Mt. Princeton Trip Report 08/25/2022

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Princeton - 14,200 feet
Date Posted	08/25/2022
Modified	07/28/2025
Date Climbed	08/24/2022
Author	overthe59hill

Close only Counts in Horsehoes and Hand Grenades
This was my 16th 14er / 10th solo. I am a slow senior hiker, the oldest on the mountain on this day, by my guess. I think there were about 20 other people coming and going, and two dogs on the rocks; one that seemed to hate it, and one that was doing great. I would not make my dogs go there. I will provide my timeline, so slow hikers can know what to expect, and faster hikers can get revved up to challenge this merciless pile of rocks. There were blessings mixed into the misery. The sky was blue and the breeze mild and refreshing. The expected thunderstorm didn't happen. 6:32 AM: I parked my Frontier about .30 mile above the radio tower. 6:56 AM: After a light breakfast, booting up, etc. I began the hike up the road. 7:43 AM: At 1.3 miles from my pickup I turned off the road onto the trail. ~9:30 AM: I took the left turn up for the ridge. 10:29 AM: I reached the ridge crest and had a great view of Mt. Antero. 1:00 PM: I reached 14,052' and continued to almost 14,100'. 1:20 PM: There was still another bump to go, but I turned around. A good arm could have tossed a grenade to the summit. 4:40 PM: I got back down to the trail and out of the rocks. 4:50 PM: I reached the road and from there it was a brisk return to the truck. 5:32 PM: I reached my vehicle. At my last check on "My Elevation" app, I reached 14,095' and continued a little further. Three factors bothered me a lot and made me decide to turn around, other than my achy legs and slow pace. 1) I thought I was the last one on the mountain, and I did NOT want to be the last one, in case anything happened. 2) It sounded like I was draining my hydration pack, and I did NOT want to be without water on the descent. 3) The clouds were darkening and the wind was picking up and I feared the thunderstorm coming. I did NOT want to scramble down tons of slick rocks. It turned out I was wrong on all of those. Two guys who passed me earlier going up were still coming down behind me. I had more water than I thought. The storm never happened. I don't remember passing anyone coming up while I was on my way down. It was surprisingly warm at the trailhead. The steps from the road to the trail. A passing hiker took my photo for me. The beginning of the trail. The rocks are still ahead. Big mountain up there. At the ridge crest, looking at Mt. Antero. I looked up and said "You have got to be kidding!" A view down from 13,722' at the trailhead and the Buena Vista and Nathrop area. People up there! Dang, I found out it was not the summit yet. I was tempted to abandon my gear for a scramble to the top. My intended summit sign. I gave a thumbs down because I hated to call it quits, and because it was so stinking rocky. My Trail Forks app recording. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Close only Counts in Horsehoes and Hand Grenades

This was my 16th 14er / 10th solo. I am a slow senior hiker, the oldest on the mountain on this day, by my guess. I think there were about 20 other people coming and going, and two dogs on the rocks; one that seemed to hate it, and one that was doing great. I would not make my dogs go there. I will provide my timeline, so slow hikers can know what to expect, and faster hikers can get revved up to challenge this merciless pile of rocks. There were blessings mixed into the misery. The sky was blue and the breeze mild and refreshing. The expected thunderstorm didn't happen.

6:32 AM: I parked my Frontier about .30 mile above the radio tower.

6:56 AM: After a light breakfast, booting up, etc. I began the hike up the road.

7:43 AM: At 1.3 miles from my pickup I turned off the road onto the trail.

~9:30 AM: I took the left turn up for the ridge.

10:29 AM: I reached the ridge crest and had a great view of Mt. Antero.

1:00 PM: I reached 14,052' and continued to almost 14,100'.

1:20 PM: There was still another bump to go, but I turned around. A good arm could have tossed a grenade to the summit.

4:40 PM: I got back down to the trail and out of the rocks.

4:50 PM: I reached the road and from there it was a brisk return to the truck.

5:32 PM: I reached my vehicle.

At my last check on "My Elevation" app, I reached 14,095' and continued a little further.

Three factors bothered me a lot and made me decide to turn around, other than my achy legs and slow pace. 1) I thought I was the last one on the mountain, and I did NOT want to be the last one, in case anything happened. 2) It sounded like I was draining my hydration pack, and I did NOT want to be without water on the descent. 3) The clouds were darkening and the wind was picking up and I feared the thunderstorm coming. I did NOT want to scramble down tons of slick rocks. It turned out I was wrong on all of those. Two guys who passed me earlier going up were still coming down behind me. I had more water than I thought. The storm never happened.

I don't remember passing anyone coming up while I was on my way down.

21856_02 — It was surprisingly warm at the trailhead.

21856_03 — The steps from the road to the trail. A passing hiker took my photo for me.

21856_07 — At the ridge crest, looking at Mt. Antero.

21856_08 — I looked up and said "You have got to be kidding!"

21856_09 — A view down from 13,722' at the trailhead and the Buena Vista and Nathrop area.

21856_10 — People up there! Dang, I found out it was not the summit yet.

21856_11 — I was tempted to abandon my gear for a scramble to the top.

21856_12 — My intended summit sign. I gave a thumbs down because I hated to call it quits, and because it was so stinking rocky.

21856_13 — My Trail Forks app recording.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

constipated_pete	Not a bad call 8/25/2022 11:06am Turning around is never a bad call!
overthe59hill	Thanks 8/25/2022 11:13am It was not easy, and I almost turned around so many times before I did.
lholdorf	Good decisions made 8/25/2022 3:41pm Good report, and i am sure others will take the warning that a 14er is not just a walk in the park. Two good decisions - you turned around when common sense said to, & you did not toss a grenade, as it may have just rolled back down on you! Ha ha
overthe59hill	Grenade 8/25/2022 3:54pm I wouldn't want to lower the summit with a grenade. Or, maybe so.
Little Wolf	A for Effort 8/25/2022 4:36pm You surely deserve an "A" for all that hard effort put out, and was still very inspiring for many of us seniors. Keep it up, and maybe ask someone to go with you next time to boster your energy and carry your burdensome pack toward the top.
overthe59hill	Effort 8/25/2022 4:44pm Thank you!
ltlFish99	i just 8/25/2022 5:28pm turned around on Holy Cross recently at13,300 since the clouds looked bad. 3 minutes later a rain and hail storm confirmed my worries. Because of weather issues, it took me 3 times to get to the top of princeton. Turning around has always proven to be a good idea in my adventures.
overthe59hill	3 Times 8/25/2022 5:37pm Cool that you went and got it! Third time was a charm! It took me two times to finish La Plata, and two for Massive. I don't think I will take another trip up Mt. Princeton.
disentangled	hey there.... 8/26/2022 8:09am I could go up again with you sometime, if you want to make another try at it.
overthe59hill	Another Try 8/26/2022 8:18am I appreciate your offer! At this point I doubt that I will.
docjohn	earlier start 8/26/2022 1:57pm Consider an earlier start: a headlamp can get you started 30-60 minutes before sun-up, especially if following a road or trail like most 14ers have. And, bonus!, if there is a moon out, at least 15% full, you don't need the headlamp. Just consider this option.
overthe59hill	Earlier start 8/26/2022 2:05pm Yeah, it's something I have considered.
supranihilest	Grenade 8/26/2022 4:07pm Grenading the summit of Princeton (or perhaps just nuking the whole thing) would improve it significantly. That's my 2c on the peak.
overthe59hill	Grenade 8/26/2022 6:44pm Yep.
kushrocks	Gernade 8/31/2022 8:57pm You are still getting out and being active while enjoying great views. Well done.
overthe59hill	Getting out 8/31/2022 9:17pm Yes, that's the best part! Thanks!

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