Mt. Lincoln Trip Report 12/09/2015

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Lincoln - 14,293 feet Mt. Cameron - 14,248 feet Huron Peak - 14,006 feet Handies Peak - 14,058 feet Torreys Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted	12/09/2015
Date Climbed	07/23/2015
Author	rpdawes

Summer Summits at age 75
Before I resumed summer climbs on 14ers, I wrote up my own criteria: 1) I must have a perfect or almost-perfect weather. 2) I need at least 12 hours of available daylight. 3) I'd better leave a trailhead between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning and reach a summit before 1 PM. So I had to wait a while until a weather forecast looked very promising for every next ascent. Mt. Lincoln plus Mt. Cameron Summit:14,286 feet Route: West Ridge Total Gain: 2,600 feet RT Length: 6.00 miles Date: July 23, 2015 After an unsuccessful attempt to summit La Plata Peak in June, I opened my summer season with Mt. Lincoln with a pleasant weather, I drove straight from my comfortable residence to Kite Lake Trailhead and arrived there around 6 am. The hike was uneventful and I summited the unranked Mt. Cameron on my way to Mt. Lincoln. At 12:00 pm, I achieved a summit of Mt, Lincoln, my first 14er peak at age of 75. I spent about 30 minutes enjoying a magnificent view of everything around. Then I returned to the trailhead. On my way back, a group of many little kids led by an adult were passing me, making me feel a little envious of those youngsters who started their mountaineering experiences at a very young age. But I couldn't complain as long as I was still able to summit more 14ers in the weeks ahead. On my way to the saddle View of Mt. Cameron and Mt. Lincoln from the saddle Trail from the saddle with Mt. Democrat in the background On my way up to Mt. Cameron Me at the top of Mt. Cameron Over the bump from Mt. Cameron Getting closer to Mt. Lincoln Final pitch to Mt. Lincoln Me at the summit of Mt. Lincoln Looking at Mt. Bross from the summit Huron Peak Summit:14,003 feet Route: Northwest Slopes Total Gain: 3,500 feet RT Length: 6.5 miles Date: July 30, 2015 After arriving at the Winfield campgrounds in the afternoon, I spent a night car camping. At 5 am, I got up and drove to the Huron Peak trailhead without any problem in my Jeep Cherokee with my 70-year-old female companion who had fifty 14ers under her belt A long hike to Huron Peak proved a little too strenuous to me. We hiked together to about half the way to the peak and she obviously lost patience with me and left me in dust and summited the peak, her second time, and waited about 2 hours to welcome me at the top. I almost gave up due to lack of energy exhausted by too many stops to catch my breath due to a rather steep climb, but I finally managed to make it to the top. After I got on top of the peak, the view was too beautiful to describe how magnificent the view was. The weather was pleasant all day with no worry of a potential afternoon thunderstorm. After a brief stay at the summit, we returned to my car. Mt. Huron in view Getting closer to the summit Getting ready to scramble through the scree at the top Closeup of the scree Summit of Huron Peak Me and my partner at the top with a couple of CIA agents? setting up a radio antenna. What a magnificent view! Another view A couple of CIA agents? hiking down Marmots wrestling with each other Handies Peak Summit:14,048 feet Route: Southwest Slopes Total Gain: 2,600 feet RT Length: 6.0 miles Date: August 19, 2015 After a cold front hit the San Juan range that meant a perfect cool and breezy weather. With much excitement, I left for Lake City. When I arrived there, I knew that I must drive through the infamous The Shelf on Alpine Loop on my way to the American Basin. I went there with my hope that no incoming vehicle would face me on The Shelf and the trip went well as I finally got to pass the Silver Grizzly Creek Trailhead. I arrived at American Basin and parked my Jeep about 0.5 mile shy of the Handies Peak Trailhead. While I was sleeping in my Jeep through the night, a very strong wind kept shaking my Jeep awaking me at times as the cold front was sweeping the basin. At 5 am, I started one of the easiest hikes I've ever made to Handies Peak. The target mountain was hidden from my view by other mountains for the most part of my hike until I reached about 13,000 feet level as I was walking past Sloan Lake. At 10 am, I finally reached the top that oddly had a very few rocks, mostly dirt. For the first time after my nine 14ers summits, I was the first climber to scale the peak that day with no sight of a soul to welcome me there. About 15 minutes later, a couple, both young men from Indiana, joined me there to celebrate their first 14er summit. Later, more hikers were coming up. The view was glamorous like Huron Peak. I could see several 14ers like Uncompahgre Peak, Wetterhorn Peak, Redcloud Peak and Sunshine Peak.in plain sight. After returning to my car, I drove back to Lake City and then went to Nellie Creek, west of town since I wanted to check the rough dirt road leading Nellie Creek Trailhead. Once I arrived there, I realized that the road was so rough that I won't want to risk my Jeep and decided to return home missing an opportunity to summit Uncompahgre Peak the next day. At crossroads At start of one of the easiest trails I've ever experienced Gnarling peaks. At that point, Handies Peak can't be seen. Handies Peak awaiting my arrival Final push to the summit Me at the top View of Redcloud Peak and Sunshine Peak east from the summit View of Uncompahgre Peak and Wetterhorn Peak On top of the hardened snow field near Sloan Lake View of the American Basin Torreys Peak Summit: 14,267 feet Trail: South Slopes Total Gain: 3,000 feet RT Length: 8.00 miles Date: September 8, 2015 On September 1, 2014, I planned to summit Torreys Peak after I scaled Grays Peak, but decided against it because I tried to save my energy for a return trip to my car. I knew that I would return and summit Torreys Peak at another time. I did return after a year. I drove straight from my home to the Grays Peak Trailhead early in the morning. Once I reached there, I started my best hike I've ever experienced as I felt terrific and was full of energy. After 5 hours, I summited Torreys Peak, still feeling great. After spending about 45 minutes at the top, I returned to the trailhead with some energy remaining. I was amazed at myself. Even today, I still cannot understand why the Torreys Peak climb was really easy on my lungs. As you are aware, the distance from the trailhead to Torreys is about equal to that from the trailhead to Grays Peak. I spent 9 hours on my hike to Torreys as opposed to12 hours on the way to Grays Peak. 3 hours difference is so big that I am puzzled as to why my body performed differently from all the previous ascents. walking through the willows and looking at two 14ers, Grays Peak at left and Torreys Peak at right On my way to the saddle Far view of Torreys Peak Rugged rock and the Kelso Knife Getting ready to walk through the scree Final pitch to the summit Me at the top with Grays Peak in the background which I scaled last year Another View of Kelso Knife Three brave young people coming up from the Kelso Knife Several 13,000 mountains to the south I tried one more14er to summit before the summer got gone and that was Mt. Massive. The trail from Half Moon Trailhead proved to be my worst experience. I failed to summit it due to lack of energy as I turned around at 14,000 feet level. Three mountain goats were watching me panting like a tired dog and intuitively told me to return home. It took me 16 hours to complete a round trip. After the summer, I have summited eleven 14ers in 3 years. Hope to do 9 more to make it 20 before I am done with 14ers. For the rest of my hiking life, I will try to scale as many as fifty 13ers. I still proudly hold a claim to being the slowest hiker in the Rockies, thanks to my lousy lungs! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Summer Summits at age 75

Before I resumed summer climbs on 14ers, I wrote up my own criteria:
1) I must have a perfect or almost-perfect weather.
2) I need at least 12 hours of available daylight.
3) I'd better leave a trailhead between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning and reach a summit before 1 PM.

So I had to wait a while until a weather forecast looked very promising for every next ascent.

Mt. Lincoln plus Mt. Cameron
Summit:14,286 feet
Route: West Ridge
Total Gain: 2,600 feet
RT Length: 6.00 miles
Date: July 23, 2015

After an unsuccessful attempt to summit La Plata Peak in June, I opened my summer season with Mt. Lincoln with a pleasant weather, I drove straight from my comfortable residence to Kite Lake Trailhead and arrived there around 6 am. The hike was uneventful and I summited the unranked Mt. Cameron on my way to Mt. Lincoln. At 12:00 pm, I achieved a summit of Mt, Lincoln, my first 14er peak at age of 75. I spent about 30 minutes enjoying a magnificent view of everything around. Then I returned to the trailhead. On my way back, a group of many little kids led by an adult were passing me, making me feel a little envious of those youngsters who started their mountaineering experiences at a very young age. But I couldn't complain as long as I was still able to summit more 14ers in the weeks ahead.

View of Mt. Cameron and Mt. Lincoln from the saddle

Trail from the saddle with Mt. Democrat in the background

Huron Peak
Summit:14,003 feet
Route: Northwest Slopes
Total Gain: 3,500 feet
RT Length: 6.5 miles
Date: July 30, 2015

After arriving at the Winfield campgrounds in the afternoon, I spent a night car camping. At 5 am, I got up and drove to the Huron Peak trailhead without any problem in my Jeep Cherokee with my 70-year-old female companion who had fifty 14ers under her belt

A long hike to Huron Peak proved a little too strenuous to me. We hiked together to about half the way to the peak and she obviously lost patience with me and left me in dust and summited the peak, her second time, and waited about 2 hours to welcome me at the top. I almost gave up due to lack of energy exhausted by too many stops to catch my breath due to a rather steep climb, but I finally managed to make it to the top. After I got on top of the peak, the view was too beautiful to describe how magnificent the view was. The weather was pleasant all day with no worry of a potential afternoon thunderstorm. After a brief stay at the summit, we returned to my car.

Getting ready to scramble through the scree at the top

Me and my partner at the top with a couple of CIA agents? setting up a radio antenna.

Handies Peak
Summit:14,048 feet
Route: Southwest Slopes
Total Gain: 2,600 feet
RT Length: 6.0 miles
Date: August 19, 2015

After a cold front hit the San Juan range that meant a perfect cool and breezy weather. With much excitement, I left for Lake City. When I arrived there, I knew that I must drive through the infamous The Shelf on Alpine Loop on my way to the American Basin. I went there with my hope that no incoming vehicle would face me on The Shelf and the trip went well as I finally got to pass the Silver Grizzly Creek Trailhead. I arrived at American Basin and parked my Jeep about 0.5 mile shy of the Handies Peak Trailhead. While I was sleeping in my Jeep through the night, a very strong wind kept shaking my Jeep awaking me at times as the cold front was sweeping the basin. At 5 am, I started one of the easiest hikes I've ever made to Handies Peak. The target mountain was hidden from my view by other mountains for the most part of my hike until I reached about 13,000 feet level as I was walking past Sloan Lake. At 10 am, I finally reached the top that oddly had a very few rocks, mostly dirt. For the first time after my nine 14ers summits, I was the first climber to scale the peak that day with no sight of a soul to welcome me there. About 15 minutes later, a couple, both young men from Indiana, joined me there to celebrate their first 14er summit. Later, more hikers were coming up. The view was glamorous like Huron Peak. I could see several 14ers like Uncompahgre Peak, Wetterhorn Peak, Redcloud Peak and Sunshine Peak.in plain sight. After returning to my car, I drove back to Lake City and then went to Nellie Creek, west of town since I wanted to check the rough dirt road leading Nellie Creek Trailhead. Once I arrived there, I realized that the road was so rough that I won't want to risk my Jeep and decided to return home missing an opportunity to summit Uncompahgre Peak the next day.

At start of one of the easiest trails I've ever experienced

Gnarling peaks. At that point, Handies Peak can't be seen.

View of Redcloud Peak and Sunshine Peak east from the summit

View of Uncompahgre Peak and Wetterhorn Peak

On top of the hardened snow field near Sloan Lake

Torreys Peak
Summit: 14,267 feet
Trail: South Slopes
Total Gain: 3,000 feet
RT Length: 8.00 miles
Date: September 8, 2015

On September 1, 2014, I planned to summit Torreys Peak after I scaled Grays Peak, but decided against it because I tried to save my energy for a return trip to my car. I knew that I would return and summit Torreys Peak at another time. I did return after a year. I drove straight from my home to the Grays Peak Trailhead early in the morning. Once I reached there, I started my best hike I've ever experienced as I felt terrific and was full of energy. After 5 hours, I summited Torreys Peak, still feeling great. After spending about 45 minutes at the top, I returned to the trailhead with some energy remaining. I was amazed at myself. Even today, I still cannot understand why the Torreys Peak climb was really easy on my lungs. As you are aware, the distance from the trailhead to Torreys is about equal to that from the trailhead to Grays Peak. I spent 9 hours on my hike to Torreys as opposed to12 hours on the way to Grays Peak. 3 hours difference is so big that I am puzzled as to why my body performed differently from all the previous ascents.

walking through the willows and looking at two 14ers, Grays Peak at left and Torreys Peak at right

Me at the top with Grays Peak in the background which I scaled last year

Three brave young people coming up from the Kelso Knife

I tried one more14er to summit before the summer got gone and that was Mt. Massive. The trail from Half Moon Trailhead proved to be my worst experience. I failed to summit it due to lack of energy as I turned around at 14,000 feet level. Three mountain goats were watching me panting like a tired dog and intuitively told me to return home. It took me 16 hours to complete a round trip.

After the summer, I have summited eleven 14ers in 3 years. Hope to do 9 more to make it 20 before I am done with 14ers. For the rest of my hiking life, I will try to scale as many as fifty 13ers. I still proudly hold a claim to being the slowest hiker in the Rockies, thanks to my lousy lungs!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

TallGrass	Congrats on 12/10/2015 2:30am tailoring and executing a personal formula for successful summits at 75. :D
rquayle	Wow 12/10/2015 7:28am Wow RPDAWES I am starting to feel old at 63 with only 30 14’ers climbed. You have inspired me to keep climbing!
Jay521	Nice, Richard! 12/10/2015 8:00am As always, a very nice, informative report. I have long thought that exercise – both physically and mentally – help keep a person young. You prove my point in that regard. Keep on keeping on!
Tornadoman	Keep Climbing! 12/10/2015 1:44pm Looks like a nice Summer of getting out in the high country. Keep up the good work, hope to see another report from you next year!
SoCool	Role Models 12/14/2015 9:18am Nice work! I have encountered plenty of people on high peaks in their seventies, my role models.

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