Mount Democrat

Date to Climb: June 17, 2009

Date Climbed: June 17, 2009

Elevation: 14,148

Range: Mosquito

Latitude: 39.33956, Longitude: -106.13989

Route: East Ridge l, Class 2

Mount Lincoln

Date to Climb: June 17, 2009

Date Climbed: June 17, 2009

Elevation: 14,286

Range: Mosquito

Latitude: 39.35150, Longitude: -106.11150

Route: West Ridge l, Class 2

Mount Bross

Date to Climb: June 17, 2009

Date Climbed: June 17, 2009

Elevation: 14,148

Range: Mosquito

Latitude: 39.33956, Longitude: -106.13989

Route: Descend West Slopes, Class 2

Pre-Climb Comments

Some of these mountains have been officially closed to climbers due to insurance issues of the private owners. We have waited years to climb them and will go there for the first time this year. There are three mountains that are usually climbed together. We plan to approach from Kite Lake, but are concerned about the road. We may not be able to drive all the way up the 4WD section. We hope to car camp in the parking lot of Kite Lake.

Post-Climb Comments

Since we wrote comments on these peaks as one big climb, then we will comment on them as a group.

The Element made it all the way to Kite Lake. We were really surprised. The road was rougher below the supposed tough section. Oh, don't be confused it was a low maintenance road, it's just that we have been on tougher ones.

To visit Kite Lake you have to pay a user fee. We looked at the parking area and what we assumed was the camping area - it only had one snow free site. In general it was what a 12,000 foot trailhead should look like, cold and treeless. Today when we started out the trail to start our hike of three peaks, we were surprised to find the camping area five hundred feet away. The numbered site near the parking area was probably a ??? - no clue!.

Last night we decided that Jake needed a rest day. We have camping shades that cover all the windows of the Element, so we prepared the vehicle for him. If we hurried we would be back at the car by 11, before the midday sun.

After leaving Jake we crossed the outlet to Kite Lake and passed through the middle of the before mentioned campground. The trail became lost in the snow as it ascended toward the Democrat - Cameron Saddle. We followed tracks, but there was quite a selection of steps that went in all directions. Loosely following the guidebook we made our way to the saddle and then to a knob (or false summit) before reaching the top. The snow was very firm and easy to kick steps. We arrived at the windy summit a little over two hours after leaving camp. One summit down, but three more to climb.

We descended steeply to the saddle we had just left and looked at the long ridge leading to the summit of Cameron. It was going to be slow going. The crazy thing about mountain climbing is that it actually requires a lot of climbing - duh. To get to the top you have to go up. Resigning ourselves to the climb and the weather (freezing cold and windy) we trudged onward silently. Jake sitting in the car was a bit of an inspiration to us. We climbed as quickly as possible. Finally we stood on the rounded bump. One official and one not so official summits down, but two more to climb.

Cameron is not an official Fourteener. It is tall enough, but it is only seen as a bump in the ridge to the taller Mount Lincoln. Though only about fifty feet taller, Lincoln was the more dominant peak and had a distinguished summit.

We dropped down a couple of hundred feet and then climbed Mount Lincoln. Prayer flags were hung between rocky ribs and we thought we were in Tibet. On our descent Amy said that she wished we could have stayed longer at the summit. Three summits down, but one more to go.

It seemed like a long and windy trek to Mount Bross. The trail was not hard, but instead endless with cold, gale-force winds.

Mount Bross is officially closed. It was marked closed. We summited anyway. We were not trying to be rebels violating the law. Instead we rationalized that the mining company that owned the land marked it as private so they would have no liability of injury. Four summits down (only three are official), but we still had to get to the car.

After studying the terrain we found the trail down - and it was a steep, steep, steep, down. It was not easy but the scree filled grade gave us quick passage. Sliding down snow sped our progress. I stood on top of one steep slope and fell. I tried to slow myself on the ice but the rocks were only feet away. At the last second I lifted my boots so that my crampons would not catch on the rocks and possibly break a leg. Amy said there was an explosion of talus when I hit and she thought I would not be able to stop myself. She blamed me for the sudden increase in her heart rate.

I dusted the rock dust from my body and did a quick triage. My hip, knee, and elbow were slightly injured, but what was wrong with my pinkie finger? Oh, it was dislocated, so I pulled it and it popped back in place. Great, no problem, except that it kept popping out of place. I just needed to keep the finger bent and it would behave.

Moving as quickly as possible we reached the car in about thirty more minutes. Amy rushed to find Jake sleeping dutifully in the car. What a great day, four peaks and we were still back to the car in six hours.

Oh, we had the finger checked at a clinic and it was fine.

Tomorrow is Mount Quandry outside of Breckenridge.