Colorado, Hiking

Return to Mount Elbert

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In 2022, my son Daniel (then 16 years old) and I decided to hike Mount Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado and the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains at 14,440 ft. We began the hike a bit later than we intended (arriving at the trailhead at 7AM), and made our way to near the summit at almost noon.

When we were achingly close to the end (around a quarter mile and about 100 vertical feet) we were forced to turn around due to gathering storm clouds and visible lightning. Daniel pointed to the summit, only a short distance away and said “It’s right there!”, but I would not relent in refusing to allow us to finish the hike.

“The mountain will still be here”, I said, “but if we continue we may not.”

This year, we decided, would be the year we would officially stand atop the highest point in Colorado. But not just Daniel and I. We decided to make it family hike as part of a summer camping trip in July.

But just days before we were to depart for that July trip, the trail was closed due to the Willow wildfire that was burning in the Leadville area. It appeared that Elbert and the highest point in Colorado would remain a goal for yet another year.

Then as September rolled around, Daniel and I decided to just take a Saturday and go. The wildfire was out and the trail was open. The weather conditions were good. Why wait another year?

So we made a late Friday night drive to Leadville and spent about four hours sleeping so that we would not fail to be on the trail by 5:30 AM.

Despite the hastiness of our departure, I made sure we had everything we could possibly need to ensure success. Rain jackets, headlamps, hiking poles, stocking caps and gloves, first aid supplies, extra sunscreen, and plenty of snacks and water. We were not going to have a reason to have to turn around if I could control it. Our backpacks were a bit heavy, but we could handle it.

We started the hike in the darkness using headlamps to find our way. Starting in the dark was always our plan. If we could make it to the summit mid-morning there was even less of a chance that afternoon rain might turn us around. And Colorado mountain weather in early fall is notoriously unpredictable. A sunny day can change in an instant.

A scenic view of a sunset over mountainous terrain, with a sloped hillside in the foreground and a vibrant sky filled with wispy clouds.
A panoramic view of mountains with a mix of rocky terrain and forested areas, showcasing autumn colors and a clear blue sky.
A group of hikers on a rocky mountain peak, surrounded by expansive views of mountain ranges and a cloudy sky.
A person taking a selfie while hiking on a mountain trail, with a scenic view of valleys and mountains in the background, showcasing a clear sky and colorful foliage.
A person standing on a rocky mountain trail with hiking poles, overlooking a scenic view of valleys and lakes under a cloudy sky.
A small creature, possibly a pika, foraging among rocky terrain and sparse vegetation.
A rocky hillside with sparse vegetation under a blue sky with some clouds.
A panoramic view of rugged mountains under a blue sky, showcasing a mix of dry terrain and patches of greenery.

We saw the sun rise just as we arrived at timberline. Timberline in Colorado always seems to occur at 12,000 ft, which I find an interesting biological/geographical rule of thumb. My watch altimeter marked 12,000 as we took a brief moment to admire the sunrise and eat some of our breakfast snacks.

It was now 6:30 AM. Having covered the two fairly steep miles in 1.5 hours, mostly in the dark, we were perfectly on schedule. But the next 3 miles were going to be much more challenging.

Continuing onward, we made relatively good time and were at 13,000 feet. Once past 13,000 feet, the thin air really becomes a factor and progress slows considerably. I call it the “Go Slow Zone”. Ten steps, catch your breath, ten more steps, catch your breath again….

At about 8:45 AM, we finally arrived at the top of a false summit where the actual summit came into view. It was the very spot where we had turned around in 2022. But unlike 2022, storm clouds were still hours away and the path the the summit was right ahead of us.

It took only about five minutes to reach the summit from that spot. It only added to the feeling of disbelief over how close we truly were. But a least we could now say we were standing on the highest point in Colorado.

A young male hiker standing on a rocky mountain peak with a scenic view of hills and valleys in the background.
Person standing on a mountain peak, holding trekking poles, with a panoramic view of rocky mountains and blue sky in the background.
A metal survey marker embedded in a rocky surface, featuring engravings that read 'U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey' and directional indicators.
A group of people gathered on a rocky mountain summit, surrounded by vast, rugged mountain ranges and a cloudy sky.
A person sitting on a rocky mountain summit, gazing at scenic views of valleys and peaks under a blue sky.
A panoramic view from a mountain peak overlooking a vast landscape of rolling hills, forests, and a distant mountain range under a clear blue sky.
Scenic view from a mountain summit overlooking a vast valley, with hikers traversing rocky terrain and a lake visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
A panoramic view of rugged mountain terrain under a clear blue sky, showcasing peaks, valleys, and patches of green foliage.
Panoramic view of rugged mountain landscape under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

We had arrived on teh summit at about 9:00 AM, taking only 3.5 hours to achieve the summit. Not an easy task. Literally no one passed us on the way and we passed dozens of other hikers.

But we were feeling the exertion a lot more. The drive to finish the hike and reach the summit had led us to make the 4,500 foot vertical ascent faster than we would normally go. And truthfully, we were feeling it.

Starting down, we began to really appreciate just how steep the trail really is, something we had largely ignored on the way up. The poles helped steady us, but our knees began to tire. Finally, near a rock pile at 13,000 feet we took a genuine break.

A bird camouflaged among rocky terrain, blending seamlessly with its surroundings.
A rocky landscape with scattered stones and a distant view of mountains and a valley under a cloudy sky.
A person sitting on a rock in a rocky, mountainous landscape, surrounded by sparse vegetation and distant hills under a blue sky.
Two hikers pose for a selfie on a mountain trail, with rocky terrain and a clear blue sky in the background.

I found some ptarmigans amid the rocks and as the first photo indicates, their plumage blends in amazingly well with the surroundings. We took time to eat more of our remaining snacks an rested a good while out of the wind, with several miles yet to descend.

It took another two hours to finally return to my truck as we slowed to a more leisurely pace in the forested area near the trailhead.

My watch said 12:30 PM when we finished the hike. We were unusually beat. The hike provided great scenery and we had accomplished our goal, but we had really pushed hard and were aching more than we had in 2022. Perhaps some of that is the four years I’ve aged since then, but Daniel was feeling pretty exhausted as well.

Daniel and I had lunch together in Leadville and contemplated what our next goal might be. Another 14er? Or a chill lake hike with the family? Whatever it may be, it will be great. And we’ll take our time.

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