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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.
The top of Mt. Elbert at 14,443 feet! Looks like I wasn't the first to the peak.
Top of Mt. Elbert at 14,443 feet
Image ©: Bill Thom
Viewed: 277
Last View: June 15th, 2013 1:50 am
Image Id: 327
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:8085
Last View:June 19th, 2013 8:25 am
Group Created:May 1st, 2009 11:54 am
Members:7
Viewed:84441
Last View:June 19th, 2013 1:15 pm

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