Mt. Elbert Trip Report 05/31/2026

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Elbert - 14,438 feet
Date Posted	05/31/2026
Date Climbed	05/30/2026
Author	Pelotondon

Elbert North and the Gang
At the start of this year, I made a list. Among the many items was continuing the 14er journey and trying to knock out ten peaks in 2026. I bought a bunch of winter gear thinking I was smart. Annnnd, Old Man Winter was apparently unimpressed and sent the ice storm to Nashville instead. At the time, I considered a Colorado trip, then decided I had plenty of time. I left my Taunton in the garage and took Mom to see the Eagles at the Sphere instead. Then I started a new gig and completely shit my fitness away. So here we are, late May. Recently I started thinking about summer peaks and a possible Chicago Basin trip in August when, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, @ericbateman materialized out of nowhere and reminded me of his important research: "How You Too Can Do Couch to Epic Shit." Inspired, I booked a Colorado trip this past Monday with a handful of peaks in mind. Given the nature of this FUPA and my angry knee, I eventually landed on friendly ol' Mt. Elbert. Mt. Elbert. 14,440'. Tallest peak in Colorado. A mountain many people successfully climb in winter. Recent Memorial Day trip reports reminded me why I didn't have a burning desire to climb Elbert outside of winter—already in peak tourist form with 6 AM conga lines. Get on with it, Don. I considered Antero, Princeton, Massive, and a few others, but ultimately decided (last night, lol) that Elbert would be a nice introduction to peak-bagging season and maybe put a charge up my ass to, I dunno, eat some salads and do some work back home. Friday afternoon I grabbed the pup, flew to Denver, rented a Tacoma (just in case...Antero), and settled into Salida. Six hours later, at 2 AM Saturday morning, I was back in the truck headed toward Leadville. TLNOWTRTS (Too Long, No One Wants To Read This Shit) 2:00AM wakeup 3:30AM rollout. Goal: TH parking lot by 5AM At 4:40 I was rolling up the access road and saw the sign: Elbert TH .5 mi. I smiled, thinking my master plan was working. Then, in complete darkness, I drove right past the trailhead parking lot and continued another couple miles up a chunky access road.By the time I found the actual trailhead, the parking lot was full. FML 5:40 AM Mt. Elbert TH 29 degrees, dry, breezy, with afternoon showers possible around 1 PM. I opted for shorts, a long-sleeve wool shirt, neck gaiter, and wool cap. In the pack: puffy, wind shell, microspikes, 3L of water, one PB&J, and eight pieces of pure magic summit bacon. Good fortune was mine. People had to shit lol The trailhead restroom had a line. Half the people who beat me there were standing in it. Off I go. Miles 1-3 were smooth high-alpine trail through the trees with the sun beginning to peek through. I met some really nice folks from Colorado Springs, Bonnie and Ryan, and their sweet golden retriever, Cora the Explora At 1:35 and 11,815', we broke treeline. The wind immediately made itself known, so everyone stopped to layer up, eat, and drink. By 12,763', the climb steepened and the wind picked up significantly. The gaiter went over the nose. Hood over the beanie. Legs were starting to notice the altitude. Then I met two fun hikers, Rylee and Keirston. At least I think that's right. By this point my brain had entered partial oxygen-deficit mode and over the next several hours I called them every name except their actual names. Somewhere after mile 4 the first of approximately 47 false summits appeared. Thankfully there were also snowfields to negotiate because nothing sounds like a 90-year-old man who smokes unfiltered Kool cigarettes quite like yours truly post-holing above 13,000 feet.I knew there were two legitimate false summits and that the real summit wouldn't reveal itself until the second. At 13,870' I sat down and used all seven oxygenated brain cells to convince myself I was looking at the second summit. A woman from Leadville passed by and offered encouragement."Just a short ramp to the final summit." Hmm.I was at 13,870'. The summit was 14,440'. Now, I’m not the smartest mofo out there, but, that’s a lot of fn vert in not a lot of distance! At that point, though, I didn't really care. My knee was surprisingly copasetic. Aside from heavy breathing, altitude wasn't bothering me. I wasn't sweaty. I was actually warm. I just wanted some bacon. Summit! 14,440'. Absolutely gorgeous day despite the wind. There were maybe five other people up there. We laughed, took silly photos, shared summit bacon, and enjoyed one of those perfect Colorado mornings. Then came the descent. The descent sucked. Not because of the knee—that bugger stayed quiet all day.Step-downs remain my nemesis. I leapfrogged with the girls for a while until we dropped below treeline, then switched into roll mode back to the truck. Super fun day. Great weather. And one of the things I enjoy most about Colorado 14ers is meeting people on the mountain. It's a great tribe. Mt. Elbert (18/58) 10.6 mi, 14,443' , 6:12 moving time *If you read this far, you're crazier than I am. Thanks for reading. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Elbert North and the Gang

At the start of this year, I made a list. Among the many items was continuing the 14er journey and trying to knock out ten peaks in 2026. I bought a bunch of winter gear thinking I was smart.

Annnnd, Old Man Winter was apparently unimpressed and sent the ice storm to Nashville instead. At the time, I considered a Colorado trip, then decided I had plenty of time. I left my Taunton in the garage and took Mom to see the Eagles at the Sphere instead.

Then I started a new gig and completely shit my fitness away.

So here we are, late May.

Recently I started thinking about summer peaks and a possible Chicago Basin trip in August when, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, @ericbateman materialized out of nowhere and reminded me of his important research:

"How You Too Can Do Couch to Epic Shit."

Inspired, I booked a Colorado trip this past Monday with a handful of peaks in mind. Given the nature of this FUPA and my angry knee, I eventually landed on friendly ol' Mt. Elbert.

Mt. Elbert. 14,440'. Tallest peak in Colorado. A mountain many people successfully climb in winter. Recent Memorial Day trip reports reminded me why I didn't have a burning desire to climb Elbert outside of winter—already in peak tourist form with 6 AM conga lines.

Get on with it, Don.

I considered Antero, Princeton, Massive, and a few others, but ultimately decided (last night, lol) that Elbert would be a nice introduction to peak-bagging season and maybe put a charge up my ass to, I dunno, eat some salads and do some work back home.

Friday afternoon I grabbed the pup, flew to Denver, rented a Tacoma (just in case...Antero), and settled into Salida.

Six hours later, at 2 AM Saturday morning, I was back in the truck headed toward Leadville.

TLNOWTRTS (Too Long, No One Wants To Read This Shit)

2:00AM wakeup 3:30AM rollout. Goal: TH parking lot by 5AM

At 4:40 I was rolling up the access road and saw the sign: Elbert TH .5 mi. I smiled, thinking my master plan was working.

Then, in complete darkness, I drove right past the trailhead parking lot and continued another couple miles up a chunky access road.By the time I found the actual trailhead, the parking lot was full.

FML 5:40 AM Mt. Elbert TH

29 degrees, dry, breezy, with afternoon showers possible around 1 PM.

I opted for shorts, a long-sleeve wool shirt, neck gaiter, and wool cap. In the pack: puffy, wind shell, microspikes, 3L of water, one PB&J, and eight pieces of pure magic summit bacon.

Good fortune was mine. People had to shit lol The trailhead restroom had a line. Half the people who beat me there were standing in it.

Off I go.

Miles 1-3 were smooth high-alpine trail through the trees with the sun beginning to peek through. I met some really nice folks from Colorado Springs, Bonnie and Ryan, and their sweet golden retriever, Cora the Explora

At 1:35 and 11,815', we broke treeline. The wind immediately made itself known, so everyone stopped to layer up, eat, and drink.

By 12,763', the climb steepened and the wind picked up significantly. The gaiter went over the nose. Hood over the beanie. Legs were starting to notice the altitude.

Then I met two fun hikers, Rylee and Keirston. At least I think that's right. By this point my brain had entered partial oxygen-deficit mode and over the next several hours I called them every name except their actual names.

Somewhere after mile 4 the first of approximately 47 false summits appeared.

Thankfully there were also snowfields to negotiate because nothing sounds like a 90-year-old man who smokes unfiltered Kool cigarettes quite like yours truly post-holing above 13,000 feet.I knew there were two legitimate false summits and that the real summit wouldn't reveal itself until the second.

At 13,870' I sat down and used all seven oxygenated brain cells to convince myself I was looking at the second summit. A woman from Leadville passed by and offered encouragement."Just a short ramp to the final summit."

Hmm.I was at 13,870'. The summit was 14,440'.

Now, I’m not the smartest mofo out there, but, that’s a lot of fn vert in not a lot of distance!

At that point, though, I didn't really care. My knee was surprisingly copasetic. Aside from heavy breathing, altitude wasn't bothering me. I wasn't sweaty. I was actually warm.

I just wanted some bacon.

Summit! 14,440'.

Absolutely gorgeous day despite the wind. There were maybe five other people up there. We laughed, took silly photos, shared summit bacon, and enjoyed one of those perfect Colorado mornings.

Then came the descent.

The descent sucked.

Not because of the knee—that bugger stayed quiet all day.Step-downs remain my nemesis.

I leapfrogged with the girls for a while until we dropped below treeline, then switched into roll mode back to the truck.

Super fun day. Great weather. And one of the things I enjoy most about Colorado 14ers is meeting people on the mountain. It's a great tribe.

Mt. Elbert (18/58)

10.6 mi, 14,443' , 6:12 moving time

*If you read this far, you're crazier than I am. Thanks for reading.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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