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Kim Fenske describes a winter climb of Colorado’s highest summit
Mt. Elbert view: Alpenglow — and the moon — across the Arkansas River Valley.
Story and photos by Kim Fenske
At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado. In summer, the summit is one of the easiest Fourtenners to attain. The primary trailheads mark junctions with the Colorado Trail that passes north and south along the base of Mount Massive and Mount Elbert within sight of Leadville. Branching off of the Colorado Trail, trails to the summit rise quickly on switchbacks to gain the summit along ridges from the northeast and southeast. The summit is four miles from the north trailhead and a bit over six miles from the lower south trailhead. From either direction, the summit can be reached in approximately six hours, with a descent of about three more hours. (more…)
Filed under: Colorado, hiking, recreation | Tagged: climbing, Colorado, Colorado Trail, fourteeners, hiking, Kim Fenske, Leadville Colorado, Mt Elbert | 3 Comments »
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