Emerald Peak Trip Report 06/01/2015

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Emerald Peak - 13,916 feet Iowa Peak - 13,840 feet Missouri Mountain - 14,071 feet "Lackawanna" - 13,826 feet
Date Posted	06/01/2015
Modified	06/02/2015
Date Climbed	05/30/2015
Author	dillonsarnelli
Additional Members	Marmot72, Zambo, jblyth, B_5280

Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna
Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna Those on foot: Peaks: Emerald Peak (13,904), Iowa Peak (13,831), Missouri Mountain (14,067) Date: May 30, 2015 Trailhead: Missouri Gulch Distance: ~ 14 miles Elevation Gain: ~6,300 ft. Participants: Steve Cummins, Dillon Sarnelli Those on skis: Peak: Mount Belford (14,197') Participants: David Yarian, Jason Blyth Extra Credit: "Lackawanna" (13,823') - May 31, 2015 - Brad Peterson, David Yarian, Jason Blyth, Steve Cummins, Dillon Sarnelli In January I summited California Peak with Zambo. While descending the summit ridge I became dizzy and disoriented. "Zambo, is this what altitude sickness feels like?!?" An extra strength ibuprofen got me back to the car. Fast forward to March, I attempted Shavano and Tab with Danny. At about 12,500 in the Angel my head began to pound and my legs stopped functioning on all cylinders. "Is this really happening again?" After some egging, I was able to convince Danny to go ahead and get the summits. I took a nap on a rib of grass as Danny bulldozed upward. 45 minutes later I painfully dragged my sorry self to the summit of Shavano. On the 7 mile descent back to the car I was a zombie and this time an ibuprofen had no effect. Danny's good company and sense of humor are the only reason I'm not still crawling back to the jeep. These were the only 2 outings I took this winter. They're also in the running for what could have been the only 2 times I left my chair this tax season. I'd like to think that the altitude sickness was the result of a lack of sleep, food, and water, but in the grand scheme of things, I will put it square on putting too much focus on work and not enough on myself. Keep Reading... Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna

Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna

Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna

Those on foot:
Peaks: Emerald Peak (13,904), Iowa Peak (13,831), Missouri Mountain (14,067)
Date: May 30, 2015
Trailhead: Missouri Gulch
Distance: ~ 14 miles
Elevation Gain: ~6,300 ft.
Participants: Steve Cummins, Dillon Sarnelli

Those on skis:
Peak: Mount Belford (14,197')
Participants: David Yarian, Jason Blyth

Extra Credit: "Lackawanna" (13,823') - May 31, 2015 - Brad Peterson, David Yarian, Jason Blyth, Steve Cummins, Dillon Sarnelli

In January I summited California Peak with Zambo. While descending the summit ridge I became dizzy and disoriented. "Zambo, is this what altitude sickness feels like?!?" An extra strength ibuprofen got me back to the car.

Fast forward to March, I attempted Shavano and Tab with Danny. At about 12,500 in the Angel my head began to pound and my legs stopped functioning on all cylinders. "Is this really happening again?" After some egging, I was able to convince Danny to go ahead and get the summits. I took a nap on a rib of grass as Danny bulldozed upward. 45 minutes later I painfully dragged my sorry self to the summit of Shavano. On the 7 mile descent back to the car I was a zombie and this time an ibuprofen had no effect. Danny's good company and sense of humor are the only reason I'm not still crawling back to the jeep.

These were the only 2 outings I took this winter. They're also in the running for what could have been the only 2 times I left my chair this tax season. I'd like to think that the altitude sickness was the result of a lack of sleep, food, and water, but in the grand scheme of things, I will put it square on putting too much focus on work and not enough on myself. Keep Reading...

Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna

Emerald from Missouri Gulch - With a Side of Belford and Lackawanna

Comments or Questions

SolarAlex	Great writeup 6/1/2015 7:56pm Really enjoyed reading this one...nice photos too. And way to get after it jason, glad there was at least 1 splitboarder at the gathering representing!
mlayman09	Wow! 6/1/2015 8:15pm Heck of a two days there. Doesn’t look like much snow has melted from Missouri’s NW ridge from when I was up there two weeks ago!
Zambo	Lessons Learned 6/1/2015 8:54pm What I learned on this trip: -I doubt I’ll ever see Jason with his pants off that many times again. -Without a doubt, the most difficult way to ascend Belford is via Elkhead Pass and then the Belfox saddle (without an Oxford Summit). -BV on the River almost makes Buena Vista liveable. -Steve is the master at going through willows - follow this man. -When you have dream about Rick getting into the car to sleep with you, it has officially become a nightmare. (I’ll uh, explain later Rick...) -Anyone of these guys is worth getting out with any time. Great write up and TR Dilly! You’re really good at this. Thanks for capturing an awesome weekend and being our photographer. Great outing all!
Marmot72	Thanks,Dillon! 6/1/2015 10:41pm It was a great crew and we couldn’t ask for better weather! Great photos, Dillon, and thanks for leading the tracks up Missouri –and the wallowing in the lower basin!
SnowAlien	This report 6/2/2015 8:15am Reinforces my desire to go and wallow in the willows of the Missouri gulch sometime soon...Nicely done to all! Also, Lacka willows are entirely avoidable if you hug the left side as you hike up from hwy.
benners	Looks fun 6/2/2015 9:50am Good work splitting up the days, groups, modes of travel, and objectives, and arriving at a great weekend for everyone involved. Nice job all!
smitchell333	Missouri 6/2/2015 6:25pm Nice report and route. For what its worth I did ski off the summit of Missouri that same day, although the other 3 in my party went from that notch just below.
dillonsarnelli	THANKS 6/2/2015 9:58pm Alex – thanks man. Glad you read it! I think the gathering was over at Yale. They don’t let italian rifraf from nj like me go to those. :) Next time JB could use some splitboard company! Matt – For sure. It’s amazing how bad ass it looks in there blanketed in snow compared to summer. Thanks for reading man. Hope you’re enjoying that ride! Zambino – Anytime! BV, who knew... :) I added "a lot of people think I have a motorcycle" to the last paragraph too. haha. Great time homes! Steve – Gendarme Steve, maybe I should call you Glissading Steve instead, nah Gendarme Steve is more gangsta! Great time out there with you! Natalie – and wallow we did on the way out. holy crap. I told myself I wasn’t going to remember that 2 hours of my life that I lost. Oh and on Lacky we hugged the good side on the descent. good call! Ben – Thanks. JB was the brainchild. I’m not that coordinated. :) Rick’s Meeker pics looked sick. smitchell333 – thanks and well done to you too! We took the high road over the towers so it was difficult to tell. Amazing how much snow is in there. Hope you had a great weekend as well.
dannyg23	So much snow! 6/3/2015 12:26pm Sweet report dude – but if anybody asks I don’t have a sense of humor and my company is never good. Hard enough keeping the groupies away as it is, you know.
dillonsarnelli	Gilbert’s Groupies 6/5/2015 9:03am Thanks D! Do all Ned royalty have groupies? If any of these groupies are hearty folk from Ward we might have to temporarily ship you back to Saskatchewan for safe keeping. The Sangres are calling and we must go pal.
mtnfiend	well done all 6/4/2015 9:13am Nice write up Dillon! Zambo - Are you positive that was a dream?? :roll:

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App