Thoughts on Decalibron

[sharpet89]

Hello I was wondering about which route people prefer when doing the decalibron. Start with Bross and finish with Democrat and vice a versa. Let me know I’m trying to decide for when I go in July.

[Hiking_TheRockies]

Personally, I thought that going down Bross was a slog. I cannot imagine going up, but I've heard that people do it.

[supranihilest]

Finish with Bross. The trail on Bross is a mess of scree, so it's easier to go down than up. Going up that would be an exhausting effort.

[madbuck]

My 3 best reasons for going "clockwise" starting with Democrat are that the name goes in natural order; the informal Kite Lake Triple race always went that direction; and while many people dislike Bross in either direction, some people say going down it is kind of fun (I'm in that camp) but nobody says that going up Bross is particularly fun.
Have fun!

[PJ88]

I am one of the poor souls who decided to go counterclockwise and start with Bross. Our reasoning at the time was that it isn't fun either way, so we might as well get it over with while we were fresh and enthusiastic. It did have some advantages:

Everyone else started with Democrat so no one above you to kick scree down. Got to enjoy a great sunrise. Didn't run into anyone until almost Lincoln.

Bross certainly wasn't fun, but I don't remember it being particularly terrible. These were also some of my first fourteeners so take that with a grain of salt. I was thrilled to be up on any mountain! Still thrilled to be up on any mountain, but I learned quickly that some are much more enjoyable than others.

[climbingcue]

When I did it in the summer I did Democrat 1st and when I did it in the winter I did Bross 1st. Not sure it really makes much difference, it is one the easiest 14er summit group.

[Hiker Mike]

Personally, I thought that going down Bross was a slog. I cannot imagine going up, but I've heard that people do it.

Thought the exact same thing when I did the Decalibron.

[Kiefer]

Hiked up Bross and I've come it a few times. I agree with Ben. Go down it (clockwise) in the summer.
In winter, it's actually pretty good going up IF that west-facing gully is holding snow.

[CaptainSuburbia]

[two lunches]

When I did it in the summer I did Democrat 1st and when I did it in the winter I did Bross 1st. Not sure it really makes much difference, it is one the easiest 14er summit group.

this makes the most sense so far in this thread.

[Violet]

I started from Bross ( early July ), then Cameron and Lincoln while black clouds moved in. Then I ran along the ridge towards Mt. Democrats and ran down in the hails from the saddle to trailhead. I came back and finished Democrats the following week. I didn’t feel any problems hiking up to the peak of Bross anyway. Only a short part before the peak of Bross was kind of steep. I feel the boots u wear matter. I was wearing Salomon hiking boots.

[Will_E]

Been up in all 4 seasons, each time I went Dem-Cam-Lin-Bro-Cam, and back. I think the loop is too short otherwise, I’ve yet to descend Bross.