Post #55: Brain Patterning to 14,148’ Democrat via the West Ridge Circuit; Sunday Dec 2, 2012.

Post #55: Brain Patterning to 14,148’ Democrat via the West Ridge Circuit; Sunday Dec 2, 2012.

Snowpack in the Arkansas Basin almost non-existent.

I took my good friend Jeff Morgan for an early climb of Democrat’s West Ridge, a moderately technical but spectacular climb of one of Colorado’s classic ridges for a 14er. 99.9% of all people hike up from Kite lake to the East of Democrat, so by taking the West Ridge we accessed the peak from CO 91 and the 4WD Access road in the upper Arkansas Basin Valley, and climbed a route seldom climbed but spectacularly challenging.

The lack of snow this year so far is very alarming, you will see the case in these photos and videos below. I sure do hope we get some snow soon, not only so I can ski off peaks but so that we actually have water next year in our rivers.

Jeff and I started at 530am from my vehicle and made our way up the lower flanks of the west ridge on a south facing rock slope. The key was finding an old mining trail that switch-backed up part of the face.

By 645 we were up on the ridge and treated to some awesome morning light in the clouds as the sky changed colors with the rising sun. The ridge is easy at first then difficulty increases as you make your way towards the summit.

The best most solid rock is found closer to the crest with exposure mainly to the north of the ridge. One cool section Jeff and I crawled through a small hole in the rock which allowed passage to sneak through an exposed gap and stay on the ridge and onward toward the summit. Winds were sustained at about 25 mph on the ridge, but for December it wasn’t unbearably cold.

We were within 100 yards of the top when I captured Jeff crossing the remains of a high-altitude mining cabin that is nothing but ruins now.

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Winter Drought conditions on Democrat 14,148' Dec 2, 2012

Dr. Jon Kedrowski on the Summit of Democrat, a 14er in the 10-mi Mosquito range of Colorado. Dec 2 2012 and there is hardly any snow on the high peaks. The drought and lack of snowfall could be deva...

The summit was nice and silent just before 8am, and the morning views were amazing. We were able to sit out of the prevailing westerly winds and relax for a bit.

It was probably 25 degrees with the sun warming us on top. What a stellar workout! Views from the summit and lack of snow.

After snacks and a few photos we chose to make the climb a circuit but descending to the saddle to the south of Democrat via the south ridge and then dropping down some cliffy terrain and ledges.

We dropped off into the basin on treacherous scree for 1800 vertical to arrive in the snowless upper Arkansas Basin which allowed us to stroll in the warm morning sun and getting us back to my vehicle around 10am.