus, stay to the right and follow it around cirque. Some people were doing a easy class 2 trail up the talus, with a little scrambling. Once you make it around the cirque, it is an easy hike to the summit of Elbert. Mike, Ranger, Bentley and I on the Summit So many people!! After taking a few pictures, eating a roast beef sandwich, watering the dogs, chatting with a few people at the top. We started back down to the trail head. Mount Massive from Mount Elbert Descending from the summit We made it a quick 1 hour and 45 minute trip down the mountain, even with the mass amounts of people hiking towards the top. We arrived at the jam packed trail head, and headed back to Denver. There are some great views of both Mount Elbert and Mount Massive from County Road 11 towards Halfmoon Creek. Mount Elbert from CR 11 Mount Massive from CR 11 This was my 20th 14er, and 15th of the season. Hopefully the weather will hold up for a few more at the end of September after I return from the Tetons and Yellowstone. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the pictures! Happy Trails My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Mount Elbert - Northeast Ridge

Mount Elbert - Northeast Ridge Standard
Parters - Mike, Ranger, and Bentley
Time - 5:15:19
Elevation Gain - 4, 648 Ft.
Distance - 9.18 Miles

Mike and I, started our trip in Denver at 3:00 am, and drove up the Mount Elbert Trailhead. We arrived at the trailhead at 5:00 am and started up the trail at 5:15 am. Ranger and Bentley our Red Heelers joined us for the hike. As was expected the parking lot at the trailhead was decently full for the holiday weekend.

After turning left on the Colorado Trail junction, it became an easy rolling trail towards our next right turn.

Mount Elbert Juction from the Colorado Trail, Turn Right

After this point the trail became steeper, and continued up to the tree line. Maybe we were preoccupied with the trail but we do not remember seeing the old shack along the trail...

We arrived above tree line at Sunrise, and there were quite a few groups of people already on the trail watching the sunrise. The larger group was from the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville doing their freshman orientation. That would be an awesome experience for the first week of College, other than the many kegs I experienced during my first week of college.

From this point, there is a great trail leading all the way to the summit. When you reach the talus, stay to the right and follow it around cirque. Some people were doing a easy class 2 trail up the talus, with a little scrambling. Once you make it around the cirque, it is an easy hike to the summit of Elbert.

Mike, Ranger, Bentley and I on the Summit

After taking a few pictures, eating a roast beef sandwich, watering the dogs, chatting with a few people at the top. We started back down to the trail head.

We made it a quick 1 hour and 45 minute trip down the mountain, even with the mass amounts of people hiking towards the top. We arrived at the jam packed trail head, and headed back to Denver.

There are some great views of both Mount Elbert and Mount Massive from County Road 11 towards Halfmoon Creek.

This was my 20th 14er, and 15th of the season. Hopefully the weather will hold up for a few more at the end of September after I return from the Tetons and Yellowstone.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the pictures! Happy Trails

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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