While many of you were celebrating Halloween, I decided to take a trip to Colorado to do some hiking. 14ers in particular.

I decided that hiking 14,440 foot Mt. Elbert, the highest mountain in Colorado and second highest in the continental US, would be a great start to my mountaineering career. Oh yeah, in late October, there’s already snow there.

I flew into Denver and make my way to Leadville, CO to spend the night. Leadville is the highest elevation city in the US at over 10,100 feet. I figured that would be good for acclimating. But before that was food.

Peppino’s Pizza and Subs. A great meal if you are ever in Frisco. I had the meatball sub and a local brew called Bonfire Brewing Brush Creek Blonde Ale. Easy drinking and quite good.

Back in the car and off to Leadville with a big day ahead. My first Colorado hike in 10+ years and my first. ever. 14er.

Research told me that the South Mt. Elbert Trail was the way to go in winter. There is a rutty 4-wheel drive road to get to the trailhead. Fortunately I booked a compact. But they were out. So I was rollin’ in a 2015 4WD Toyota 4Runner. Win for me! I decided to get my money’s worth (or theirs…) and take it for a spin. The road was treacherous. Snowy. Creek crossings. Huge washouts. But I made it without damaging the car.

A word about gear. I love gear and I thoroughly geared up for this trip. While I do live in Georgia, I stocked up on winter hiking essentials. Gaiters from REI. MSR Snowshoes. Smart Wool. All great “investments” (for you Brad Fowler).

The start. Off I went. The trail wound through the woods and then turned uphill. It was tricky in the snow with just boots but I was able to make it a ways without issue. Gaiters were an absolute essential as there were several inches of snow on the ground.

As I approached the tree line, the snow started to get deeper. There was quite a bit of recent snowfall up there and snowshoes became a necessity to plod onward. Without them I would have been headed back. To the car. With no summit.

I applauded myself. For being out on the mountain alone. For having the right gear. For being prepared. The weather was pretty good, and the views were astonishing.

Yes, my finger wanted to be in the photo.

I made great time and quickly the summit was in view. Up to this point there was a clear trail of footprints for me to follow. And I gladly did. Once I reached the upper ridge, the luxury evaporated… or rather was blown away, literally, by the wind. No trails to follow. No markers. Just a view of the top of Elbert gleaming in the sun.

Between us was a steep hill with 2+ feet of powder, and then then a final ridge and push to the summit. Everything was going great, and I was making very good time.

The climb. Even in snowshoes, each step was labor. Especially at high altitude. I powered up the hill and nearly reached the top when I stopped to rest and catch my breath.

To this point, I had seen nobody. To my right, in the direction of Mt. Massive (a fun story – Massive is just a few feet shorter than Elbert, and in the 70’s, so hippies tried to make it the highest by piling up a stack of rocks at the summit to increase its height), I thought I saw a glimpse of my first people. But they were far. Far away. Like really far.

I had no trail to follow. I thought I was on South Mt. Elbert. These people were way off in the distance. Was I on the right trail? Was I headed off a cliff? Into an avalanche? I doubted myself. I started downhill towards them.

I descended. And ascended. I crossed huge, deep snowfields. I ascended more. I breathed heavily. More ascent. I reached the point where the people were. No people. No tracks. Not sure they were ever there.

As I assessed the situation, I realized it was a LONG way to the summit from where I stood. I had descended hundreds of feet and had walked away from my goal. I was exhausted. And I had no idea where the trail was. At this point, I decided ego would have to give. I would return back to the car and try again another day.

I had a good idea that there was a large rock outcropping that I needed to descend behind. I spotted it and proceeded down. Down. Down. Then up? Up more? Down a steep gully with deep snow. This wasn’t familiar… Where is the trail? Down. Down. Down. Over? Winding here and there. Windblown trees. Clouds rolling in. The sound of laughter somewhere off in the distance (for real! I do not lie). I had to admit to myself. I was lost. My trusty GPS on my phone said the trail was the complete opposite direction I was traveling.

Freezing temperatures ahead. No sleeping bag/tent (maybe I am really stupid?). No trail. I started to get a little uncomfortable. My current path was uncertain. Ahead, steep cliffs. Brutal ascents. Deep snow.

I made the best possible decision. I would retrace my footsteps over the past hour. So I did. It was treacherous. It wasn’t particularly fun. But I made it back to the top of the very hill where I first doubted myself and led myself off course.

Ego aside. 90% of me wanted to make a push to the summit even now, but I decided it was wiser to call it a day, head back to town, and get some food.

I enjoyed a good meal, some local beer, and not sleeping in freezing temperatures on the side of a mountain.

And yes. Its Mt. Elbert. Not Mt. Elb. I only made it part of the way.

Elbert 1, Chambers 0. I’ll get you next time…