Colorado Trip Reports

It's not called hiding when you are a ninja like me, it's called waiting to ambush!

Oh and I think I will steal that for a sig! Thanks for the great idea. I use tap a talk south now that I forget about sig pics

 

Climbed Mt. Lindsay in the Sangre De Cristo Mtns Last Saturday. Intense.
First View of the summit

Starting to get an idea of the route. Had to climb up to then follow that ridge

My camera is pointed at roughly a 45 degree angle up, to give you an idea of the ascent angle. Steep and loose, jagged granite. THe crevice to the right of the round mound is where I was headed. about 1k feet up.

Getting closer to that crevice now. But decided I didn't want to go that way after all. Got kinda hairy after this shot, but exciting and fun too. Went up to the right to get off the loose rock and before I knew it, I was climbing solid rock that should have had me in a rope and harness. Decided not to fall but to keep going. This is what summiting big mountains is all about.

Decided to take a seat and take a pic towards the I25 corridor

I call this "heartbreak ridge" because I thought it was the summit, but turned out to be a false one. The real one was visible once I got up to the top of this and was about 300yds further on a rotten knife-edge saddle that involved a 50ft downclimb only to gain that plus 100 more on the route to the real summit. Good news was that I came WAY further than that, so it wasn't going to stop me from bagging this peak.

My climbing buddy, Tony, and I on the summit. Everyone has a ceremony at the top. Mine is the Ceremonial Stogie! That is Blanca and Ellingwood in the background.

My buddy has mutant feet and climbs 14ers in Chacos. My feet are way too bitchy to do that. Received lots of "WOWs" and "HOLY SHITs" from fellow summiters.
Back down in the valley, you can see the smoke from the Huerfano fire

Abandoned mining site



The Sangres are such a beautiful range. If they weren't so far from home, I would be there weekly.

 

^^^

I love Blanca. By far my favorite peak so far!

 

Want to do that and Ellingwood soon. Maybe later this summer. Wish my truck could make it up the balance trail. Cut off some of the approach

 

We about died last time we did the trail on Mt. Blanca. Never been on a bumpier trail lol We had to stop every 5 minutes haha

 

I did em both last time I was down there. I want to connect all three next time!

Little Bear > Blanca > Ellingwood

Oh, and you're truck can handle some of that trail. Just would be wise to stop and hike right before you get to jaws 1.

 

Jaws 2 is the worst, right?

 

super bumpy + possible death = not worth doing the trail again IMO we didn't do any of the Jaw obstacles if I recall.

 

Yeah, I do 'possible death' better outside of my truck. I will drive up what I can then hike the rest.

 

The only spot that I would say puts you in a near death feeling is Jaws 2. However, if you're not running full width axles, there's plenty of room as long as you're not spinning your tires. The first mile or so is basketball size boulders and really bumpy.

But the feeling of arriving at lake como is priceless.

 

Did it get to feeling better after doing the first two times?

 

I'm hoping to make it down there later this summer. I'll drive in as far as I feel comfortable and then hike it from there. I'm not seriously going to attempt any of the major obstacles without a locker and a winch.

 

Anyone been up to Chinns lately? Wishbone!?

 

Nope, have not returned since this pic, but I would imagine it is clear given the recent heat.

 

Moody and crystal were great. The three breakdowns took a bunch of time and kept us from being able to finish crystal but we will get back up there this summer to finish it! I guess I have no pics on my phone but I will start trying to post up once I download from my camera. I don't have much though cuz Joey was doing a good job, or it seemed like he was anyway... Whenever he wasn't planning his next shenanigan... I'm slightly worried.

 

Breakdowns? Hope it wasn't anyone in the group lol

 

I hope so I was going to go up there next week to camp and fish. I told my buddy his stock 2012 jeep Cherokee would be fine lol.

 

There was a crawler similar to your Dad's but it pulled the front drive shaft out of the yoke (I think) twice. Then another old 4R broke something on his t case THEN he broke the exhaust pipe in from of the muffler. That was the final straw that made everyone call it a day. All the TW guys made it out fine. (Knocking on wood)

 

lulz that first thing happened to my ex on that trail. I recall that trail being not too difficult, and yet it's rated higher than Kelly Flats which I thought was harder? I think I've only ran Crystal once before so might not remember it all.

At least you guys had fun! Sorry I couldn't make it. My entire steering rack needed replacing.

 

Lame! Did you get it done?