We accomplished one of our goals we set for 2013 yesterday. To summit two 14,000 foot peaks.
We originally set out to accomplish goal a week earlier. But, the weather forecast was for lots of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms + above treeline = bad idea. So we decided against it. However, we did get up nice and early (normal for us, early for others) and headed up to RMNP. We hiked Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak. It was great. It was super dense clouds toward the top (so we couldn’t see how much farther we had to go). And, nobody went beyond Flattop’s Summit (which is hard to truly tell where it is because it is flat. Hence the name.) But, we followed the “trail” aka cairns to the summit of Hallett and it was awesome.
We hid behind a windbreak and watched the clouds fly quickly past. Every once in a while there would be a break and we would get a spectacular view of Long’s Peak (which we will be summitting this summer). The clouds started to disperse on our way down. It was windy, but awesome.
Long's Peak through the breaks in the clouds
My macho man standing up to the W
Long's Peak over Hallett Peak
As for accomplishing goals. This was awesome. We were originally supposed to make this trek with my boss, Christina, and her hubby. However, Christina’s hubby got sick, so they didn’t come. Sad day.
The plan was to hike Grays and Torrye’s Peaks. It was crowded. Thankfully we have 4x4 and could go up to the summer TH, but we had to park 1/4 or 1/3 mile away on the dirt road. So many people. Oh well. I am glad there are people out enjoying the outdoors and being active.
First views of our peaks. Gray's Peak is on the left and Torrey's Peak is on the right.
About 1/2 way - 2/3 way up...I think. A pretty lookout on the trail
It was a beautiful hike. We made the summit of Gray’s Peak (14,270 ft.) in 2 hours and 10 minutes. It wasn’t an easy 2 hours and 10 minutes. But every step we took was worth the view and satisfaction of being higher than we had ever been before.
On the summit of Gray's Peak 14,270 ft. The gal who took our picture didn't do the best job...
After hanging out for 15 or 20 minutes, we headed down to the saddle and up to Torrey’s Peak (14,267 ft.) That took about 25 minutes. Another awesome accomplishing feeling and spectacular views. (Even though it was crowded). We were on top of the world as far as we were concerned and we knocked out a goal we had set for ourselves in January. All in one hike. Hooray.
Summit of Torrey's Peak (14,267 ft.) (This photographer was far better...)
This is why you get up early to hike big mountains. We left the summit well before noon, like 11 and storms were starting to gather soon after we left the summit. I felt safe because lightening would strike the hundreds of people still above us and not strike us....I am horrible.
I won’t lie. We are in pretty dang good shape and this hike was tough. Elevation we aren’t used to and it is steadily steep the entire time. We were talked and never had we been on a hike that no matter how slowly you walked, it didn’t feel like it got easier. Usually, you can slow down, and feel a lot better. The TH started at 11,000 ft. so basically like starting on top of a mountain and going up from there. I can only imagine the people who hike the massive peaks in the Himalayas and Andes and how insanely strong they are.
Perk side of a straight uphill hike is going down is really fast.
There were beautiful wildflowers growing in the lower portions of the trail
Colorado's state flower, the Columbine. Such a beautiful flower.
To top off the trip; we passed this guy on the way home. I haven't seen a lawn chair like that since I was about 6.
