Mount McConnel (8,020') | Cache la Poudre Wilderness & Roosevelt National Forest Livermore, CO | 05/27/21 | 4.98 miles | 1,577' gain | YDS Class 2+ Although it's not all that far from me, I hadn't explored very far up the Poudre Canyon (SH 14). It seems that it's always been my friend Tori suggesting …
Continue reading Mount McConnel (8,020′) | Colorado | 05/27/21
Black Elk Peak (7,242') | Custer State Park & Black Elk Wilderness Custer, SD | 05/22/21 | 7.86 miles | 1,651' gain After a cold and foggy hike to North Dakota's high point, Diana and I hoped for clear weather the next day when we would hike to South Dakota's high point. Even with all …
Continue reading Black Elk Peak (7,242′) | South Dakota’s State High Point | 05/22/21
Stone Mountain (7,625') | Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park Loveland, CO | 05/15/21 | 8.23 miles | 2,144' gain Stone Mountain is one of my favorite local peaks. I'd climbed it a few times before but not since the winter of '18-'19. It's amazing how much has changed in the past few years! I set out from …
Continue reading Stone Mountain (7,625′) | Colorado | 05/15/21
Estes Cone (11,006') | Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park, CO | 05/08/21 | 6.71 miles | 2,003' gain In an effort to avoid a ton of fresh snow, Diana and I searched for a hike that was missed by a recent spring snowstorm. The Estes Park area seemed to be outside the storm's reach, …
Guadalupe Peak (8,751') | Guadalupe Mountains National Park Salt Flat, TX | 04/02/21 | 9.82 miles | 3,044' gain Although 2021 started out slow (with no traveling and very few exciting hikes), April started with a bang and I haven't slowed down since. On a whirlwind three-day trip, Allie and I road-tripped around Texas and …
Continue reading Guadalupe Peak (8,751′) | Texas’ State High Point | 04/02/21
Elk Meadow Loop | Elk Meadow Park Evergreen, CO | 03/17/21 | 5.10 miles | 666' gain Diana and I had planned a weekday summit of Bergen Peak (9,701') near Evergreen. Both of us had climbed Bergen before (though in summer) and while we knew the mountains had gotten quite a bit of snow recently, …
Greyrock Mountain Loop | Roosevelt National Forest Laporte, CO | 02/06/21 | 8.20 miles | 2,429' gain I've climbed Greyrock Mountain a couple times now, but somehow always from the same old out-and-back trail. It seemed I always needed to take the shortest route and so I skipped the longer Greyrock Meadows Trail. But when …
Continue reading Greyrock Mountain Loop | Colorado | 02/06/21
Mount Morrison (7,881') | Matthews/Winters Park Morrison, CO | 12/19/20 | 4.02 miles | 2,022' gain Mount Morrison's south ridge is a popular exercise spot for locals. With an ascent of 2,000' in just 2 miles, it's a quick but steep route often repeated multiple times in a row. The trail starts near Gate 4 …
Continue reading Mount Morrison (7,881′) | Colorado | 12/19/20
Deer Mountain (10,013') | Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park, CO | 12/06/20 | 6.19 miles | 1,397' gain If you've ever driven into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) from the main Beaver Meadows entrance station, you've certainly seen Deer Mountain. It's a low, forested peak on the right hand side of the road. If …
Continue reading RMNP: Deer Mountain (10,013′) | Colorado | 12/06/20
Bill Couch Mountain (7,082') | Deer Creek Canyon Park Littleton, CO | 10/24/20 | 9.2 miles | 1,743' gain Kyle finally had a full weekend off and was able to hike with me. Early season snows pushed us into the low country and we settled on Bill Couch Mountain in Deer Creek Canyon Park. We'd …
Continue reading Bill Couch Mountain (7,082′) | Colorado | 10/24/20
Colorado Chelsea 