This weekend, I met up with some fellow Colorado Mountain Club members and we headed for the high country. We spent the weekend backpacking and exploring the 122,918 acre Holy Cross Wilderness area and covered about 12 miles. We set up camp in an awe inspiring cirque, surrounded by 13,000 foot mountains, crystal clear lakes and an abundance of animals and wildflowers. We didn’t catch any state records, but caught more than our fair share of Cutthroat trout. I also spent a day with another member, getting him used to scrambling over talus and scree slopes on a nearby 13,000 foot peak. The weather couldn’t have been better: blue bird days and cool, clear evenings.
Mount Bierstadt
I’m now an official member of the club…the Fourteeners Club. 
(J joined the club last year, when he conquered Pikes Peak.) Fourteeners and summertime in Colorado go together like peas and carrots. With over 300 days of sunshine and awe-inspiring scenery, who wouldn’t want to be in this great state and have a view from the top! Mount Bierstadt stands at 14,060 feet and is a great 1st for a beginner like me. Roundtrip, the standard route is almost 7 miles and takes about 6 hours to complete. There is no easy 14er, but this mountain is considered to be one of the least difficult of the 54 summits.
The trailhead begins at Guanella Pass, with the first mile winding through willows and marsh. After that, it is all uphill straight to the summit. As we ascended up the trail we were surrounded by amazing views of the mountains – including a few 14ers, the Colorado blue sky and the marshy pools bordering the willows below. We stopped for a few rest stops along the way to enjoy the views and fuel up on some healthy snacks.
The path is well-defined until approximately the last half mile, when the trail fades into a field of rocks. This rocky area welcomes you to your final ascent up the boulder field to the summit. After about 4 hours, victory was mine! Reaching the summit was exhausting, but so exhilarating! To be on the summit, is almost indescribable….to be on top of the world, eye to eye with the clouds, enjoying the outdoors at its best.
At the top, we enjoyed some lunch, were visited by a whistle pig (marmot), and of course took lots of photos to document our accomplishment. <Listen to the Whistling Whistle Pig – CLICK HERE.> With clouds rolling in, we decided it was time to start our return trip to the trailhead. Descending went a little faster, but it was slightly more challenging to move down the rocky trail with tired legs. About a mile from the trailhead, we were visited by a few claps of thunder and an afternoon summer shower. Thanks to our training from the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC), we were prepared for almost any weather and quickly pulled out our rain jackets. I don’t think the couple we passed hovering under the tree in their shorts and sneakers have yet taken any courses from the CMC. As we approached the trailhead, we were congratulated on the days’ efforts by two moose frolicking in a marshy pond. Colorado outdoors is simply astounding.
Today was a day of accomplishments, physically, mentally and personally. It was an accomplishment for my body…climbing a mountain…hiking 6 hours…high altitude…I got this. It was an accomplishment for my mind…no more 14er intimidation…if I can climb one, I can climb, 2,3,4…even 54 …I can do this. It was an accomplishment in my life…a goal succeeded…to explore Colorado from the best vantage point – the top of the Rockies!
A Day at Mount Evans…
The Buckhorn Exchange
We took a step back in time in this week to visit Denver’s oldest restaurant/steakhouse, The Buckhorn Exchange. Serving Beef, Buffalo, Elk, Duck, Lamb and more; this establishment is a carnivore’s paradise. This historic restaurant has been open for over a century, opening its doors in 1893. They have Colorado’s very first liquor license which was issued in 1935. This National Historic Landmark has not changed much over the years, and that is a good thing.
Greeted by the eyes of over 500 prize game animals and seated at the red gingham covered table, it feels like you have entered into the wild west. Dinner menus are presented as a nostalgic newspaper – The Osage Gazette. There are plenty of entrees to choose from but if you are really hungry, you might want to try The Big Steak. Steak sizes range from 1.5 to 4 pounds and can be shared with up to 5 people. That’s a lot of beef. Take a peek at the Supper Menu.
J ordered the special for the evening – a combo plate of Buffalo and Elk. And I chose the Beef Tenderloin and Quail, along with a bowl of Buffalo vegetable stew. 
As expected, the meat is tender, seasoned perfectly and expertly cooked. With over 100 years experience, I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
When visiting Denver, The Buckhorn Exchange is a must see and taste. Easy to find, they are located just a few minutes from downtown Denver at 1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204. Visit their website: buckhornexchange.com.
Backpacking Rocky Mountain National Park
A friend from the Colorado Mountain Club and I planned a backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park last weekend. We took Friday off and stopped by the backcountry permit office inside the park and picked up our permit. Permits are required for camping at backcountry sites, which are campsites with no facilities where you pack everything in and pack everything out. We headed down to the Glacier Gorge area and headed up the trail. My GPS didn’t want to cooperate, but we estimated that we covered about 14 miles over the weekend. Not a marathon backpacking trip, but we saw some great scenery and it was good practice carrying our 60 pound packs to gear up for an even further trip next time. The first night we camped under Longs Peak at the Boulder Brook site around 10,500 ft. We could not have asked for better weather the entire weekend. Temperatures were in the upper 30’s-40’s at night and 80’s during the day with crystal clear blue skies. We did have a little wind in the evenings (ha, about 40 mph). The second night we camped at the Old Forest Inn site near the Big Thompson River. Here is some eye candy for you to enjoy:
The 7 P’s
Wilderness Trekking School has come to an end with the completion of Survival Field Day. Survival Day was an opportunity to learn and practice basic survival skills. During the entire course, we have learned that day hikes usually go as planned, however, stressful situations can happen when we least expect it and one should always be prepared for the unexpected.
When hiking for more than a couple of miles, you should always pack the 10 essentials to be prepared for any emergency situation. These items will be invaluable if someone becomes injured, you become lost, or you have to spend the night in the wilderness.
- Navigation (map and compass). FYI – The alcohol in the compass can also be used as a fire accelerant.
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
- First-aid supplies. You need more than just a couple of band-aids.
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles). Vaseline saturated cotton balls and greasy potato chips can also be used as fire starters.
- Repair kit and tools
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency shelter. Many lightweight tents only weigh between 1-2 pounds.
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- Learning How To Survive
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- A frame for a 2 person shelter
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- 2 Person Shelter Constructed by J
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- Our Instructor’s survival “tent”
Remember the 7 P’s: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
If interested in learning more, click here for the WTS Survival Guide by Nick Weighton.
Ready to hike? Then read Mountaineering: Freedom Of Hills – Considered THE GUIDE for outdoor/mountaineering enthusiasts.
Travel Flashback ~ Israel 2008
Furry B is out of commission for a little while due to his ACL surgery, so our “adventures” have been put on hold. We went back to the vault and dug up a video that I made last year from my travels to Jerusalem, Israel in 2008. I was lucky enough to spend about 3 weeks there; hope you enjoy.
JKB Adventures 