Mount Elbert
November 17, 1999 - Mount Elbert Trail
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Mount Elbert from vicinity of Holy Cross Campground |
After doing LaPlata, I was incredulous that the warm weather was still holding so I figured I would take a shot at one more 14’er for the season. I headed to Leadville and then camped in the USFS campground above Clear Creek Reservoir on the road to the Elbert Trail dirt road and trailhead. I pitched the tent and awoke in the dark to get an early start on the trail, too early. The autumn time change came and went and the alarm clock I leave in the glove box had missed the event so I was up and about and it was dark and going to stay that way a bit more than I wanted to walk in. I drove the dirt road to the trailhead, parked, and pushed the seat back for an extra hour of sleep.
I woke and as I was getting my pack, a fellow walked up and asked if I was Elbert bound. I said I was and we headed off for the peak. He was a flatlander, of course maybe I am too since I am from Cheyenne, but his flatland was elevation 500 and mine is 6000, there is a big difference. He had driven out from Michigan to catch a peak or two and we had good conversation for 2/3 of the trail up. We split at that point, I stuck with the trail and he went on up the ridge proper, both of which got us to the summit, just he got there a bit later in the day. I walked down and when I got to my truck, just hung out to give the out of towner a ride back down to his car at the hard road parking area. He wandered through after about and hour and was really happy to have a waiting ride that would cut 2 miles of road march off his climb. I dropped him off and enroute he told me of Quincy’s, a steak joint in Leadville that should not be missed. We agreed to meet there for dinner before heading off in other directions, me for Cheyenne, and he for LaPlata. Another 14’er, another acquaintance, another reason to keep climbing.