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It was a late start. We left Denver around 5 PM, met at the Morisson Park-n-Ride, and stopped at Subway in Buena Vista. When we finally got to the 4wd trail, it was dark and raining. Not really ideal conditions for driving up the road. Due to visibility, we stopped and got out of the truck a few times to decide the smartest route. We took two Toyota Tacomas. Both trucks had no problems making it up. It was around 10 PM when we finally pulled into camp. What do you know? It stopped raining! Perfect. We set up the tent and some chairs (no fire) and cracked a beer. Moments after we did, the rain started up again. Jon and Will said, "screw it" and went to bed. Dan and I finished our beers in the truck. The rain only picked up and got heavier. Eventually Dan and I joined Will and Jon in the 8 man tent, which is false; it is really a 3 man tent. Maybe it is an 8 child tent, but not an 8 grown men tent. Anyways, we were all snuggled up as it poured all night. It finally began letting up around 4:30 (as reported by a passing hiker who started at the bottom of the 4wd trail at 3 AM). We woke up at 5 AM. The clouds were hovering around us.
We ate oatmeal and had coffee and finally hit the trail at 6 AM. Dan took us across the river so we would not start out with wet feet.
We were worried it would rain, but it just remained cloudy. There is nothing like hiking up a road. The road is good and my Tocoma would have made it all the way up we decided.
The clouds threatened of rain, but made beautiful scenery at times.
Watch out for the FOG!
Another cloud picture.
We finally made it to the road junction. The sun was shining on us, but there were clouds and fog surrounding us. It was a surreal scene that this picture doesn't quite capture.
As we climbed, we went in and out of a fog.
When we reached the parking lot it was clouded over. It made it difficult to decide where to go at this point.
However, the clouds lifted for a second. We now knew where to go. See, go here!
Nice cloud shot almost on the top.
We finally summitted and found a beer on top (in my bag). Naturally, we drank it. Delicious!
Summit Shot! We did not have a view the entire time on the summit. We were socked in by the clouds. Oh well. I have seen the view from Princeton. I am sure it is not much different.
Ritual Headstand!
The way down.
Six wheeler on top.
We made it most the way down and the sun finally came out. It would be hot, then cold. We enjoyed the sun while we could.
Six wheeler driving down.
Pretty.
We saw the trucks in view finally and rejoiced. Over all it was a nice hike. Relatively easy due to the road. Around 11 miles round trip and approximately 6 hours. On the drive down the road was so much easier because of visibility. The Tacomas did very well.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
It was good running into you all up there! The fog and clouds were completely surreal, and I got confused at the same spot at the road end as to where to go - couldn't see a thing! Anyway, I flew down pretty fast to avoid rain, and didn't end up needing to mooch that ride back to the lower trailhead! (I think I was the ONLY person of like 65 vehicles that did not make it past the lower t.h!)
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