Last night after work, I made the drive south through Fort Morgan and west to my hotel, just outside of Denver International Airport. This morning, I awoke around 3:30 for the drive west into the mountains on Interstate 70. After a quick stop for gas, I arrived at the rough Stevens Pass Road to attempt the drive to the trailhead for Grays Peak. To my surprise, the drive up the Stevens Gulch Road turned out to be pretty easy for me and my Honda CR-V. I arrived at the Grays Peak Trailhead at about 5:20. I was on the trail by 5:30. At first, I hiked through the darkness with the light of my headlamp and a full moon to guide the way. After about a half hour, the sky had lightened up enough that I was able to turn off the headlamp and walk in the gloaming light.
I continued to ascend the fairly easy beginning section of the trail, with the moon above Torreys Peak.
Soon enough, the peak was bathed in alpenglow!
A look back at the direction from which I had come revealed sunlight hitting the east-facing portions of Kelso Peak.
Now, I would start to climb in earnest. I reached a section of trail where the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is doing some trail repairs.
Just above this section, I stopped to take my first break of the climb and shed some layers.
The views of Torreys Peak and back down to Kelso, were pretty dramatic.
Soon enough, I spotted the first of two mountain goats for the day.
The altitude was definitely affecting my climb by this point. I was forced to stop many times for breaks on my way up the switchbacks of Grays Peak. Still, the surrounding scenery was spectacular, especially over towards the very photogenic Torreys Peak.
When I reached the summit area, there was only one other person to be seen. I plopped down in a stone windbreak for a snack and some rest.
To my left was the summit proper of Grays Peak. Soon enough, crowds of people started to gather there.
Eventually, I gathered the strength to make my way over to the summit. I had some other hikers take my photo there.
Soon, I started to make my way over to the saddle between Grays and Torreys Peaks. My second mountain goat sighting happened just as I left the summit of Grays Peak.
Next, I had the steep hike up to the summit of Torreys Peak.
I found a nice, flat spot for a break near a cairn just before the summit. I could look back at Grays Peak from which I had just come.
From my high vantage point, I could also watch as a group of climbers reached the summit from the Kelso Ridge Route.
Then, it was my turn to stand on the summit. I took a selfie
and then started to make my way down to the saddle between Grays and Torreys Peaks. The descent went pretty quickly. However, I realize that I am not as fast a hiker as I used to be. Several groups passed me on the way down. The nice thing about the descent, was the ability to see features that it had been too dark to see on my way up. I looked back a lot towards the mountains I had just climbed.
Before I knew it, I was back at the bridge that spans a small creek near the trailhead.
Once back at the car, I drove into Georgetown to get a beer at Guanella Pass Brewing. Then, I headed up the pass to find a campsite for the night.
