Mt. Yale Trip Report 07/27/2007

Peak(s):	Mt. Yale - 14,200 feet
Date Posted:	07/27/2007
Date Climbed:	07/25/2007
Author:	aperry780

Mt Yale - Denny Creek (Solo)
Mt. Yale was my third 14er and number two of the year. Having climbed Huron Peak last week I was ready for something a little harder. I left Colorado Springs at 4:00 a.m and made good time getting to the trail head at 6:00 a.m. The parking lot had about six or seven cars in it already. I was a little confused as to where the trail started as there were what appeared to be several trail heads. Turns out they all end up at the same place. The first mile or so of trail was quite rocky but easy to navigate. Having read the map over and over again I was aware that the actual trail was difficult to find. There were so many places to cross the stream but none looked to appealing. Finally the trail ended up leading me to the right place. After crossing the bridge the trail continued for a short distance until it forked, the proper rout was clearly marked on the sign. The next mile or so was very easy going and I almost felt that Huron was more of a challenge as it had steep switchbacks for most of the rout. Suddenly the trail changed and it changed for the worse. It began to climb steeply out of the trees and had very long switchbacks. After emerging from the woods the remainder of the rout looked like it was just a straight steep climb and it pretty much was. I saw and quickly gained on a couple that was ahead of me. Upon passing them I found that they left about thirty minutes prior to me and were climbing their first 14er. Their pace was much to slow so after a brief talk I continued past. By now the trail was brutally steep and the pace slowed. A look up at the ridge leading to the top kept me going and I passed yet another hiker as he stopped to break. The last portion of the trail was almost non existent as large boulders blocked any possibility of a marked rout. It was just a small scramble to the top from here. There is a false summit but the real one could be seen behind it. I summated at about 9:15 just over three hours after I started and to my amazement was the first on the top. I built quite and apatite on the way up and decided to waste no time eating my lunch. I was alone for about 10 minutes before others joined me. The first couple I passed finally arrived about 45 minutes later. After spending over an hour on the summit the clouds that looked so innocent started to grow and get dark so I decided heading down was the best idea. Coming down I must of passed over 2 dozen people on their way up no one seemed to mind the cloud brewing overhead. (Mascot Peak to the right of Yale) As I neared timberline the sky turned dark as the sun disappeared behind the clouds. My knees were starting to kill me as I descended the steep trail. When I got back to the fork in the trail I met a hiker coming down from the lake trail, we took our time and visited the rest of the way down. We came across an albino squirrel or thats about the only name I could give it. I arrived back to my car at about 1:30 just in time to avoid the rain. In all it was a nice trail and a pretty hike. The views from the top were nice until Buena Vista ruined it to the East. Was a lot harder then Huron but now I'm hooked and I want to do them al Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Mt Yale - Denny Creek (Solo)

Mt. Yale was my third 14er and number two of the year. Having climbed Huron Peak last week I was ready for something a little harder. I left Colorado Springs at 4:00 a.m and made good time getting to the trail head at 6:00 a.m. The parking lot had about six or seven cars in it already. I was a little confused as to where the trail started as there were what appeared to be several trail heads. Turns out they all end up at the same place. The first mile or so of trail was quite rocky but easy to navigate.

Having read the map over and over again I was aware that the actual trail was difficult to find. There were so many places to cross the stream but none looked to appealing. Finally the trail ended up leading me to the right place.

After crossing the bridge the trail continued for a short distance until it forked, the proper rout was clearly marked on the sign.

The next mile or so was very easy going and I almost felt that Huron was more of a challenge as it had steep switchbacks for most of the rout.

Suddenly the trail changed and it changed for the worse. It began to climb steeply out of the trees and had very long switchbacks. After emerging from the woods the remainder of the rout looked like it was just a straight steep climb and it pretty much was.

I saw and quickly gained on a couple that was ahead of me. Upon passing them I found that they left about thirty minutes prior to me and were climbing their first 14er. Their pace was much to slow so after a brief talk I continued past. By now the trail was brutally steep and the pace slowed.

A look up at the ridge leading to the top kept me going and I passed yet another hiker as he stopped to break.

The last portion of the trail was almost non existent as large boulders blocked any possibility of a marked rout. It was just a small scramble to the top from here.

There is a false summit but the real one could be seen behind it.

I summated at about 9:15 just over three hours after I started and to my amazement was the first on the top. I built quite and apatite on the way up and decided to waste no time eating my lunch. I was alone for about 10 minutes before others joined me. The first couple I passed finally arrived about 45 minutes later.

After spending over an hour on the summit the clouds that looked so innocent started to grow and get dark so I decided heading down was the best idea.

Coming down I must of passed over 2 dozen people on their way up no one seemed to mind the cloud brewing overhead.

(Mascot Peak to the right of Yale)

As I neared timberline the sky turned dark as the sun disappeared behind the clouds. My knees were starting to kill me as I descended the steep trail.

When I got back to the fork in the trail I met a hiker coming down from the lake trail, we took our time and visited the rest of the way down. We came across an albino squirrel or thats about the only name I could give it.

I arrived back to my car at about 1:30 just in time to avoid the rain. In all it was a nice trail and a pretty hike. The views from the top were nice until Buena Vista ruined it to the East. Was a lot harder then Huron but now I'm hooked and I want to do them al

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

womanhiker

Hi!
7/28/2007 6:10pm

Nice report. I met you on the summit that day. I was the one on my first solo hike (#16 of the summer). I hope to add my TR soon. Congrats on #3!

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