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Note 44.483 MOUNT-L 483 of 517 CUPIDO::STRITAR "Andrej Stritar, IJS,(61)-1885-450" 78 lines 4-JAN-1995 11:34
CUPIDO::STRITAR "Andrej Stritar, IJS,(61)-1885-450" 78 lines 4-JAN-1995 11:34
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Subj: Mt Elbert 95

Date: 03-Jan-1995
Posted-date: 03-Jan-1995

This is a trip report of my climb of Mt Elbert (14,433'), the highest
mountain in Colorado, on New Year's Day. This was a Colorado Mountain Club
trip led by Steve Gladbach that started out to be a party of nine. Five of
us were to meet the night before at the Mt Elbert Lodge, a log lodge that
was an 1800's stagecoach stop. The forecast for New Year's Day was cold and
thus one of the five, Steve's wife Nona, decided to bow out of the climb.
One of the remaining four was my husband Dan who had no intentions of
climbing, instead he was going to be with his Trout Unlimited Club for their
annual New Year's fishing trip. Two others had called the day before to say
that they too did not like the weather forecast. Thus, we were to meet
three at the trailhead at 6:30 AM.
New Year's Day, the lodge thermometer read -10F. Steve, who had
successfully climbed Mt Mckinley, was complaining repeatedly about the cold.
This inspired great confidence in his team. We drove to the trailhead
where we met only one other member, the two remaining must also have decided
it was too cold. So, after prying Steve from his car, we started off on
our climb at 6:50 at 9600ft with 4833ft to go and a little over 51/2 miles.
Dawn was just breaking and the sky was crystal clear with a show of stars
and planets. The rest of my party seemed to be cold so they started off at
a brisk pace. Normally, because I generate a lot of body heat when
exercising, I start off lightly dressed. However, not having started a
climb before at -10F, I had more on than I should have. Within 10 minutes I
was already shedding layers. It's amazing how much a body in motion can
adjust to such cold. The first couple of miles was a gradual climb of about
600ft. Steve, Matt and Chuck were still going at a stiff pace. I was
beginning to worry, I am a steady but not fast climber and this was my
longest and highest winter climb. At -10F I was soon beginning to sweat and
once more had to take off some clothes. With only light gloves and no hat I
dropped back so as not to get wet from perspiration. Steve dropped back
with me commenting on how fast Matt and Chuck were going for the beginning
of a climb. I certainly agreed but I didn't know if he was just saying this
for my benefit. Somehow, I feel that Steve could have maintained this pace
all the way to the top.
At the 10,600ft point the trail took an abrupt plunge up the hill. At
this point we decided to put on our snowshoes and I decided to take the lead
at a slower pace so that I could get back my rhythm. Fortunately, steep
hills are my strength and soon Chuck was dropping behind. From here on the
pace was changed to a somewhat easy pace (for a climb of this nature) and as
the sun began to glow off the mountain peaks (Mt Hope, Twin Peaks, etc) my
spirits lifted that I may not have to tell the others to go on ahead.
The weather kept getting better and better as the sun rose. The
scenery was spectacular and it was so quiet walking through the aspen
forest. Soon we broke out of the trees to a stunning view of the Arkansas
River Valley and the Sawatch Mountain range to the east. Soon we could even
see Pike's Peak to the far east and our goal in front of us, Mt Elbert. At
about 12,000ft the wind picked up somewhat fiercely and I had to put on my
Balaclava to protect my face from the numbing cold. However, this lasted
for only about 20 minutes and then the wind calmed. Soon we could see
another party below, 3 people and a dog.
By about 13,000ft I was starting to get tired. I kept waiting to catch
my second wind which usually occurs at about this point in the climb.
However, I think that psychologically I had convinced myself that since
this was my longest climb ever that I may just run out of juice. Resolutely
I climbed on. By 14,200ft I was still climbing and now I was passing Matt!
I don't know if Matt was being kind but it sure strengthened my spirits and
I surged the last 200 feet to the top. Shortly, the other party joined us,
two men and a women. It was their fourth annual climb of Mt Elbert. What a
finale to the climb! It was clear, sunny and virtually no wind. The
thermometer read 9F but as those of you know from the west, with the dry air
and no wind it felt great. We stayed for 30 minutes with views so
outstanding that you just had to be there. With the climb accomplished and
a refueling of food and water we had renewed spirits and bodies. We had
finished the climb in 51/2 hours, not a bad time even for a summer climb.
In great comradery we hoped to make it back to the car before dark.. We
regretfully left the summit at 1:00. Quickly we dropped 3000ft catching up
on all the conversation that we were unable to conduct on the ascent. At
treeline we decided to shed some of the clothes we had layered at the top.
At one point in the trees we checked the thermometer at 2:30, it read 25F.
What an awesome day for Colorado on January 1st! We made it to the cars by
3:55, before the sun had set behind the mountains. We thanked Steve
profusely for the wonderful trip and which for me was probably my best New
Year's Day ever. It sure beats watching parades on the boob tube!

***pico
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