Mt. Lincoln Trip Report 07/04/2009

Peak(s):	Mt. Lincoln - 14,293 feet Mt. Cameron - 14,248 feet Mt. Bross - 14,178 feet
Date Posted:	07/04/2009
Date Climbed:	07/03/2009
Author:	3mtnlabbie

Lincoln/Cameron/Bross from Kite Lake
Having done Mt. Democrat as a quickie previous in our lives, we decided to do the other three with our pack and drove out the night of the 2nd to car camp with the intention of getting an early start. Too bad we got there at midnight. The parking lot was PACKED with everybody else that had the same intentions. We heard people heading out as early as 3 am and it was raining off and on all night. We finally got our butts up and moving much later than intended but didn't really get an quality sleep. when we woke it was raining consistently and it was cold. That wasn't to mention the wind. Just some words of advise - from the parking lot to get to the main trail it is necessary to cross the river that comes from Kite Lake and flows out. We saw some people with just tennis shoes and their feet got soaked. We were very happy with our hiking boots and dry feet. We actually debated even going as it was cold and we were mentally preparing for being cold and wet even with rain gear for the whole day but we did go. The first photo I took was looking back to the Kite Lake Valley about a mile up the trail and about a half mile from the saddle between Democrat/Cameron. You can see about half the lake to the far right. This is a view from the saddle between Democrat/Cameron looking north west to the valley we didn't come from with the folks considering Democrat and the very low cloud cover. And the view looking back at the snowfield you must cross to achieve the saddle coming from Kite Lake. It was much too cold to take any photos on the way up Cameron and at the top there is no markings so we stopped in the middle of what we could tell to be the highest point as per my husband's GPS and snapped a few quick photos before heading to Lincoln. Notice the leashes on our dogs. Just to give you an idea of the wind. This is what we saw looking over to Lincoln and where we were headed... Again, no photos till we got to Lincoln as it was freezing. I had two layers of gloves and my hands were still numb. It was super windy and both of us had to really focus on not getting knocked over. There were only about eight other people at that point that we were passing or passing us. At the top we found the very easy to locate marker(s) as there were actually two. The top of Lincoln is easy to navigate but is very small. We passed up attempting a photo together and our fun little sign because of the weather. We just wanted to keep moving! Again you can see how windy it was by looking at my dogs ears! The chocolate and yellow's ears are flapping in the wind! After reaching the very wide saddle between Cameron and Lincoln the sun actually started to poke out. This is looking back to Cameron from Lincoln with the path to bypass Cameron and achieve Bross. I looked back a few times over to Lincoln to see if we had any view and this was the result. The super easy walk across the saddle between Cameron and Bross. This walk was super nice an actually quite relaxing. There was only one snow field we had to negotiate and it probably would have been easier a week ago. But the snow was melting so just be careful. A friendly reminder that the trail was private property. A friendly reminder that Bross is closed. If you have selective English reading skills and some how remain on a trail that heads up Bross, there are quite a few trails to follow to get to the summit. The summit is super big and super flat. We think the marker was removed along with the registry because it isn't open but a photos is all you need. It was CRAZY windy up there to say the least so again we shot our photos and took a few for the three guys that were up there too and started venturing down. This is looking back at Democrat and you can actually see the trail that you have to take to get to the saddle of Cameron/Democrat No photos on the way down Bross. I would NEVER recommend taking that trail up as the scree/loose rock/ and vertical loss we too on the way down was enough! After we finally hit grass/fresh water/and wild flowers we finally stopped for lunch as we were starving and thought it was appropriate to do a "sit around" as we didn't at any of the summits. By this time the sun was finally starting to come out. Our yellow lab taking in the amazing beauty! My husband with Bross above his right. After eating and drinking we started the last about half mile to the parking lot. There was a beautiful waterfall and still some snow. Of course my labbies are snow nuts and had to do what one other hiker called skiing down the snow. It turned out to be a beautiful day. I think anybody that hit the trail after us and we started at 6:45ish probably got a lot more sun than us. We were at the parking lot at 11:30ish so we felt quite accomplished and ready to head home. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Lincoln/Cameron/Bross from Kite Lake

Having done Mt. Democrat as a quickie previous in our lives, we decided to do the other three with our pack and drove out the night of the 2nd to car camp with the intention of getting an early start. Too bad we got there at midnight. The parking lot was PACKED with everybody else that had the same intentions. We heard people heading out as early as 3 am and it was raining off and on all night.

We finally got our butts up and moving much later than intended but didn't really get an quality sleep. when we woke it was raining consistently and it was cold. That wasn't to mention the wind.

Just some words of advise - from the parking lot to get to the main trail it is necessary to cross the river that comes from Kite Lake and flows out. We saw some people with just tennis shoes and their feet got soaked. We were very happy with our hiking boots and dry feet.

We actually debated even going as it was cold and we were mentally preparing for being cold and wet even with rain gear for the whole day but we did go.

The first photo I took was looking back to the Kite Lake Valley about a mile up the trail and about a half mile from the saddle between Democrat/Cameron. You can see about half the lake to the far right.

This is a view from the saddle between Democrat/Cameron looking north west to the valley we didn't come from with the folks considering Democrat and the very low cloud cover.

And the view looking back at the snowfield you must cross to achieve the saddle coming from Kite Lake.

It was much too cold to take any photos on the way up Cameron and at the top there is no markings so we stopped in the middle of what we could tell to be the highest point as per my husband's GPS and snapped a few quick photos before heading to Lincoln. Notice the leashes on our dogs. Just to give you an idea of the wind.

This is what we saw looking over to Lincoln and where we were headed...

Again, no photos till we got to Lincoln as it was freezing. I had two layers of gloves and my hands were still numb. It was super windy and both of us had to really focus on not getting knocked over. There were only about eight other people at that point that we were passing or passing us.

At the top we found the very easy to locate marker(s) as there were actually two.

The top of Lincoln is easy to navigate but is very small. We passed up attempting a photo together and our fun little sign because of the weather. We just wanted to keep moving! Again you can see how windy it was by looking at my dogs ears! The chocolate and yellow's ears are flapping in the wind!

After reaching the very wide saddle between Cameron and Lincoln the sun actually started to poke out. This is looking back to Cameron from Lincoln with the path to bypass Cameron and achieve Bross.

I looked back a few times over to Lincoln to see if we had any view and this was the result.

The super easy walk across the saddle between Cameron and Bross. This walk was super nice an actually quite relaxing. There was only one snow field we had to negotiate and it probably would have been easier a week ago. But the snow was melting so just be careful.

A friendly reminder that the trail was private property.

A friendly reminder that Bross is closed.

If you have selective English reading skills and some how remain on a trail that heads up Bross, there are quite a few trails to follow to get to the summit. The summit is super big and super flat. We think the marker was removed along with the registry because it isn't open but a photos is all you need. It was CRAZY windy up there to say the least so again we shot our photos and took a few for the three guys that were up there too and started venturing down.

This is looking back at Democrat and you can actually see the trail that you have to take to get to the saddle of Cameron/Democrat

No photos on the way down Bross. I would NEVER recommend taking that trail up as the scree/loose rock/ and vertical loss we too on the way down was enough! After we finally hit grass/fresh water/and wild flowers we finally stopped for lunch as we were starving and thought it was appropriate to do a "sit around" as we didn't at any of the summits. By this time the sun was finally starting to come out.

Our yellow lab taking in the amazing beauty!

My husband with Bross above his right.

After eating and drinking we started the last about half mile to the parking lot. There was a beautiful waterfall and still some snow. Of course my labbies are snow nuts and had to do what one other hiker called skiing down the snow.

It turned out to be a beautiful day. I think anybody that hit the trail after us and we started at 6:45ish probably got a lot more sun than us. We were at the parking lot at 11:30ish so we felt quite accomplished and ready to head home.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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