Soloed my first CO 14er today!

[JohnnyMarko 1]

Such a good day, had to share with everyone.

I moved to Denver 6 days ago and I'm already in love with my new lifestyle...didn't have much planned yet so I decided to tackle my first 14er (14,000+ ft mountain peak)...

Made it up and down Mt Bierstadt in just around 2.5 hours...such a good (and very mild) climb to the top, such a great accomplishment for me, and amazing views from the top...

Then to top it off, I got a call on my way driving back down 70 that I landed a job!

Life is geeewwwwwwd

[grandmaster95 0]

Congrats! Looks beautiful!

Great news on the job as well.

Turn to the storm and say, "Give your worst, and I shall give my best."

[CanuckInUSA 0]

CO is awesome. I loved my 8 years there. I used to climb some of the 14ers as well before I discovered jumping from them thar airplanes and then that was all I ever wanted to do (I never climbed another 14er after I started jumping, my bad). But solo'ing in the mountains can be risky. You may think it is an easy climb and it may very well be an easy climb. But #### happens and if nobody knows where you are, by the time they find you, it could be too late. White outs do happen (I got caught in one once) that can take you off the trail without your knowledge. Before you know it, you are not where you said you would be. Ideally you need to be climbing with at least two others. One person stays with the injured party while the other goes for help. But "do as I say not as I do". Back around Christmas of 2004 I purposely planned my arrival in Moab (on my way from Denver to Eloy) to solo Tombstone on a BASE jump. I calculated that if I left Denver at a precise time of the morning I would arrive in Moab and climb up to the exit point and I should encounter the best possible weather conditions for the solo jump and low and behold everything went as planned. Yes "do as I say, not as I do".

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[JohnnyMarko 1]

Normally, I'd agree...Bierstadt is a very well traveled trail, cars visible all the way to the top, lots of groups going up and down, not too risky as far as soloing goes...

[BigMikeH77 0]

Congrats
.. And good thinking, picking a well traveled and relatively low risk 14'er.

Happens every year in CO;
1) Someone runs their car into clear creek after a long night of drinking and gambling in Black Hawk
2) Someone gets killed on a blue run at a ski resort who in all probability had no business being on a blue run
3) Someone starts a trek up a 14'er (usually Long's Peak) too late in the day and either gets stuck or ends up getting struck by lightning during an afternoon storm above treeline.

NO-ONE wants to be "that guy"

[Calvin19 0]

JohnnyMarko

Normally, I'd agree...Bierstadt is a very well traveled trail, cars visible all the way to the top, lots of groups going up and down, not too risky as far as soloing goes...

true, true.

Not solo, but my best friend and I did a two day trip up the sawtooth south wall. Just for fun, early January 2000. Freshmen in high school. Asked my mom to drop us off at the parking lot (they still plowed Guenella pass year round back then) at 7PM friday night, and to pick us up sunday evening. Spent the first night at the base of the ~200' 5.3 wall and the second about 500' south of the summit. Did not see another soul the entire time. After summiting Saturday morning we did two 1000' glissades to a frozen lake and climbed the steep snow wall back to camp2. A storm came through that afternoon, nothing huge, but our crappy early 90's dome tent was not up to the task that night. (photo 4)
It was no big mountain, but it's fun when you are 14 years old and the high is -10C. We had a cell phone, an early Nokia. Called my pops from the summit (only place there was service). I have a soft spot for Bierstadt.


We made two winter attempts on Longs Peaks' cable route in 2001 and 2002. Got turned around at 13,800' both times.

[BigMikeH77 0]

Have you been through Guanella pass lately? They finished construction from Georgetown on up and now it's actually a pleasant drive more suited to an on-road vehicle

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

BigMikeH77

Congrats
.. And good thinking, picking a well traveled and relatively low risk 14'er.

Happens every year in CO;
1) Someone runs their car into clear creek after a long night of drinking and gambling in Black Hawk
2) Someone gets killed on a blue run at a ski resort who in all probability had no business being on a blue run
3) Someone starts a trek up a 14'er (usually Long's Peak) too late in the day and either gets stuck or ends up getting struck by lightning during an afternoon storm above treeline.

NO-ONE wants to be "that guy"

Don't forget:
4) Some jackhole decides to poke an elk with a stick and gets gored by a pissed-off elk.

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[BigMikeH77 0]

Quote

Don't forget:
4) Some jackhole decides to poke an elk with a stick and gets gored by a pissed-off elk.

I was hoping no one would remember when I did that

[JohnnyMarko 1]

BigMikeH77

Congrats
.. And good thinking, picking a well traveled and relatively low risk 14'er.

Happens every year in CO;
1) Someone runs their car into clear creek after a long night of drinking and gambling in Black Hawk
2) Someone gets killed on a blue run at a ski resort who in all probability had no business being on a blue run
3) Someone starts a trek up a 14'er (usually Long's Peak) too late in the day and either gets stuck or ends up getting struck by lightning during an afternoon storm above treeline.

NO-ONE wants to be "that guy"

I was probably over cautious with that (well, should never say that)...I was on the trail by 7am...It makes me cringe whenever I'm ending a route and seeing people just start mid day and I tell them that storms can move in quick and they just say thanks and start anyways ...granted, non of them last long, considering they're all wearing shorts n tshirts, less than adequate footwear, and normally only have one bottle of water...

[Calvin19 0]

BigMikeH77

Have you been through Guanella pass lately? They finished construction from Georgetown on up and now it's actually a pleasant drive more suited to an on-road vehicle

I camped at the gate last april (15 months ago, Georgetown side), first time I had been on that road since, well, 2002. Looks nice. I grew up on the Grant side and always drove from there, but the North side is a much smoother drive. We also did Squaretop Mtn, WSW of the Bierdstadt parking lot. It's not a 14r but nobody ever is up there. Seems more 'out there' than the east side of the pass. #recommended.

[ryoder 1,590]

Well, we were pretty close today;
I did Mt Evans (via motorcycle).

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Remster 30]

ryoder

(via motorcycle).

Pussy.

Remster

[BigMikeH77 0]

Watch out for the gang of Mini's that stage at the base just before sunset then race up.

[JohnnyMarko 1]

Remster

*** (via motorcycle).

Pussy.

I love hearing people saying they did Evans...parked and walked right up

[ryoder 1,590]

JohnnyMarko

****** (via motorcycle).

Pussy.

I love hearing people saying they did Evans...parked and walked right up

What Remi is referring to is that I've done the Idaho Springs to Mt Evans *bicycle* ride, four time in the past.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[oldwomanc6 60]

Glad to hear about the gainful employment!
It looks like you and Denver are settling in together, swimmingly.

Oh, and the hike sounded great, too.

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9