14er Marathon
Aug 07, 2009 by DJ Turner | 0 Comments
This comes from Robert Jones for the weekend of August 1-2, 2009:
I had a killer 14er marathon this weekend that involved climbing four 14ers in 48 hours. This involved 610 miles of driving, 6 hours of sleep, 27 miles of hiking, and 10,800 feet of climbing. I was tired, but felt like I just celebrated Christmas!
Day One
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We arrived at the “parking lot” at 3:30 am and began our early morning assault on Uncompahgre. Uncompahgre is a Ute word for hot springs…I think. |
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Here I am on top of Uncompahgre at 14,309 feet. This is my first 14er sunrise and it is an experience everyone should have. The dark hues and long shadows were an eye full. |
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The San Juan Mountains have a reputation for having a lot of bad rock. The pic gives you a feel for the deteriorating nature of the rock and why the reputation is warranted. |
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After Uncompahgre it was off to Handies for a very late start on this 14er. Handies is located in the American Basin. Handies has a reputation for being an easy 14er. From a technical perspective the reputation is true. However, there is 2,500 feet of elevation gain in 2.5 miles, so it does require some effort.
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Here’s a closeup of the American Basin. I would travel to this remote site just to look at the basin. |
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On top of Handies at 14,048 feet. I have read the views on top of Handies is one of the finer views in the state. |
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I came across this beauty on the return. This is a ptarmigan in summer attire. This sweet bird lives above tree line. In the winter she will turn pure white and will blend nicely with the snow. She also had a brood of young chicks too. |
Day Two
After six hours of rest under the Milky Way Galaxy, it was time to tackle Redcloud. This mountain has an amazing red hue to it and I am guessing it has something to do with red oxide and or minerals in the rock. It looked rather Martian and quite unique.
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Here is a nice profile pic of Redcloud from its base. |
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Snow in August and nearing the top – whowa! |
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Me on top at 14,034 feet. Note the distant mountain near the end of the red flag. That mtn. is Uncompahgre. |
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After Redcloud it was off to Sunshine. Sunshine is 1.5 miles away and is connected to Redcloud via a rocky saddle.
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Hiking over to Sunshine I attempted a “leave no-trace pictograph.” |
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Here’s the Wayward Bottle on top of Sunshine at 14,001 feet. This mtn. is the smallest 14ers in the US and is only 2 feet away from living a life of obscurity as a 13er! |
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Well, this was a great trip. It was great to be pushed physically and it was great to see such beauty in such a short period of time. My one regret is that I can not fully describe the beauty of these mountains. I should have been a poet.
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