| Peak(s): |
Wetterhorn Peak - 14,021 feet |
| Date Posted: | 08/14/2008 |
| Modified: | 07/14/2011 |
| Date Climbed: | 08/12/2008 |
| Author: | jesse |
| Peak(s): |
Wetterhorn Peak - 14,021 feet |
| Date Posted: | 08/14/2008 |
| Modified: | 07/14/2011 |
| Date Climbed: | 08/12/2008 |
| Author: | jesse |
| Wetterhorn Sunrise Summit Uncompahgre Part 1 |
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Monday morning Tom and I decided to get an early start to things and left Golden at 8:30. We arrived at the Matterhorn Creek TH 4x4 trailhead at 3:30 and the weather looked nice so we agreed on a high camp to get started early for Wetterhorn and then be able to bag Uncompahgre as well.  Tom at treeline  Jesse at treeline We set camp on a bluff in the attempt to see as many shooting stars as possible. A lone hiker passed us and we found out later summited Wetterhorn at sunset.  Wetterhorn early sunset  Wow  ....  I have 20 more shots it was an amazing clear sunset! After a couple of beers and talks with tito the moon had risen and I was ready to sleep for an early start. At 2:30 Tom was up already enjoying the metor shower. I pulled the tarp out and laid in my bag watching the sky for an hour. We thought that, since we were up and had some hot tea, a sunrise summit was possible.  somewhere in the amazing night with only one headlamp on at a time, we walked slowly astounded by the number of shooting stars in every direction. It was unbelievablly clear and ever time I looked up they were hitting the ridglines.  Tom on the notch right before the summit pitch, it was clam but fairly cold, on the scramble we had no idea what the exposure looked like just doing the moves easily dancing towards the summit.  Sunrise on Uncompahgre, we waited 15mins on the summit before I could get clear pictures.  Both of our first 14er summit sunrises!  Its funny that we summited Uncompahgre at 11am looking at dawn it seemed much closer than it actually is.  Tom   Jesse  Wetterhorn's shadow seemed to point towards Sneffles, I have to say the San Juans at sunrise beat the Crestones at sunset haha.  Another pic of Uncompahgre right before we left. It got a bit windy after the sun came up so we decided to get down and go for Uncompahgre.  A bit of exposure didnt seem scary in the dark but when you see the drops its much diffrent makes me wanna climb in the early morning more often.  A view of Tom on the scramble, the rock is mostly solid and delightfully airy without the fear I had on Crestone Peak.  Another lower view of Wetterhorn's Shadow.  Me on the ridgeline another one checked off the list!  The successfull sunrise summit of Wetterhorn had invigorated us to continue to Uncompahgre. Another one of the San Juans needed our attention that day! continued in part2 for 20 more pics
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow): 
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