Article: 41946 of rec.climbing
Newsgroups: rec.climbing
From: billw@netcom.com (William Wright)
Subject: Trip Report: Mt. Elbert
Keywords: snowshoe, skiing
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 16:51:18 GMT

Here is a mini-trip report of a summer-like, winter ascent
of Mt. Elbert.

Bill
--------------------------------------------------------------

The Highest

The highest mountain in Colorado and indeed in all the Rocky 
Mountains is Mt. Elbert at 14,433 feet. Elbert is located in the 
northern Sawatch Range directly above Twin Lakes and near 
historic Leadville, Colorado. On the spur of the moment, I decided 
to climb this mountain during the 2nd annual Snowshoe Race up 
Mt. Elbert. My brother in-law, the Kraig Meister, and his triathlete 
friend Brian ran were entered in the race and I decided to go along 
as a spectator.

Mount Elbert Trail starts at 9600’, just outside of the town of Twin 
Lakes (9100’) where the race begins. I started here so that I could 
get ahead of the racers. We arrived late and I wasn’t skiing until 8 
a.m., the same time the racers started.

I skinned up on my NNN backcountry gear under perfectly clear 
skis and no wind. It was still cold out, but warming quickly. In 45 
minutes I gained the race course and the first checkpoint. Had the 
racers come by yet? No, I was in luck. I continued on up the race 
course to where the course split at 10,500 feet. I was going to wait 
here for the racers to come by and then ascend their descent route 
in order to see them again.

Tom ?? won last year in 3:45 and would win again this year in 3:53 
(8 minutes ahead of second place). Short on funds, but long on 
snowshoe ambition, last year he hitchhiked back to Minnesota and 
didn’t arrive until after the race started. He gave chase and still 
won.

Tom came first. Only 2.5 miles into the 15 mile race, he was already 
a minute and a half ahead of the field. Kraig came along in 15th 
place and I cheered him on. Now it was time for me to climb.. in 
earnest.

The trail climbs very steeply through the woods for another 
thousand feet and then breaks out into some gorgeous glades. I 
passed the final aid station of the race on the way up. I would be 
the only non-competitor or race support person to summit Elbert 
today.

I took a ten minute break at 12,800 feet to drink and eat. I had to 
carry my skis across a couple of rocky sections, but had them back 
on when Tom passed by me at 13,800 feet with a 5 minute lead.

I left the skis behind at 14,000 feet and started to really drag. I was 
taking breaks every 50 yards. Kraig and Brian passed by when I had 
reached 14,250 feet. I summitted a few minutes later for a total 
climbing time of 3 hours and 45 minutes - the same time that the 
winner takes the the roundtrip! I spent 15 minutes on the summit 
resting and refueling before starting down at noon.

The descent went smoothly until I reached the steep, tight trees. 
Here skiing was simply impossible and the descent turned hellish. I 
had to walk sections and should have walked all the steep tree 
sections, getting myself into trouble and actually slowing down my 
descent. I stumbled into town exhausted at 2 p.m.

-- 
Bill Wright	(billw@netcom.com)
             or (bill_wright@mail.amsinc.com)
Home: (303) 494-7232
Work: (303) 969-3583