The first peak we climbed on our route, Mt. Spalding. Almost a 14er itself.

The Mt. Evans Trailhead at Summit Lake

Mt. Bierstadt and The Sawtooth! Sawtooth is also one of my favourite ales from Left Hand brewery.

We both turned to each other. “Uh……”

If this is a “Level 2” exposure, I’m not sure I can handle Level 3.

The parking lot from the summit!

A very nice German woman took our picture at the summit. She did a good job!

Celebratory summit wine, from a mason jar. Totally healthy.

Russ’ summit wine.

Now, some decided to cheat and drive up the mountain to the summit. Not for us!

Once we started back down, we began to realise how far the route took us.

It was apparently a hair-raising experience!

© Coleen Monroe and Reverse Retrograde, 2013. 

On the 29 August 2011, I summited my first 14,000 ft. peak (Mt. Bierstadt outside Idaho Springs, Colorado). I went up to Guanella Pass on a whim, and alone. Having just returned from the Andes, I was in high-altitude hiking shape. I was up and down in around four hours.

This time I had much better company than just my own thoughts. Russell came with me and we hiked the route from Summit Lake, via Mt. Spalding (thank you, 14ers.com! We couldn’t do it without you!). Enjoy the photos, and send me any questions you may have about the route.

If I can do this, almost anyone can.