Over the past two days Frank, Randy, and I climbed four of Colorado’s fourteen thousand foot peaks (14ers) with Teddy joining us for half of the trip.

The four of us left Boulder at 5AM on Monday in two seperate cars.  We dropped off one of the cars, which was loaded with our camping gear and supplies, at the Guanella Pass trailhead…about ten miles south of Georgetown. 

After parking one car we all jumped into the other vehicle and drove northwest to Stevens Gulch road where the Grays Peak and Torreys Peak trailhead is located.  

From here we summited Torreys and Grays Peak (both 14ers).  Upon reaching Grays summit Frank, Randy, and I parted ways with Teddy who descended back to the car where we initially started the day and drove back to Boulder.  The remaining three of us then continued along the continental divide summiting several smaller mountains en route to Guanalla Pass where we had previously parked a car with supplies and camping gear.

The next morning we continued onward summiting two more fourteeners,  Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans, via “The Sawtooth!”

It was a fun and succesful adventure where we even got to break in our ice axes and crampons! 

 Stevens Gulch Road was impassable due to the ice so we had to hike an extra three miles to the trailhead.

 Torreys Peak.

 Teddy took the lead…here he is waiting for us to come up behind him!

 The four of us on the way up!

 The view of Torreys Peak from the saddle that connects it to Grays Peak.

 Summit of Torreys.

 Grays Peak from the summit of Torrys.  You can see the trail Tedward “the high altitude machine” took back to the car.

 Frank, Teddy, and I on the summit of Everst…umm…I mean Grays!

 From Grays Peak we continued along the Continential Divide which goes along this ridge.

 After what seemed like forever we dropped off the divide and out of the wind. 

 Just before it got completely dark we made it to our “supply car” which was parked at Guanella Pass.

 The next morning heading towards Mt. Bierstadt.  Mt. Bierstadt is on the right with “The Sawtooth” in the middle and Mt. Evans off to the left.

 The steep snowy slopes of Mt. Bierstadt.

 Summit of Mt. Bierstadt.

 ”The Sawtooth” ridge which connects Mt. Bierstadt to Mt. Evans.

 ”The Sawtooth” definitely had its “interesting” sections!

 More snow.

 More rocks.

 Finally off “The Sawtooth” ridge which was a bit of a relief and nearing the summit of Mt. Evans.

 Our final fourteener of our two day adventure….Mt. Evans. It was a bit disheartening to do all that climbing only to see a paved road near the summit of Mt. Evans!

 To avoid traversing “The Sawtooth” again we took a different route back to the car. However, trail finding was slightly difficult.

 We eventually found the trail as the sun went behind the mountains.

 After a long day we finished the hike in the dark.

Time to start brainstorming for the next adventure!

later, g.

Ahh, finally getting around to posting some pictures from the Colorado Trail Mountain bike adventure that Frank and I went on a few weeks back.  The goal of the trip was to mountain bike the entire Colorado Trail….from home to trailhead in Denver, then take the trail from Denver to Durango before finally riding back on the road. 

However, after dealing with a broken stove from the get go on top of a cold/rainsoaked evening, post tour of Missouri plague, many ridiculous sections of hike-a-bike, a broken rear rack, several flats, a few frosty mornings, bad brakes and food shortarges we ALMOST completed the entire trail. Unfortunately, after ten days on the trail and nearing Durango the frame on my mountain bike broke which put an end to the trip!

It definitely felt like a failure in many ways especially since we overcame soo much along the way and got so close to finishing the trail.  However, we were able to learn a ton along and one thing for sure our next trip will be way easier to plan for.  We knew going in that the trip was not going to be easy but we definitely did not think it was going to be as hard as it actually was!  I guess that is what makes going on adventures soo appealing…they are not easy and everything has to fall into place to be successful.

Needless to say I am planning future mountain bike trips and have already tried a new route up Longs peak which was a success.

Anywho, here are some pictures…  

 Getting ready to head out of Boulder.

 Riding through the Buffalo Creek Fire area which occured in the spring of 1996 and burned 12,000 acres.

 Tarryall Resevoir.

 After an evening of cold rain soaked camping we tried to dry our stuff the following night at the Kenosha pass campground.  Needless to say most of our gear ended up freezing.  However, at this campgound we met Liz who helped us out tons…supply us with water, a bit of food, and a couple of beers…thanks Liz!

 One of the more popular sections of the Colorado Trail…Kenosha Pass to Gold Hill Trailhead via Georgia Pass.

 Nearing the top of Georgia pass.

 One of our flats which took awhile to change due to the racks on our bikes.

 The views heading towards Goldhill Trailhead which is located between Breckenridge and Frisco.

 The following day on our way up to Kokomo Pass enroute to Leadville.

 Above the treeline getting closer to Kokomo summit.

 Still going up!

 Ahh…finally the summit of Kokomo Pass.

 The view from the otherside of Kokomo Pass towards Leadville.

 Back in the trees on the descent.  I like trees!

 From Leadville we headed south toward Buena Vista and the leaves were changing.

 Twin Lakes.

 Nearing Buena Vista…getting excited to re-supply.

 Athough the trees looked lovely…the trail southwest of Buena Vista got crazy hard (rocky/hike-a-bike) and did not get easier for over three days!

 One of the harder hike-a-bike sections of the trail…nearing the Continental Divide and Marshall Pass.  From here the Continential Divide Trail and Colorado Trail Coincide for something like 170 miles.

 Frank working his way up towards the Continential Divide.

 Finally, the Divide!

 It was nice to have some smooth trail once on the Divide…however, it only lasted for about two miles. 

 After several very slow days we got to ride on some roads in order detour a Wilderness Area!  Nearing the top of a pass called Slumgullion.

 This picture was taken about fifteen minutes before my frame broke nearing the top of Cinnamon Pass. I almost threw my bike off the mountain….ahhhhhh!

Anyway, that is most of the pictures.  Wish I would have taken some more of our frost mornings, rainy evening, rocky trails, and camp fire cooking.  However, it is easier said then done as survival is more important than a photo

One last thing before I go…it is official…Frank Pipp, Randy Reichardt, and myself are starting a guiding buisness.  The buisness is called “Beyond Boulder Adventures.” If anyone is interested in going on bike tours similiar to this, or road bike tours, or snowshoe hut trips, or anything else they can think of let us know and we will make it happen! Hopefully we can share our love of the outdoors with you!

later, g.