Roundtrip Mileage/Elevation Gain -- 9.0 miles/4,400 feet

This would be my first climb with Ian in 2007.  We left my place at the bright and early time of 3:30, and arrived at the North Elbert trailhead at 5:45.  After taking a few minutes to get our gear together, we hit the trail at exactly 6:00.  The weather was typical for a summer morning in the mountains -- cool and calm. 

We set out on our typical plodding pace and reached treeline after about an hour and fifteen minutes.  We stopped to apply sunblock and eat a snack, and headed on up the trail.  As I had climbed Mt. Elbert back in 2002, I was aware of the devious false summit that appeared as we came out of treeline.  I can remember how dejected I felt back in 2002 as I got to the top of what I thought was the summit, only to realize that I still had about a half hour of hiking in front of me. 

Ian and I slowly worked our way up the first false summit.  The trail is well-defined all of the way, and truly represents Class 1 hiking.  There is nothing remotely resembling scrambling.  The only thing setting us back was the heat -- we were both surprised at how hot it was.

We reached the false summit at about 9:00 and continued our upward hike.  In the five years since my first ascent of the mountain, I had forgotten about the length of the hike beyond the first false summit.  However, we knew we were close.

We reached the summit at 9:30.  I was pleased with our ascent time of three hours and thirty minutes.  The weather was great -- very little wind and a little cooler.  In fact, after sitting for a few minutes, I considered putting my jacket on, but knew that doing so would only result in me having to take it off on the descent.  We spent about thirty minutes on the summit eating lunch and taking in the great views from the 2nd highest point in the Continental United States.  I took a few minutes to treat some developing blisters on my heels, and we took off on our descent at 10:00.

Our descent was uneventful and quick.  We reached Ian's car at 12:30 for a descent time of two and half hours.  It was another great day in the Sawatch Range.

Ian gets his first look at Elbert's false summit.	Ian decides that it is hot enough for him to shed the legs of his convertible hiking pants.	Me getting ready to head up the false summit.	A look back into the Arkansas River Valley.	Our first look at the summit!
Me on the summit with Mount Massive in the background.	No solitude on 14'er summits on summer Saturdays.	Mt. Massive from the Elbert trail.	Looking back down at the final stretch from Elbert's summit.	Looking back down the trail on the descent.