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Have you climbed Mt Elbert?

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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,179
So my roommate and I are heading to Denver end of November for a long weekend trip (super cheap flights). I do some climbing here and there and wanted to tag your state highpoint. Have any of you climbed it in late november/winter? What can I expect for snow conditions? Any specific gear needed like snowshoes?

I've climbed Rainier and Baker in the Cascades. Humphreys in AZ (more of a hike). Granite Peak in MT. So climbing isn't really a foreign thing to me. And I know elbert is more of a hike anyway too.
Oct 27 2018 10:54AM
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,261
Ay I hiked/biked Elbert this summer, its not to bad of a hike. You NEED microspikes for sure as the trail is pretty steep at the top but I doubt you'd need snowshoes. You want to be at the trailhead at around 5:30am and check the weather forecast the night before. Also this website lets you see trail conditions and trip reports of all the 14ers. Look at the most recent trail conditions to see what you need and there is a somewhat good chance you will get lost but it sounds like you know what you're doing.

https://14ers.com/

**This post was edited on Oct 30th 2018 at 2:25:47am
Oct 30 2018 12:14AM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,179
CLQAy I hiked/biked Elbert this summer, its not to bad of a hike. You NEED microspikes for sure as the trail is pretty steep at the top but I doubt you'd need snowshoes. You want to be at the trailhead at around 5:30am and check the weather forecast the night before. Also this website lets you see trail conditions and trip reports of all the 14ers. Look at the most recent trail conditions to see what you need and there is a somewhat good chance you will get lost but it sounds like you know what you're doing.

https://14ers.com/

**This post was edited on Oct 30th 2018 at 2:25:47am

Thanks for the info and the website! On it they were saying lots of snow on the east ridge. I'll be taking the south ridge route. I'll just have to keep watching that site. I'm going to plug a gpx route into my gaia app so there will be little chance of me getting lost anyway.
Nov 4 2018 8:23AM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,179
CLQAy I hiked/biked Elbert this summer, its not to bad of a hike. You NEED microspikes for sure as the trail is pretty steep at the top but I doubt you'd need snowshoes. You want to be at the trailhead at around 5:30am and check the weather forecast the night before. Also this website lets you see trail conditions and trip reports of all the 14ers. Look at the most recent trail conditions to see what you need and there is a somewhat good chance you will get lost but it sounds like you know what you're doing.

https://14ers.com/

**This post was edited on Oct 30th 2018 at 2:25:47am


JAHpowThanks for the info and the website! On it they were saying lots of snow on the east ridge. I'll be taking the south ridge route. I'll just have to keep watching that site. I'm going to plug a gpx route into my gaia app so there will be little chance of me getting lost anyway.


What route did you take up? I shouldn't say I'm absolutely going up the south one, I'll do the north one instead of it's better.
Nov 4 2018 8:33AM
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,261
JAHpowWhat route did you take up? I shouldn't say I'm absolutely going up the south one, I'll do the north one instead of it's better.


The East Ridge, its probably the most popular way up. The trail will be packed down, i don't know anything about the southeast ridge
Nov 4 2018 12:08PM
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