Mt. Elbert, 14,433ft via the Mt Elbert Trail
8-27-06
Mountainbikerskierchick, goldenboy
Mt Elbert is the highest peak in CO, the highest peak in the rocky mountains, and the 2nd highest peak in the lower 48. Despite this, the mountain is basically a huge hill, so riding a mountain bike down it isn't just possible, but enjoyable. When MBSC and I skied Elbert just 2 and a half months ago, we discussed a return trip to ride down the thing, so that's what we did.
Ski TR: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ghlight=elbert
We awoke on Saturday, the 26th to a downpour. We didn't even try for Elbert, but instead went to Buena Vista to kill time drinking coffee at Bongo Billy's, hitting the Cottonwood hot springs, and eventually the drive-in theatre. This is what it looked like most of the day:
Sunday looked a bit more promising, and we began pushing our bikes up (there is approx 1 mile of riding on the way up). As some clouds parted and I got a look at the upper elevations, we realized that quite a bit of snow had fallen. I was pretty excited about it, and only got more excited when the clean, crisp, snowy air reached my nostrils and touched my skin. Not dirty old suncups, mind you, but fresh clean snow.
The 4,000 foot climb took just 2 hours and 45 minutes, despite pushing our bikes. No question about it, MBSC is one chick that definitely rips.
MBSC on top:
The north face of La Plata, almost looking skiable:
Me, on the summit, with my Yeti waiting patiently in almost a foot of windblown:
Some shots from the way down:
Singletrack leads all the way past the shores of Twin lakes, far below in the picture (over 6,000 vert)
A bit of air down low:
The trail remains steep and techy all the way down:
Given the continued threatening nature of the weather and a bit of an endo suffered by MBSC, we called it a day at the 4wd trailhead, rather than continuing down to twin lakes. There is at least one more rideable route on Mt Elbert, the NE ridge route. Having hiked it as well, I know that it is more technical, but doable.
Results 1 to 25 of 51
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08-30-2006, 08:04 PM #1
Jack's got my back
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Clicking in at 14,000ft in the snow (Sorta SR)
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08-30-2006, 08:14 PM #2freaks~in~creeks Guest
sweet MTB stoke!!!!
very very nice
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08-30-2006, 08:27 PM #3
motorboats titties
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what a great TR! thanks!
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08-30-2006, 08:29 PM #4
Registered User
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That last shot is $$$$$$$!
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08-30-2006, 08:30 PM #5
plus size lifestyle model
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very amazing
Originally Posted by Roo
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08-30-2006, 08:45 PM #6
I belong with the snow...
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I have to admit, when goldenboy started talking about mtn biking Mt. Elbert back in May, I thought he was a bit crazy
But, then again, I'm always up for a challenge...
Some people hike 14ers, some people climb them, some people just look at them in awe. Why not do something different and just bike them???? Sounds like fun to me!!!!!
It was a great weekend and we got an excellent taste of winter that's just around the corner... smelled like winter, felt like winter, looked like winter!
Thanks goldenboy!!!!!!-
14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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08-30-2006, 08:50 PM #7
bikepathlete
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rad ride. looks killer.
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08-30-2006, 09:39 PM #8
Registered User
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.....
MTBing in a nice arena MBSC...watch out for those roots..
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08-30-2006, 09:41 PM #9
Registered User
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respect!
oh yea, sprockets beyotch!"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, — no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair." -Emerson
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08-30-2006, 09:44 PM #10
...darkness is beautiful
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Nice pics
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08-30-2006, 09:47 PM #11
Antisocialite
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That is some nice shit. If you can say without giving up some secret route, which trail was that?
"They don't think it be like it is, but it do."
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08-30-2006, 09:59 PM #12
Jack's got my back
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Powstash- Yeah, maybe sprockets, but w/ the snow, we were laying down figure 1's, so that's skiing, right?
Joey- It's the Mt Elbert trail, route 1.2.7 in the Dawson book. Like I said, the NE ridge goes too (1.2.6)
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08-30-2006, 10:17 PM #13
big white flake
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what a great shot
‹^› ‹(•¿•)› ‹^›
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08-30-2006, 10:50 PM #14
Registered User
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now that's refreshing!
Just simply kick ass!
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08-30-2006, 11:08 PM #15
Hucked to flat once
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It's going to be here soon. Looks like an awesome day.
Originally Posted by Benny Profane
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08-30-2006, 11:13 PM #16
happy
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Wow - 2 hrs, 45 minutes? That's amazing. And awesome!! Nice TR!!
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08-30-2006, 11:18 PM #17
Merkin Merchant
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That is really cool. You guys blow me away. You should check to see if its a first descent, just for fucks sake.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________
"We don't need predator control, we need whiner control. Anyone who complains that "the gummint oughta do sumpin" about the wolves and coyotes should be darted, caged, and released in a more suitable habitat for them, like the middle of Manhattan." - Spats
"I'm constantly doing things I can't do. Thats how I get to do them." - Pablo Picasso
Cisco and his wife are fragile idiots who breed morons.
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08-30-2006, 11:20 PM #18
I belong with the snow...
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Um, that was goldenboy's FIFTH descent of it on a bike Originally Posted by leroy jenkins
Not sure if anyone was crazy enough to do it before him.-
14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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08-30-2006, 11:23 PM #19
*NOT* an expert
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snow+scree+bike == t3h gn4r
Originally Posted by blurred
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08-30-2006, 11:25 PM #20
Merkin Merchant
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Don't tell me they were solo trips. That would be burly, and one crazy mission of a solo trip. Originally Posted by mtnbikerskierchick
Um, that was goldenboy's FIFTH descent of it on a bike
Not sure if anyone was crazy enough to do it before him.__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________
"We don't need predator control, we need whiner control. Anyone who complains that "the gummint oughta do sumpin" about the wolves and coyotes should be darted, caged, and released in a more suitable habitat for them, like the middle of Manhattan." - Spats
"I'm constantly doing things I can't do. Thats how I get to do them." - Pablo Picasso
Cisco and his wife are fragile idiots who breed morons.
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08-30-2006, 11:30 PM #21
________________
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good lord
a little bit of everything in there
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08-31-2006, 06:44 AM #22
A. K. A. Yank Mojo
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Bringing it home once again, sweey TR.
Have fun or get hurt bad. "MFT" A.K.A. Dr. Doom
There are but three true sports--bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games. "Ernest Hemingway"
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08-31-2006, 07:03 AM #23
Peter Pantsless
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Holy Shit that was nice!
Rad even!
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08-31-2006, 07:10 AM #24
Caul Fat Dealer
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To the rest of us...yeah. Originally Posted by divegirl
To MBSC/GB/ISKIBC et al...about an extra hour of dicking off with the bikes
Superrad you guys
"It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
- A. Solzhenitsyn
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08-31-2006, 07:21 AM #25
Registered User
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wow!!
that is so freakin' cool..
by the way, I didn't realize that elbert was the second-highest in the lower 48.. for some reason I always assumed rainier was higher.
Mt. Whitney Calif. 14,4941
Mt. Elbert Colo. 14,433
Mt. Massive Colo. 14,421
Mt. Harvard Colo. 14,420
Mt. Rainier Wash. 14,410
I was wrong.
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