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We took a chance on the weather and luckily were able to complete one last 14er for our season. We thought we were picking an easy one out of what we have left to climb. Time will tell but probably not necessarily so. We had a great time staying in Buena Vista and getting a good nights rest and even sleeping in a bit since sunrise is a little later. Jan's is an awesome place to eat. They had great food and a lot of different kinds of pie. There were still some pretty fall colors around but they are going fast.
We started a little later than usual at about 7:40. There is a lot of camping available along the road and at the trail head and even a few great sites on the trail. Pop-ups, tents, car camping would all be available. The road to the trail head isn't bad at all.
We finally got through the trees and had a good look at the difficult task to come.
For some reason we weren't thinking there would be so much loose trail. It was very steep as well which made it all the more loose. We were both bummin that we didn't bring the micro spikes. Middlebrook was right, it wasn't so fun.
We finally made it to the ridge and it was much nicer from there. The clouds look a little ominous in the pictures but really weren't too bad.
Finally hit the summit at 1145. That is probably the latest we have ever summitted a mountain, but usually we are starting at 4 am. I was definitely feeling the fact that we hadn't climbed one awhile too. No traverse to Harvard for us today. Seemed like a little too much from the get go so we had planned to do it another time.
I was really dreading the hike back down though. The only thing keeping me going was the thought of that great pie I was promised.
Holy Cow! Be prepared for some steep and loose dry glissading and very sore quads in a couple days. If this mountain is one you can do in the early summer and actually get to glissade on snow, that would be the way to go. Again, slapping myself for not bringing the spikes. No harm occurred, thank goodness. Finished by 3:15. Jan's, here we come. Even the dog got one of their great burgers.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Did Columbia with a friend on its own in August from the Three Elk trail head. Awesome route. No scree. Fun route finding. Steep. Big day. Zero people. Great alternative.
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