Peakbagger.com
Peak Lists	Climbers	Ranges	Geography	Help	Search	Log In

Ascent of Mount Evans on 2011-10-16

Climber: john ward

Other People:

Solo Ascent

Date:

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Peak:

Mount Evans

Location:

USA-Colorado

Elevation:

14264 ft / 4347 m

Ascent Trip Report

Arrived at Echo Lake at 3:30 am but didnt find the Chicago Lakes trailhead until 4. Descended to the Chicago Lakes and then entering the Mount Evans Wilderness, I followed the trail to the base of Mt. Warren (13,307'). Random patches of snow made it difficult to see and follow the trail in the dark. I missed the trail heading around the West side of the base of Mt. Warren and instead headed straight up to the summit. By the time I reached the summit (Mt. Warren) it was light out and I could see Summit Lake to the South and the trail up and over Mt. Spaulding's ridgeline to Mt. Evans. I descended to Echo Lake and then picked up the trail again. But it didnt take me long to lose it, largely due to the snow but also because it was very windy out and I was worried about going over the ridgeline. So I took a line about 600 feet below the ridgeline and followed it until I reached a dead end. Looking up I spotted some kerns on an overhang near the top of the ridgeline. I made for the kerns, changing the class 2 standard hike into a class 3 climb. Once on top of the ridgeline, I was astonished at how wide it was and how much easier it was then what I had been doing. From there on out it was easy hiking to get to the summit. I descended on the road (then closed) back to Summit Lake to avoid the snow and then stayed on the Chicago Lakes Trail all the way back to Echo Lake, arriving at 1:00 pm. Altogether it took me 8.5 hours (if I exclude the half hour spent looking for the trailhead in the dark, and a half hour at the end helping an injured hiker).

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

4014 ft / 1222 m

Grade/Class:

Class 2

Route Conditions:

Snow on Ground

Weather:

Cold, Windy, Clear
Cold before sunrise. Strong gusts of wind

Ascent Statistics

Elevation Gain:

4014 ft / 1222 m

Extra Loss:

400 ft / 121 m

Distance:

15 mi / 24.1 km

Route:

Chicago Lakes to Summit Lake

Trailhead:

Echo Lake 10650 ft / 3246 m

Time Up:

5 Hours 30 Minutes

Descent Statistics

Time Down:

4 Hours 0 Minutes

This page has been served 147 times since 2005-01-15.