Grays Peak Trip Report 12/31/2014

Peak(s):	Grays Peak - 14,275 feet Mt. Democrat - 14,154 feet Mt. Bierstadt - 14,066 feet Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet
Date Posted:	12/31/2014
Date Climbed:	09/01/2014
Author:	rpdawes

My 14ers ascents of 2014 (Grays Peak, Mt. Democrat, Mt. Bierstadt & Pikes Peak)
Before I am writing this trip report covering my four climbing adventures, I had two surgeries, prostate gland done in June and hernia repair in July that forced me to miss the first two months, July and August. That thwarted my goal of summiting at least ten 14,000 ft. mountains in the Rockies (14ers) this year after my first successful ascent of Mt. Elbert in 2013. Grays Peak Summit (14,270 ft.) September 1, 2014 Grays Peak Trailhead Ascent: 3,000 ft RT: 8.0 miles After a full recovery from two surgeries, I arrived at the Grays Peak Trailhead in the afternoon of August 31, 2014 and spent a cold night slumbering in my Jeep Cherokee. I woke up at 4 am the next day and got ready for a walk up to Grays Peak at 4:30 am. Several hikers walked past me for I was a slow walker in the very cold morning and I saw a young lady hiking up in her summer outfit as if she went to a beach. I unknowingly missed the crossroads at the 13,200 feet level by getting on the Torreys trail instead of continuing the Grays trail and went on to the Grays-Torreys saddle. There were many snow patches above 13,000 feet after a light snowfall overnight.. Once I got on the saddle, I pondered a decision which peak, Grays or Torreys, I would want to summit first. Finally I decided on Grays Peak that looked less steep to me as I was trying to conserve my energy. I did not expect a strong steady upwind from the other side of the saddle, but I managed to steady myself while continuing my ascent to Grays Peak. At 10:30 am, I finally got on top of the mountain, my second 14er summit. Asked a young lady to take pictures of myself and she was so kind enough to do the job for me. Ate some snacks. I received a grand view of the scenery around my place. I was tempted to take a traverse hike to Torreys Peak, but decided against it since I was a little tired. So I started my descent on the standard route (Grays trail) all the way to the trailhead. Although the trail was classified Class 1, it really wore me out while doing descent thanks to a lot of loose stones along the trail. I was extremely careful to avoid a slip while walking down. Arrived at the trailhead around 4:30 pm. Grays Peak at left and Torreys Peak at right Hiking toward the saddle Large Cairn located on the saddle me in the background of Grays Peak Final Pitch to the summit me on the summit Climbers on the top View east View north View of the Grays trail heading through the deep valley to the trailhead Mt. Democrat Summit (14,148 ft) September 11, 2014 Kite Lake Trailhead - East slopes Ascent: 2150 ft RT: 4.0 miles On September 10th, I went out to another mountain, either Mount Lincoln from the Quartzville trailhead or Kite Lake Trailhead. I drove straight to the Quartzville area, left my car and walked up a dirt road heading to the Quartzville trailhead. I noticed a very bad washout very close to the trailhead and decided against risking my Jeep up to the Quartzville TH. It is always better to be wise than sorry since I was all alone. Instead, I drove to the Kite Lake TH. The dirt road was rough, but easily passable. There I spent a night again in my Jeep and arose at 6 am. Got going on the standard route and once I got on the saddle between Mt. Democrat and Mt. Lincoln. Again, there was a strong wind uphill from the other side trying to blow me off my feet. Considering everything, I gave Mt. Democrat a go instead of Mt. Lincoln. The trail up to Mt. Democrat was my first experience with Class 2 climb. Navigated and scrambled with help of several cairns through a lot of rocks of different forms and shapes following another geezer to the summit of Mt. Democrat. Once over the false summit, it took an easy walk to the summit. Enjoyed a magnificient view of everything around me in a beautiful sunny day. I was all alone on the top and was waiting for some guys to come up. Finally, a couple of young men accompaioned by a young lady appeared. And I asked one of them to take pictures of myself boasting of my third bag of a 14er mountain. They gladly did. In the meantime, one guy took out a US flag of his backpack and put it on his trekking pole and waved the flag while being photographed. What a beautiful fitting tribute to the 9/11 memorial! So I asked to borrow the flag for myself and he was glad to do so and took pictures of myself waving the flag. The young people got going down in a hurry as they continued their traverse climb to the next three peaks, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross leaving me alone again. I was thinking about doing the same, but decided to return straight on the same route to the TH as I was trying to save my energy. The climb was rather easy, maybe the easiest and shortest one for me so far. Mt. Democrat View of my car parked at the trailhead Can you find hikers walking up to the summit on the slope? On the saddle Can you find that geezer on the slope? The summit me waving the flag. What a fitting tribute to the 9/11 memorial! View south Trail heading to Mt. Cameron and then Mt. Lincoln What is that? Black rock! I did not see many of them there. How did it get there? Mt. Bierstadt Summit (14,060 ft) September 25, 2014 Guanella Pass Trailhead - west Slopes Ascent: 2850 ft RT: 7.0 miles The next week, I was hoping to bag one more 14er, but couldn't do it due to deaths in my wife's family. We had to fly to Tennessee for a funeral service for my father-in-law and a memorial service for my brother-in-law. Once I returned home from a trip to Tennessee, I wanted to do one more climb before the snow season was under way in October. So Mt. Bierstadt was my next target. On Ssept.28th, I drove to Guanella Pass trailhead and spent a night in my beloved Jeep. I had made a comfortable bedroom out of my car for an overnight sleep. About 6 am, I got out on a trail that brought me to Mt. Bierstadt summit. The trail was well defined until I approached the false summit. Oh, boy, I was surveying the false summit full of rocks requiring scrambling. It looked too difficult to me and I was wondering whether I should stop there and turn around. The better of me said I should continue ascent to the true summit and make no fool of myself. I was observing an elderly couple going up. If they could do it, why couldn't I? So I got going up by around the false summit to the left to the true summit. I was so glad that I was on top again. Finally, I located the summit marker after I noticed another guy viewing it. Again, I had a young lady take pictures of myself. The mountain was my 4th bagger in my brief two-year adventure. Before I started descent, I was a little tired. Five gracious people offered to help me go down all the way to the trailhead. In the event I get weaker and fall while walking, they would be in a position to get me up and continue the hike. Gladly, nothing bad took place. Funny enough, one guy who was leading us down did fall while trying to cross a big stream on several slippery stones and had his behind wet. Interesting enough, none of those five hikers lived in Colorado. A young couple came from Germany, one middle-aged man from Switzerland and another young couple from Kansas. Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans in sunset wood plank risers keeping your feet dry Sun arising above the Sawtooth ridge Trail heading to the summit View of both true and false summits Another view of both true and false summits False summit Closeup of the false summit. Can you find hikers? Hiking around the false summit to the left View south me on top USGS summit marker Gracious souls watching over me during descent. From left to right: a German couple, a Swiss guy, a couple from Kansas Pikes Peak Summit (14,110 ft) December 9, 2014 Starting Point: Devil's Playground Ascent: 1330 ft I thought that my 2014 climbing adventure would be over after bagging Mt. Bierstadt, but there was not much snow from the second week of October until the first week of December in Pikes Peak area. So I decided to try one more. I drove to Colorado Springs to pick up my lady friend named Jean who is an experienced climber with 50 14ers under the belt. Then we drove to the gate of Pikes Peak toll road and paid the toll after they opened the gate at sharp 9 am and We were heading to Devil's Playground. There I parked my car at 12,780 feet. Jean and I, both deaf, initiated the 1,330 ascent to Pikes Peak summit. That marks my first time after 4 previous climbs that I did not go solo. My original plan was to 1) climb to the summit, 2) start descent on the trail leading to Crags Campground trailhead, 3) stop at 11,100 feet altitude on the trail and turn around and 4) hike up to Devil's Playground and drive my car back home. We cancelled the plan due to time constraints since we needed to return to downhill gate by 5 PM or pay a $200 fine for tardiness. Once we got on the summit around 12:30 pm, we took a break at the summit caf� and ate some. We asked a lady ranger if she could take us down to my car and she replied in the affirmative, but we would wait till 1:30. We waited till then and she returned us to my car. The hike was good, but not to my satisfaction since I failed on two counts. I did not descend by my legs and the altitude gain was so short like over 1300 feet. Well, life is short, anyway. I plan to return to Pikes Peak next summer as the toll road gate would open early and close late. Start of the trail at Devil's Playground Pikes Peak summit Jean and me on the summit View west My car parking at Devil's Playground The devil did not mess with it! The Pikes Peak climb closes my 2014 adventure with good memories. I look forward to summiting ten more 14ers next summer at the age of 75, God willing and no more surgery! Mountain climbing makes me feel young. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

My 14ers ascents of 2014 (Grays Peak, Mt. Democrat, Mt. Bierstadt & Pikes Peak)

Before I am writing this trip report covering my four climbing adventures, I had two surgeries, prostate gland done in June and hernia repair in July that forced me to miss the first two months, July and August. That thwarted my goal of summiting at least ten 14,000 ft. mountains in the Rockies (14ers) this year after my first successful ascent of Mt. Elbert in 2013.

Grays Peak Summit (14,270 ft.)
September 1, 2014
Grays Peak Trailhead
Ascent: 3,000 ft
RT: 8.0 miles

After a full recovery from two surgeries, I arrived at the Grays Peak Trailhead in the afternoon of August 31, 2014 and spent a cold night slumbering in my Jeep Cherokee. I woke up at 4 am the next day and got ready for a walk up to Grays Peak at 4:30 am. Several hikers walked past me for I was a slow walker in the very cold morning and I saw a young lady hiking up in her summer outfit as if she went to a beach. I unknowingly missed the crossroads at the 13,200 feet level by getting on the Torreys trail instead of continuing the Grays trail and went on to the Grays-Torreys saddle. There were many snow patches above 13,000 feet after a light snowfall overnight.. Once I got on the saddle, I pondered a decision which peak, Grays or Torreys, I would want to summit first. Finally I decided on Grays Peak that looked less steep to me as I was trying to conserve my energy. I did not expect a strong steady upwind from the other side of the saddle, but I managed to steady myself while continuing my ascent to Grays Peak. At 10:30 am, I finally got on top of the mountain, my second 14er summit. Asked a young lady to take pictures of myself and she was so kind enough to do the job for me. Ate some snacks. I received a grand view of the scenery around my place. I was tempted to take a traverse hike to Torreys Peak, but decided against it since I was a little tired. So I started my descent on the standard route (Grays trail) all the way to the trailhead. Although the trail was classified Class 1, it really wore me out while doing descent thanks to a lot of loose stones along the trail. I was extremely careful to avoid a slip while walking down. Arrived at the trailhead around 4:30 pm.

Grays Peak at left and Torreys Peak at right

View of the Grays trail heading through the deep valley to the trailhead

Mt. Democrat Summit (14,148 ft)
September 11, 2014
Kite Lake Trailhead - East slopes
Ascent: 2150 ft
RT: 4.0 miles

On September 10th, I went out to another mountain, either Mount Lincoln from the Quartzville trailhead or Kite Lake Trailhead. I drove straight to the Quartzville area, left my car and walked up a dirt road heading to the Quartzville trailhead. I noticed a very bad washout very close to the trailhead and decided against risking my Jeep up to the Quartzville TH. It is always better to be wise than sorry since I was all alone. Instead, I drove to the Kite Lake TH. The dirt road was rough, but easily passable. There I spent a night again in my Jeep and arose at 6 am. Got going on the standard route and once I got on the saddle between Mt. Democrat and Mt. Lincoln. Again, there was a strong wind uphill from the other side trying to blow me off my feet. Considering everything, I gave Mt. Democrat a go instead of Mt. Lincoln. The trail up to Mt. Democrat was my first experience with Class 2 climb. Navigated and scrambled with help of several cairns through a lot of rocks of different forms and shapes following another geezer to the summit of Mt. Democrat. Once over the false summit, it took an easy walk to the summit. Enjoyed a magnificient view of everything around me in a beautiful sunny day. I was all alone on the top and was waiting for some guys to come up. Finally, a couple of young men accompaioned by a young lady appeared. And I asked one of them to take pictures of myself boasting of my third bag of a 14er mountain. They gladly did. In the meantime, one guy took out a US flag of his backpack and put it on his trekking pole and waved the flag while being photographed. What a beautiful fitting tribute to the 9/11 memorial! So I asked to borrow the flag for myself and he was glad to do so and took pictures of myself waving the flag. The young people got going down in a hurry as they continued their traverse climb to the next three peaks, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross leaving me alone again. I was thinking about doing the same, but decided to return straight on the same route to the TH as I was trying to save my energy. The climb was rather easy, maybe the easiest and shortest one for me so far.

Can you find hikers walking up to the summit on the slope?

me waving the flag. What a fitting tribute to the 9/11 memorial!

Trail heading to Mt. Cameron and then Mt. Lincoln

What is that? Black rock! I did not see many of them there. How did it get there?

Mt. Bierstadt Summit (14,060 ft)
September 25, 2014
Guanella Pass Trailhead - west Slopes
Ascent: 2850 ft
RT: 7.0 miles

The next week, I was hoping to bag one more 14er, but couldn't do it due to deaths in my wife's family. We had to fly to Tennessee for a funeral service for my father-in-law and a memorial service for my brother-in-law.

Once I returned home from a trip to Tennessee, I wanted to do one more climb before the snow season was under way in October. So Mt. Bierstadt was my next target. On Ssept.28th, I drove to Guanella Pass trailhead and spent a night in my beloved Jeep. I had made a comfortable bedroom out of my car for an overnight sleep. About 6 am, I got out on a trail that brought me to Mt. Bierstadt summit. The trail was well defined until I approached the false summit. Oh, boy, I was surveying the false summit full of rocks requiring scrambling. It looked too difficult to me and I was wondering whether I should stop there and turn around. The better of me said I should continue ascent to the true summit and make no fool of myself. I was observing an elderly couple going up. If they could do it, why couldn't I? So I got going up by around the false summit to the left to the true summit. I was so glad that I was on top again. Finally, I located the summit marker after I noticed another guy viewing it. Again, I had a young lady take pictures of myself. The mountain was my 4th bagger in my brief two-year adventure. Before I started descent, I was a little tired. Five gracious people offered to help me go down all the way to the trailhead. In the event I get weaker and fall while walking, they would be in a position to get me up and continue the hike. Gladly, nothing bad took place. Funny enough, one guy who was leading us down did fall while trying to cross a big stream on several slippery stones and had his behind wet. Interesting enough, none of those five hikers lived in Colorado. A young couple came from Germany, one middle-aged man from Switzerland and another young couple from Kansas.

Another view of both true and false summits

Closeup of the false summit. Can you find hikers?

Hiking around the false summit to the left

Gracious souls watching over me during descent. From left to right: a German couple, a Swiss guy, a couple from Kansas

Pikes Peak Summit (14,110 ft)
December 9, 2014
Starting Point: Devil's Playground
Ascent: 1330 ft

I thought that my 2014 climbing adventure would be over after bagging Mt. Bierstadt, but there was not much snow from the second week of October until the first week of December in Pikes Peak area. So I decided to try one more. I drove to Colorado Springs to pick up my lady friend named Jean who is an experienced climber with 50 14ers under the belt. Then we drove to the gate of Pikes Peak toll road and paid the toll after they opened the gate at sharp 9 am and We were heading to Devil's Playground. There I parked my car at 12,780 feet. Jean and I, both deaf, initiated the 1,330 ascent to Pikes Peak summit. That marks my first time after 4 previous climbs that I did not go solo. My original plan was to 1) climb to the summit, 2) start descent on the trail leading to Crags Campground trailhead, 3) stop at 11,100 feet altitude on the trail and turn around and 4) hike up to Devil's Playground and drive my car back home. We cancelled the plan due to time constraints since we needed to return to downhill gate by 5 PM or pay a $200 fine for tardiness. Once we got on the summit around 12:30 pm, we took a break at the summit caf� and ate some. We asked a lady ranger if she could take us down to my car and she replied in the affirmative, but we would wait till 1:30. We waited till then and she returned us to my car. The hike was good, but not to my satisfaction since I failed on two counts. I did not descend by my legs and the altitude gain was so short like over 1300 feet. Well, life is short, anyway. I plan to return to Pikes Peak next summer as the toll road gate would open early and close late.

Start of the trail at Devil's Playground

My car parking at Devil's Playground The devil did not mess with it!

The Pikes Peak climb closes my 2014 adventure with good memories. I look forward to summiting ten more 14ers next summer at the age of 75, God willing and no more surgery! Mountain climbing makes me feel young.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Jay521	You rock! 12/31/2014 9:32pm Way to go, Richard! I look forward to reading your reports on your next adventure. And I love your last line – "Mountain climbing makes me feel young." My sentiments exactly.
mathguy	Well done! 1/1/2015 3:36pm From one old coot to another: "you go guy!"
rpdawes	You both are an inspiration to me! 1/2/2015 5:33pm Thanks for the compliments from both of you my fellow geezers! You are my wonderful supporters. I recall a story about a guy aged 80 years old did reach the summit of Mt. Elbert two years ago. You know that another 80+ guy from Japan topped Mt. Everest a couple years ago. Jay, wanna know when you bagged the first 14er. What a great accomplishment of climbing so many 13ers and 14ers plus many repeats you have done so far! I believe you will continue doing so till you turn 100. Who knows? Also, you have done many winter ascents. WOW! I know that I will never be able to imitate what you have done.
Jay521	Thanks, Richard! 1/2/2015 8:02pm I honestly don’t exactly remember when I did Grays (my first 14er). I am guessing I was in my 20’s. But my first mountain was Mount Audubon – a 13er near the Boy Scout Camp I went to. I think I was 13 or 14 when I went up it the first time. Probably 1961 or 1962? And yeah, I do have a mountain addiction, that’s for sure. But don’t heap too much praise on me – there are lots of men (and women) older than me that kick my butt. A guy named Gerry Roach is probably in his early 70’s and is STILL climbing stuff that is way beyond my abilities. I think the important thing is to keep doing what you like to do – and I gotta repeat that the line "Mountain climbing makes me feel young." is spot on. Keep it up, Richard! You never know what you can do until you try, right?
cftbq	kudos 1/3/2015 4:03am From yet another "geezer"! BTW, try Pikes from the Crags TH for a "legit" climb that’s still lota shorter than the Barr Trail.
mtgirl	Nice ! 1/6/2015 2:37pm Great job, Richard. I hope to be as fit as you when I’m in my 70s ! You are an inspiration.

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