Grays Peak - CO

Stevens Gulch up to Torrey's Peak was the 1st 14er I had ever climbed. I had been there twice that summer, so i was pretty confident I wouldnt have many problems navigating with snow on the ground. I decided Grays Peak was one of my best chances at summiting during that winter.

Leaving Denver around 5am I got to the winter TH around 6am. I tried to drive up the road but there was just too much ice and I kept on sliding. So I parked and walked up and additional 2 miles to the summer TH.

When I got to the Summer TH (45 after parking the Jeep) I saw a couple crossing the bridge, they were the only 2 people I saw that day in the trail. I wasn't able to summit, I was just to tired and running low on water.
On to the pics.......

When I pulled off I-70 it was still dark, but by the time I tried to get up the road, parked and got all my gear on sun was starting to come out.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890077.jpg

The bridge

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890076.jpg

First View of Peak

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890070.jpg

Following the tracks

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890068.jpg

Snowshoes really helped. Snow was packed to take my weight but with out them I would have been post holing all the way up.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890064.jpg

Finally caught up with the other hikers (not for long)

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890057.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890055.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890054.jpg

1 Sandwich and 2 Reese's Cups proved to not be enough during a winter hike

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890053.jpg

The wind can really carve some Sastrugi's

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890047.jpg

Making my way thru the side of a ridge

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890044.jpg

Looking back

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890041.jpg

Looking ahead

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890040.jpg

Torrey's

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890037.jpg

More Carvings

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890031.jpg

And this is how far I made it. By that time it was already 2pm and I still needed to hike back. Didn't want to hiking in the dark with out water. I'm thinking I had another 3/4 of a mile to the top?

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890026.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890025.jpg

Decided I would Glissade down the side of the mountain, I think that was the best part of the hike. FAWSOME!!!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890023.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890021.jpg

Saw some snow boarding tracks on my way back to the Jeep

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890010.jpg

Looking back at Grays Peak, feeling a bit down for not summiting, but very happy of being out that day.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...9/23890007.jpg

3 months later in Febraury I would summit during my 3rd attempt

As I had been doing in my last summits I waved my Guatemalan Flag

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...Success025.jpg

Great report! That is a cool looking peak. How long did it take you to summit?

Grays peak is a great winter climb. Very low avy danger and its pretty hard to get lost. It took me 7hrs 10 min RT for 10.5 miles