Mt. Democrat Trip Report 09/20/2015

Peak(s):	Mt. Democrat - 14,154 feet Mt. Lincoln - 14,293 feet Mt. Cameron - 14,248 feet Mt. Bross - 14,178 feet
Date Posted:	09/20/2015
Modified:	09/22/2015
Date Climbed:	09/19/2015
Author:	JA_son27

What's Old Is New Again!
Choose well, your choice is brief, and yet endless - Goethe I hesitated to write a trip report about this group because it's been said they are too crowded, aren't as picturesque and too many reports exist on this group. While I agree there are other hikes much more attractive and less congested, this group is perfect for beginners and experienced alike (I think all TR's are necessary when you are new to this) and is just as beautiful for those with eyes to see. After the birth of my daughter, life's goals had changed in a dramatic fashion. Was it intentional? I think not, as my urge to hike/climb/play still lay dormant in the deep recesses of my mind. After 3 years (my last TR was Snowmass in 2012), the idea of hiking 14ers slowly started to ooze from the depths of my mind like molten lava and began taking over thoughts and actions. My wife and I started running in May nearly every day, lost some weight and I finally felt confident enough to give it a go. Which one to choose? The choices are endless....... I actually contemplated Mt. Wilson, it is a hike I have yet done and would get me a peak closer to finishing. Craziness. My wife spoke some sense in to me and obviously decided on a different hike. Longs? You see, the reason why this was so hard for me is because I do have some experience on these peaks, and hiking something less than average was tough for me to swallow. What could give me the most bang for my buck? In my mind, 4 for 1 is as big as you can get in this game. It's decided, I would hike with newbies because in a way, I was new to this thing again. I don't remember the last time I was nervous for a hike, but for some reason I had nerves for DeCaLiBron. Little Bear, Capital, and The Bells did not give me anxiety, but fear of failure is powerful. Having been gone for so long I was nervous an "easy" hike like this one would cause me to succumb to fatigue. I'm happy to say, this was not the case. I left Arvada around 230am and arrived at Kite Lake TH roughly 2 hours later. After stretching, and watching hordes of hikers get a jumpstart on me, I departed shortly after 5. I was surprised at how steady my pace was, and made it to the saddle between Democrat and Cameron about an hour and a half later. Just before sunrise on the Democrat/Cameron saddle A few minutes later, and a few feet higher the sun gently stroked my back, as if to say, "good morning". I was compelled to take a picture. Sunrise peaking over Cameron/Bross saddle As I made my way up the slope, I noticed a fellow hiker struggling whom earlier I had offered encouragement. She says, "I don't even know where the trail is!" I told her I didn't think it mattered at this point, but that she was standing next to a cairn. "What's a cairn?" Did I mention this hike was for newbies? Everyone has to start somewhere! I explained it to her and carried on. After gaining the false summit, the final stretch mellows to a smooth, easy trail. 40 minutes later, I was standing on the summit. It was cold and windy so I didn't stay long. From the summit of Democrat Summit of Democrat Summit of Democrat I was as happy to be on the summit of Democrat as I was on Capital. All those months of sweating on a hilly dirt trail, only able to run for a minute at a time then slowly working my way up to a sustained 30 minutes had finally paid off.My legs felt great, so let's go for the next summit, Cameron. I made my way back down to the saddle and had heard people say how hard it looked while they rested. Experience tells me that it ALWAYS looks worse than it is, I toned out the negative chatter, refueled with expired Shot Bloks and started up Cameron. Cameron as seen from near the saddle on Democrat Slowly working my way up! This being my first hike of the season, I knew it wouldn't be easy even if I had been hiking last year, or the year before because the first hike of the season is ALWAYS hard. So, it was time to relax....... A little R&R About midway up Cameron, I felt it. I feel it on most all my "1st hikes of the season." *Cramps.* No matter how much I train, there is no substitute for actual hiking to get you ready for these behemoths. Nothing can disrupt an otherwise beautiful day like cramps. So it was time to slow down, take more frequent breaks and hope they work themselves out. I once turned around a hundred feet short the summit of Wetterhorn due to cramping. I slowed to a snails pace, and actually did a great job of staving off cramps for the duration of the hike, though I could tell they were one strained step away from rearing its ugly head. Looking up at the false summit on Cameron I made the summit of Cameron, and had to quickly move on as it was still very windy and cold. This is arguably one of the flattest summits on a 14er. I drop down to the relative calm of the Cameron/Lincoln saddle and enjoy easy, cramp easing hiking. Cameron's flat summit Summit of Cameron Large, flat summit of Cameron looking toward Mt. Lincoln. Quandary in the background. Summit of Cameron Your next objective is impossible to miss. Mt. Lincoln, and the easy hiking after Cameron 20 minutes later, I'm on the summit. While talking to a fellow 14er member Jeremiah as he was cleaning up trail graffiti, I noticed a group of nuns chilling just below the summit in a rock shelter! Just something I thought I'd never see. They were cool ladies, and had summited 7 14ers! Keep at em! Summit of Lincoln Me on LIncoln Summit of Lincoln At this point, I'm hoping the ease of terrain would help push me to the summit of Bross. Because, I'm starting to feel gassed. I leave the blessed summit, say my farewells to Jeremiah and his daughter (good luck on your endeavors!) and make my way towards the controversial summit. I blaze all the way to the base of the massif on the wide smooth trail, and that's when it hit me. On the seemingly gentle grade, I felt those cramps sneaking back into my legs. I wanted to have the strength to deal with the infamous Bross slope descent and decide I'm satisfied with my accomplishments, and call it a day. I veered off the "road" and used the cutoff trail used by people to avoid the summit. Some people count that as a summit, so maybe I did summit Bross? The nuns had accompanied me on most of the descent, and got to know them all a little better. Bross "Summit" Descent on Bross..... Descent of Bross Kite Lake TH, Democrat looms in the background Even though it's DeCaLiBron, it was still a wonderful hike, a test of hard earned endurance and of course it felt good to see Colorado from 14k feet again! I know my choice was brief, but the memories are endless. Thanks for reading! Climb on. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

What's Old Is New Again!

Choose well, your choice is brief, and yet endless -
Goethe

I hesitated to write a trip report about this group because it's been said they are too crowded, aren't as picturesque and too many reports exist on this group. While I agree there are other hikes much more attractive and less congested, this group is perfect for beginners and experienced alike (I think all TR's are necessary when you are new to this) and is just as beautiful for those with eyes to see. After the birth of my daughter, life's goals had changed in a dramatic fashion. Was it intentional? I think not, as my urge to hike/climb/play still lay dormant in the deep recesses of my mind. After 3 years (my last TR was Snowmass in 2012), the idea of hiking 14ers slowly started to ooze from the depths of my mind like molten lava and began taking over thoughts and actions. My wife and I started running in May nearly every day, lost some weight and I finally felt confident enough to give it a go.

Which one to choose? The choices are endless.......

I actually contemplated Mt. Wilson, it is a hike I have yet done and would get me a peak closer to finishing. Craziness. My wife spoke some sense in to me and obviously decided on a different hike. Longs? You see, the reason why this was so hard for me is because I do have some experience on these peaks, and hiking something less than average was tough for me to swallow. What could give me the most bang for my buck? In my mind, 4 for 1 is as big as you can get in this game. It's decided, I would hike with newbies because in a way, I was new to this thing again. I don't remember the last time I was nervous for a hike, but for some reason I had nerves for DeCaLiBron. Little Bear, Capital, and The Bells did not give me anxiety, but fear of failure is powerful. Having been gone for so long I was nervous an "easy" hike like this one would cause me to succumb to fatigue. I'm happy to say, this was not the case.

I left Arvada around 230am and arrived at Kite Lake TH roughly 2 hours later. After stretching, and watching hordes of hikers get a jumpstart on me, I departed shortly after 5. I was surprised at how steady my pace was, and made it to the saddle between Democrat and Cameron about an hour and a half later.

Just before sunrise on the Democrat/Cameron saddle

A few minutes later, and a few feet higher the sun gently stroked my back, as if to say, "good morning". I was compelled to take a picture.

Sunrise peaking over Cameron/Bross saddle

As I made my way up the slope, I noticed a fellow hiker struggling whom earlier I had offered encouragement. She says, "I don't even know where the trail is!" I told her I didn't think it mattered at this point, but that she was standing next to a cairn. "What's a cairn?" Did I mention this hike was for newbies? Everyone has to start somewhere! I explained it to her and carried on. After gaining the false summit, the final stretch mellows to a smooth, easy trail. 40 minutes later, I was standing on the summit. It was cold and windy so I didn't stay long.

I was as happy to be on the summit of Democrat as I was on Capital. All those months of sweating on a hilly dirt trail, only able to run for a minute at a time then slowly working my way up to a sustained 30 minutes had finally paid off.My legs felt great, so let's go for the next summit, Cameron. I made my way back down to the saddle and had heard people say how hard it looked while they rested. Experience tells me that it ALWAYS looks worse than it is, I toned out the negative chatter, refueled with expired Shot Bloks and started up Cameron.

Cameron as seen from near the saddle on Democrat

This being my first hike of the season, I knew it wouldn't be easy even if I had been hiking last year, or the year before because the first hike of the season is ALWAYS hard. So, it was time to relax.......

About midway up Cameron, I felt it. I feel it on most all my "1st hikes of the season."

Cramps.

No matter how much I train, there is no substitute for actual hiking to get you ready for these behemoths. Nothing can disrupt an otherwise beautiful day like cramps. So it was time to slow down, take more frequent breaks and hope they work themselves out. I once turned around a hundred feet short the summit of Wetterhorn due to cramping. I slowed to a snails pace, and actually did a great job of staving off cramps for the duration of the hike, though I could tell they were one strained step away from rearing its ugly head.

Looking up at the false summit on Cameron

I made the summit of Cameron, and had to quickly move on as it was still very windy and cold. This is arguably one of the flattest summits on a 14er. I drop down to the relative calm of the Cameron/Lincoln saddle and enjoy easy, cramp easing hiking.

Large, flat summit of Cameron looking toward Mt. Lincoln. Quandary in the background.

Your next objective is impossible to miss.

Mt. Lincoln, and the easy hiking after Cameron

20 minutes later, I'm on the summit. While talking to a fellow 14er member Jeremiah as he was cleaning up trail graffiti, I noticed a group of nuns chilling just below the summit in a rock shelter! Just something I thought I'd never see. They were cool ladies, and had summited 7 14ers! Keep at em!

At this point, I'm hoping the ease of terrain would help push me to the summit of Bross. Because, I'm starting to feel gassed. I leave the blessed summit, say my farewells to Jeremiah and his daughter (good luck on your endeavors!) and make my way towards the controversial summit. I blaze all the way to the base of the massif on the wide smooth trail, and that's when it hit me. On the seemingly gentle grade, I felt those cramps sneaking back into my legs. I wanted to have the strength to deal with the infamous Bross slope descent and decide I'm satisfied with my accomplishments, and call it a day. I veered off the "road" and used the cutoff trail used by people to avoid the summit. Some people count that as a summit, so maybe I did summit Bross?

The nuns had accompanied me on most of the descent, and got to know them all a little better.

Kite Lake TH, Democrat looms in the background

Even though it's DeCaLiBron, it was still a wonderful hike, a test of hard earned endurance and of course it felt good to see Colorado from 14k feet again! I know my choice was brief, but the memories are endless. Thanks for reading! Climb on.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

HarknessHooligans

I can relate!
9/23/2015 7:55pm

It’s nice to hear someone else has gone through the same thing I have! I delivered 2 babies back to back summers and I totally felt like this summer I was starting all over again. I know exactly how you feel! I haven’t hiked the bear and capitol like you have...but I had done Crestone Peak, Kit Carson and a few other tough ones previously. I too hadn’t done any new 14ers since 2012 and this year La Plata was what I dove into and I thought I wouldn’t make it. I did write a report on it echoing your same thoughts if your interested in reading. It’s hard taking a break and trying to dive right back into where you were previously. It really is like youre a beginner’s again. Its a tough pill to swallow...I also cramp on every hike! So I feel your pain! Every 14er hike is a big accomplishment... Even the ’easier’ ones. Congrats on your repeat

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