Castle Peak Highest in Elk Range (14,265') Saturday Aug 25.  On Saturday I led a hike up the monarch of the Elk Range, Castle Peak. It was one of those days on a Colorado 14er where you could've stayed up on the peak all day long and maybe even could've spent the night! We had a fun group and enjoyed the hike up Montezuma basin's 4WD road.  The snow is just about all gone for this year, in fact, the only water feeding the streams is from the last remaining remnants of Glacial Ice way up in the highest reaches of the Montezuma basin, within the Cirque that includes Castle Peak and Conundrum Peak.  Our team of 7 and two Dogs included Kelley and her Husband Donovan, their Daughter Lauren, and their friends Lyns and her son Darren from Highlands Ranch, as well as my friend Shay and her Dog Silas.  Everybody made the summit in good time, we were on top before 11 am Via the Northwest ridge on Castle. Everyone got so see 1st hand just how tiny, but flat the summit is and how you could fit a tent on the top.  After some relaxation in light winds and sunshine on top, our team headed down the ridge carefully and into the safely of the valley below, but everyone was safe and had an awesome time taking in the vistas! The views to the north were awesome and you could see the Maroon Bells, Pyramid and Capitol Peak and Well as Snowmass.  Stay tuned for my next post as I will be talking about John Prater aka Homie's Quest to break the 14ers Speed Record. While we got to view the rest of the Elk Range Peaks, I thought about un upcoming task I am doing this week..... I will be meeting Homie in Aspen on Tue into Wednesday and we will be traversing the Elks from Capitol South....I'll be fresh and able to provide Homie with a boost as he pushed through these difficult Elk Peaks on his way towards the record. It is going to be a great week!  Tonight, Monday Aug 27th I am presenting at Maria's Bookshop in Durango.......and please mark your calendars and come out to the book Event at the Bookworm near my hometown, in Edwards CO on this coming Friday, Aug 31st 6pm. Chris Tomer and I will be Presenting and signing copies of Sleeping on the Summits. Climb Safe! Jon |
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Categories2012 Travels and Book Events2013 14ers and Everest 2013 Skiing off Summits 14ers/13ers Colorado 14ers: High Bivys Project 2011 Everest 2012 |
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