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Being a year round low-lander doesn't give me too many opportunities to tackle the fifty-four 14'ers besides my passion for backpacking overnights too. So, picking the next 14'er to climb takes a bit of study for me considering where we stay, things to do, and proximity to the trailhead. Mt. Yale made perfect sense this year because we had not visited Buena Vista yet, and it gave us an opportunity to be close to the Collegiate Peaks- especially only 25 minutes from the Denny Creek trailhead for Mt. Yale.
CODoT has done a great job adding new pavement, resurfacing and striping CR-306/Cottonwood Pass besides adding more parking spaces at the Denny Creek trailhead. We arrived at the trailhead parking lot at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning over the Labor Day weekend, and still had at least 15 available spots left.
After you check out the information sign at the trailhead and start of the hike, you immediately begin an uphill ascent towards Mt. Yale and it just keeps going. I really liked this 14’er though because there are several sections that feature water falls and creeks, and bridges with either timber crossings or wooden planks. You’ll see wildflowers along different parts of the climb and the trail tracks through quite a bit of alpine tree’d areas too. The switchbacks and incline above treeline will test your endurance, but you'll be rewarded with a beautiful summit and view of the other nearby 14'ers, as well as Buena Vista below. The push to the false summit includes a fun scramble, as well as some opportunities for some Class 3 moves off-trail, and the final push to the summit will take you to 14,196' and usually meeting up with other hikers at the top since this is a popular mountain to add to your bucket list. The summit is more narrow than it is wide, and I couldn’t find the USGS marker unless it was covered up by a rock. The weather was great that day, so we lingered at the top for about 40 minutes to fuel up with some lunch and take in the altitude and sunshine and some rest. Get ready for an uphill climb from the start, but you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful summit and the ‘grand view’ of Buena Vista below.
In the early sections of the hike, you'll come across several creek crossings.Several opportunities for pictures and filtering water from the streams and waterfalls along the wayWildflowers & waterfalls...Early morning sunlight on the opposite peaks.Making our way above treeline and into the switchbacks.First look at the trail ahead and the summit of Yale.The false summit is visible here with the talus and boulder hopping and climbing ahead.Time to put away the trekking poles.
Looking down at the numerous switchbacks and approaching hikers.
Some scrambling required, but fun.Taking in the view for a moment.This is a social mountain. Some of the summit crowd at the top.Me and my hiking team with our obligatory summit capture.Some amazing views at the top for sure.More summit views looking South.
Probably a new profile picture...
More great views from Yale.
This is looking East with Buena Vista in the distance below.
Resting up before we head back down.
Following the switchbacks on the way back down, but making much better time at it.
On the way down, looking back at the accomplishment and thinking about a great summit for the day. Thanks for reading!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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