Mt. Democrat Trip Report 07/11/2011

Peak(s):	Mt. Democrat - 14,154 feet Mt. Cameron - 14,248 feet Mt. Lincoln - 14,293 feet Mt. Bross - 14,178 feet
Date Posted:	07/11/2011
Date Climbed:	07/09/2011
Author:	dwoods15

DeCaLiBro Wet Day
Please Note on the GPX file that we ascended Mt. Bross first. I had a brain fart and didn't have the GPS turned on and tracking our movements. Thus it looks like we started halfway up Mt. Bross. Had a great day Climbing with my buddy Ryan (ACERyGuy007) on Saturday July 9th. Started at the Kite Lake TH. We began our trek from Boulder County at 0430 hours. Made it to the TH a tad before 0700 hours and were on our way up the trail. We paused for a moment at the TH and looked at the maps and decided to go up Mt. Bross first. We followed the normal route up the gully until the trail diverted up onto the ridge. We decided to plow through and continue straight up from that trail distraction. It was loose loose scree and soft gravel footing. Not bad, just felt like being in snowshoes with the slippage experienced. We summited Mt. Bross expediently and was trying to orient ourselves to make it to South Bross. The summit of Mt. Bross was surprisingingly large and expansive. We decided that the .7 mile round trip to South Bross was not warranted at this time. So Ryan and I found the cairns and eye balled that we were on the high point. We got bored with bross and began the descent and skirted Mt. Cameron to climb Mt. Lincoln. Mt. Lincoln was a treat to Climb as it was distinctly different than the other peaks. It was rocky with a narrow ridge. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It was a nice climb to the summit. Met some nice folks on the summit and took their pictures for them. You could see North Star Mountain and Mt. Quandary across the valley. We ate lunch on Lincoln and felt rejuvenated and ready to tackle the ominous Mt. Democrat in the distance. We descended Mt. Lincoln and began to climb the "unofficial" Mt. Cameron. What struck me as interesting was the pools of water at the summit of Mt. Cameron. If it would have been a warmer day I would have took a dip in the cool waters. It was a rounded summit and had a plethora of different rocks on the summit. Quite the melting pot of geological processes that occurred to bring such diversity on Mt. Cameron. We descended Mt. Cameron which was quite steep with loose rocks and scree abound. The saddle between Mt. Cameron and Mt. Democrat was quite a drop in elevation. The saddle contained some old covered up mines and about 100 feet up was another mine that you could go into. We decided if the weather took a turn for the worse and had no other options that we could seek shelter within it's dank confines. Took a look at the GPS, which indicated about a 700 foot ascent to Mt. Democrat. Good thing we were eyeing Mt. Democrat from Mt. Cameron since the one and only false summit could be frustrating. The Ascent skirted around the small snowfield onto the false summit. From there it was another 200 feet to the summit. From the summit of Mt. Democrat we could see the Climax Molybdenum mine in the distance with wonderful views of the route we had forged in the day. While we were relaxing and staring off towards Climax, a couple who work in Calgary and call Denver home snuck up on us on Mt. Democrat. By the time we summited Mt. Democrat the crowds had dissipated significantly and we thought we had the mountain to ourselves. The couple said that they were just climbing Mt. Democrat and were going to head back down. At this point the clouds were looking nasty and so we best make the descent. We passed the couple from Calgary in short order. Met a guy with a dog who asked about the summit conditions. We recommended to him that he should not be rushing the summit so late in the day (around 2:45). He did his own thing and we booked it down. Passed a young man who was toting skis and walked down the (non snow covered) summit with ski boots on (ouch!). We passed a small snowfield and kept descending. While approaching the green grass and flowering wildflowers the weather took a turn for the worse. Just behind us and above Mt. Democrat the clouds rolled in thick and dark. A look over at Bross indicated two people still descending the summit when the thunder came rolling in. I thought good thoughts for those people still on the mountains and Ryan and I picked up our pace. several miles of winding sometimes muddy trails shown the beauty of this valley with seasonal waterfalls and lush green foilage. No time to smell the roses as the storms rolled in quickly. We passed an old mining shack with strewn cans and other items throughout the field. Crossed a larger snowfield and could hear the water rushing beneath our feet. Kinda freaky. Kept moving and near the Kite Late TH we had to cross a river that was covered in snow earlier that morning. We put our best foot forward and leaped to safety. At this time the rain was absolutely pouring as we drudgingly walked back to the vehicle. We passed by campers scrambling to get their tents up in the rain. We were unable to park at the TH in the AM, due to snow. The road all the way to the TH was clear of all snow. WE finally made it to the car and began the drying process in the car. My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

DeCaLiBro Wet Day

Please Note on the GPX file that we ascended Mt. Bross first. I had a brain fart and didn't have the GPS turned on and tracking our movements. Thus it looks like we started halfway up Mt. Bross.

Had a great day Climbing with my buddy Ryan (ACERyGuy007) on Saturday July 9th. Started at the Kite Lake TH. We began our trek from Boulder County at 0430 hours. Made it to the TH a tad before 0700 hours and were on our way up the trail. We paused for a moment at the TH and looked at the maps and decided to go up Mt. Bross first. We followed the normal route up the gully until the trail diverted up onto the ridge. We decided to plow through and continue straight up from that trail distraction.

It was loose loose scree and soft gravel footing. Not bad, just felt like being in snowshoes with the slippage experienced. We summited Mt. Bross expediently and was trying to orient ourselves to make it to South Bross. The summit of Mt. Bross was surprisingingly large and expansive.

We decided that the .7 mile round trip to South Bross was not warranted at this time. So Ryan and I found the cairns and eye balled that we were on the high point.

We got bored with bross and began the descent and skirted Mt. Cameron to climb Mt. Lincoln.

Mt. Lincoln was a treat to Climb as it was distinctly different than the other peaks. It was rocky with a narrow ridge. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It was a nice climb to the summit. Met some nice folks on the summit and took their pictures for them. You could see North Star Mountain and Mt. Quandary across the valley.

We ate lunch on Lincoln and felt rejuvenated and ready to tackle the ominous Mt. Democrat in the distance.

We descended Mt. Lincoln and began to climb the "unofficial" Mt. Cameron. What struck me as interesting was the pools of water at the summit of Mt. Cameron. If it would have been a warmer day I would have took a dip in the cool waters. It was a rounded summit and had a plethora of different rocks on the summit.

Quite the melting pot of geological processes that occurred to bring such diversity on Mt. Cameron. We descended Mt. Cameron which was quite steep with loose rocks and scree abound.

The saddle between Mt. Cameron and Mt. Democrat was quite a drop in elevation.

The saddle contained some old covered up mines

and about 100 feet up was another mine that you could go into.

We decided if the weather took a turn for the worse and had no other options that we could seek shelter within it's dank confines. Took a look at the GPS, which indicated about a 700 foot ascent to Mt. Democrat. Good thing we were eyeing Mt. Democrat from Mt. Cameron since the one and only false summit could be frustrating.

The Ascent skirted around the small snowfield onto the false summit. From there it was another 200 feet to the summit.

From the summit of Mt. Democrat we could see the Climax Molybdenum mine in the distance with wonderful views of the route we had forged in the day. While we were relaxing and staring off towards Climax, a couple who work in Calgary and call Denver home snuck up on us on Mt. Democrat. By the time we summited Mt. Democrat the crowds had dissipated significantly and we thought we had the mountain to ourselves. The couple said that they were just climbing Mt. Democrat and were going to head back down. At this point the clouds were looking nasty and so we best make the descent. We passed the couple from Calgary in short order. Met a guy with a dog who asked about the summit conditions. We recommended to him that he should not be rushing the summit so late in the day (around 2:45). He did his own thing and we booked it down.

Passed a young man who was toting skis and walked down the (non snow covered) summit with ski boots on (ouch!). We passed a small snowfield and kept descending. While approaching the green grass and flowering wildflowers the weather took a turn for the worse. Just behind us and above Mt. Democrat the clouds rolled in thick and dark. A look over at Bross indicated two people still descending the summit when the thunder came rolling in. I thought good thoughts for those people still on the mountains and Ryan and I picked up our pace. several miles of winding sometimes muddy trails shown the beauty of this valley with seasonal waterfalls and lush green foilage.

No time to smell the roses as the storms rolled in quickly. We passed an old mining shack with strewn cans and other items throughout the field. Crossed a larger snowfield and could hear the water rushing beneath our feet. Kinda freaky. Kept moving and near the Kite Late TH we had to cross a river that was covered in snow earlier that morning. We put our best foot forward and leaped to safety.

At this time the rain was absolutely pouring as we drudgingly walked back to the vehicle. We passed by campers scrambling to get their tents up in the rain. We were unable to park at the TH in the AM, due to snow. The road all the way to the TH was clear of all snow. WE finally made it to the car and began the drying process in the car.

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

DoubelDD	Nice report 7/12/2011 5:55pm Thanks this helps me plan for my trip friday
RisinOrion	Sweet 7/12/2011 6:15pm Looks like a fun trip! I am going to be up in this area this weekend with my eyes on a ski descent on Clinton Peak. Do you have any photos from Lincoln or Cameron looking to the North/West? Thanks!
dwoods15	No dice 7/13/2011 4:55am Sorry bud i didn't get any good picks of the peak in question. Maybe check out some of the other TR for the decalibro. They might have glimpses of the conditions that you crave. Cheers...

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