Mount Elbert, Colorado (14,433)

Route: From Twin Lakes using the Mount Elbert Trail.

May 27, 1997

Here's a nice shot of the highest peak in Colorado, Mount Elbert. Mt. Elbert is easily spotted from the town of Leadville. This hike is a good introduction to 14'ers - provided that you are in pretty good shape. The climb is long (about 13 miles) and gains nearly 5000 feet of elevation. The good news is that the slope is always moderate and there is very little danger from exposure and avalanches.

The trail starts out here surrounded by a huge grove of aspens. You're among the trees for quite a while, passing a couple of streams and ponds. Eventually, the jeep trail will end at a small wooden bridge over a stream. About a quarter mile past the bridge, you exit the trail (which also happens to be THE Colorado Trail as well) by turning left (west) on the Mount Elbert Trail.

The Mount Elbert trail begins winding it's way up steeply. After a lot of winding back and forth and passing through a few meadows, you'll break out of tree line and be able to see the rest of your trip (left). Basically, you continue up then attain the snow capped ridge (travelling from right to left in this photo).

This photo was taken about halfway up the ridge in the previous photo and is looking back in the direction that I was standing in the previous photo. The rightmost lake in this photo is one of the Twin Lakes. At this point in the trip, we were getting snow off and on.

	Here's a picture in one of the little snowstorms that we encountered. Normally, instead of seeing clouds here, you can see the Arkansas River Valley and the Mosquito Range.
Mount Elbert has some of the best views in the state. Here's a nice view looking due south. In the far distance you can see two other fourteeners, Mount Belford and Mount Oxford.

Here's what Mt. Elbert looks like when you're at about 13,800 feet. You can't tell where the summit is, but it's somwhere above the rockpile in the center of the picture. The climb is basically a slog from here on out - just keep climbing up, you'll eventually get there. Though everything looks rounded from this perspective, Elbert indeed does have a nice small summit.

And here it is...


Here's a shot from the summit looking south.	And here's a shot looking southwest. The big mountain in the background is La Plata Peak.

Here's a view west towards the Elk Mountains

There's tons of good spots on Mount Elbert to take advantage of glissading. If you want a mountain that's easy to climb, that has a nice section of forest, that's high, and that has awesome views, definitely check this one out.