Mt. Elbert

The first fourteener I climbed was Mt. Elbert, also Colorado's highest. Missy and I climbed it with Bobbie in one day. Most peak baggers do, but I have grown to prefer backpacking in and making a weekend trip of it. We went up via the Mt. Elbert trail from Twin Lakes and descended the Northeast ridge to Halfmoon creek. It was about a 10 mile round trip, with 4,833 feet of elevation gain.

Missy and I at the summit of Mt. Elbert. We did this trip with Bobbie as our guide since she had much more experience climbing 14ers here. Missy swore she would never climb another after Elbert, but she climbed Mt. Democrat in July of 1998, and Pikes Peak in 1999.