Grays Peak Trip Report 07/08/2014

Peak(s):	Grays Peak - 14,275 feet Torreys Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	07/08/2014
Date Climbed:	07/06/2014
Author:	Billy Goat Benjamin

Long, hot, and beautiful!
Billy Goat Benjamin and Mountain Molly had a crew this time for a gorgeous Grays and Torreys hike. We started out of the Summer trail head at 8am sharp. A little later than we wanted but it really didn't matter because the early afternoon storms never rolled in. Being a Sunday and 4th of July weekend it was a busy day on the trail. As always the earlier you start the less traffic you will see. Once we hit the trail the sun opened up and was just beaming on us. Everyone in the crew started shedding layers. The weather for Bakerville called for 70 degrees, but I wasn't sure how much that would relate to Grays n Torreys. It relates 100%!!! We followed the trail up and kept to the right whenever we came to a fork in the trail. Our goal was to get to the middle of the saddle, thats how we climbed it before and it is the quickest way. When looking up at the saddle it appears to be all snow but it is not. Eventually we came to point where you can cut across a big snow patch towards the saddle of the two peaks. The trail through the snow is skinny and a tiny bit sketchy but worth it! If you want to avoid the snow just keep left. When we got to the saddle we took the trail up to Grays first, it was steep and full of tough stairs but it was short. Holy Cow! At the Grays summit there was a flippin' party going on. I would say probably 20-30 people. It was cool though, everyone was taking pictures for each other and trading food like it was currency. One guy gave us a bag a cherries to lighten his load, thanks fellow 14er comrade! We hit the trail back down towards the saddle and up the Torreys trail to the summit. The Torreys ascent might be a little tougher, but much the same, steep and rocky yet short. At the summit of Torreys there was hardly the same amount of people. The summit was breathtaking! The view is incredible, and the air is so crisp and refreshing! The clouds were rolling in and it was 12:00 on the dot. Hiking with a big crew takes a little bit more time but 4 hours for both summits is not too shabby. Our descent down took about 2 hours, we went down through the large patch of snow that cuts across the mountain, down the trail through another patch of snow that goes straight down. At this point you gotta slide on your butt, its so fun. We followed the trail back through the valley and the wild flowers and eventually we were back at the car. GREAT DAY!!! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Long, hot, and beautiful!

Billy Goat Benjamin and Mountain Molly had a crew this time for a gorgeous Grays and Torreys hike. We started out of the Summer trail head at 8am sharp. A little later than we wanted but it really didn't matter because the early afternoon storms never rolled in. Being a Sunday and 4th of July weekend it was a busy day on the trail. As always the earlier you start the less traffic you will see.

Once we hit the trail the sun opened up and was just beaming on us. Everyone in the crew started shedding layers. The weather for Bakerville called for 70 degrees, but I wasn't sure how much that would relate to Grays n Torreys. It relates 100%!!!

We followed the trail up and kept to the right whenever we came to a fork in the trail. Our goal was to get to the middle of the saddle, thats how we climbed it before and it is the quickest way. When looking up at the saddle it appears to be all snow but it is not. Eventually we came to point where you can cut across a big snow patch towards the saddle of the two peaks. The trail through the snow is skinny and a tiny bit sketchy but worth it! If you want to avoid the snow just keep left.

When we got to the saddle we took the trail up to Grays first, it was steep and full of tough stairs but it was short.

Holy Cow! At the Grays summit there was a flippin' party going on. I would say probably 20-30 people. It was cool though, everyone was taking pictures for each other and trading food like it was currency. One guy gave us a bag a cherries to lighten his load, thanks fellow 14er comrade!

We hit the trail back down towards the saddle and up the Torreys trail to the summit. The Torreys ascent might be a little tougher, but much the same, steep and rocky yet short. At the summit of Torreys there was hardly the same amount of people.

The summit was breathtaking! The view is incredible, and the air is so crisp and refreshing! The clouds were rolling in and it was 12:00 on the dot. Hiking with a big crew takes a little bit more time but 4 hours for both summits is not too shabby.

Our descent down took about 2 hours, we went down through the large patch of snow that cuts across the mountain, down the trail through another patch of snow that goes straight down. At this point you gotta slide on your butt, its so fun. We followed the trail back through the valley and the wild flowers and eventually we were back at the car. GREAT DAY!!!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

cordisimo	Torreys West Ridge 7/11/2014 3:26am Did you by chance get any pictures of the west ridge of Torrey's looking towards Grizzly and Loveland pass? Or if not do you remember if there was much snow on the route? Thanks.
KochMJ86	Road Conditions 7/13/2014 1:42am How was the road from I-70 to the summer trailhead? Would you say a Subaru Outback could get up the road? Sounds like a beautiful hike!
Billy Goat Benjamin	road conditions 7/15/2014 12:28am Yea the outback will make it. Wouldn't want to use anything smaller though.
thericks	Excited. 7/24/2014 4:59pm Cant wait to do this hike next week.

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