Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
This was my fourth time doing Grays and it was my 9 year old daughter's first 14er. I'll admit it probably wasn't ideal for her first 14er during this time of year, but she did great. Please note that the road to the Grays trailhead is pretty rough (mainly in one area). We drove our Honda CRV up and made it through, but several people had issues in one section with deep ruts. The trailhead was mostly full around 8:30-9am when we began our hike. Most of the trail in the morning had some ice and light snow on it. About half way through the hike, we were mostly hiking in snow but it was packed and easy to get footing, especially with the rocks poking through. The weather was mostly in the 30s and 40s. We reached the summit at 12:30pm and there were approximately 10 other people at the top. Plenty of snow on the summit. Making our way down was quick for the most part. It definitely got a little slippery with the snow in some of the steep areas. It took us about 2 hours to get down, but we cruised pretty fast because my daughter was on a mission.
For other parents of young kiddos....I thought this was a great hike for my 9 year old daughter. It was definitely challenging for her and she is in pretty good shape (likes to run, ski, camp, etc.), but she loved it and was so proud of herself. I felt it was a hike that she could achieve and still stretch her comfort zone a little bit. The last stretch to the top was tough....but then again, it was for many adults as well. :-)
To display your photos (uploaded below) in the final trip report, type the image number (i.e., 1, 2, 3), highlight it with your cursor, and click on the Image button on the right. Example: Image #1 (not yet uploaded)
More image format examples:
Float image right:
Image #3 (not yet uploaded)
Float image right, width of 300 pixels:
Image #3 (not yet uploaded)
Float image left, width of 175 pixels:
Image #3 (not yet uploaded)
External image:
Float external image right, width of 600 pixels:
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.
