Today is Thursday,
May 23rd, 2013
User not logged in!
  [Run Race Header Image]  Run Race logo

  
Running Group
Group Name:Riis Park Striders
Manager:Mark Blaszczyk
Event Day:Monday
Event Date:August 17th, 2009
Event Time:10:30 am
Member:ultra Bill
Leadville Training on Mt. Elbert
Event: ImageBeen looking for a guide or sherpa to help me up to the top of Mt. Elbert with no luck. Today's weather was so ideal that I decided to just go for it, by myself... low expectations... if I got lost, altitude-fatigued, ran out of liquids, or the weather turned nasty I would just pirouette and head back down the trail.

At 14,443 feet Mt. Elbert is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains of North America and the tallest mountain in the state of Colorado. A little internet research (plus confirmation by Leadville Trail buddy Larry Hall) and I found a trail head up Half Moon Road... a logical place to start because the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run shares this same trail for 1.15 miles.

The trail head is at 10,040 feet -so- net elevation gain wound up 4,393 feet in 4.6 miles of climbing... round trip of 9.25 miles in 3:46 (plus 45 minutes at the top before descending).

The weather remained "one in thirty", as Rod, a forest trail ranger I met described (he referred to this day as the best of the month). It got windy from the halfway point all the way to the top... no problemo, I brought an extra shirt.

Wasn't sure how I'd react to the elevation... happy to report no ill effects.

Back in civilization I treated myself to a Beetroot Juice per the recommendation of fellow Riis Park Strider Ken Dietz.
Mount Elbert Trailhead... incidentally, the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Endurance run comes up Half Moon Road and picks up the Colorado Trail at this point.
Monday August 17, 2009 : Mt. Elbert Trailhead
Image ©: Bill Thom
Viewed: 228
Last View: May 17th, 2013 8:17 am
Image Id: 310
Click any thumbnail below for its larger image.
Monday August 17, 2009 : Mt. Elbert TrailheadMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : This wat to Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertTop of Mt. Elbert at 14,443 feetMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMt. Elbert... where touching the clouds seems possibleMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Posing with the summit markersMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Lung expanding training day on Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. Elbert
Monday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Leadville Training - Mt. ElbertMonday August 17, 2009 : Looking back at Mt. Elbert from Half Moon Road
Message Posted:August 17th, 2009 6:57 pm
Last Update:September 24th, 2009 10:54 pm
Viewed:7907
Last View:May 23rd, 2013 10:05 am
Group Created:May 1st, 2009 11:54 am
Members:7
Viewed:79853
Last View:May 23rd, 2013 10:06 pm

Unless otherwise indicated, all content, photos and art work published on this website are copyright property ©2004-2013 of Run Race and may not be republished without verifiable authorization from webmaster@runrace.net. Click for our: Terms and Conditions.