Colorado 14ers Grays & Torres (Winter)
(Posted by Dash on behalf of Aneesh and Diksha)
Hikers are known to test their limits and are always curious about capabilities of hiking new summits…
Started with the small hikes and then half dome felt like this was it! But we Always kept pushing each other for doing some more within our limits. Most of the time only 80% prepared, sometimes thinking 100% prepared but becoming only 50% with nature’s challenges. After half dome we thought doing any other hike should be moderate for us but it always kept getting more difficult each time.
Thinking about the view from the top of active volcano wasn’t even in our list. But we couldn’t stop ourselves from doing this after Seeing a picture of St. Helens summit view! We had to do it. And to be honest we weren’t even prepared that much, with gears and accessories. But the goal to reach the summit was very clear! We did not expect snowy conditions in July while doing the research, watching videos online. We did it with most painful and tiring hike when we met very generous lady who lent us her cramp ons which we shared one for each… instead of 2 pairs of hiking poles we had one broken wooden stick shared between us. We didn’t think we could reach the top, it was never ending!! We cried while looking at the smoke coming out the volcano from the summit… we could see Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Jefferson from top. It was Magical.
On Oct 30 we decided to hike in Colorado Rockies. Another couple, Sumant and Trupti were also joining us. Next thing was deciding which 14er. After talking to many people and research online we decided on Mt. Bierstadt for our first 14er. Sadly, the roads to Mt. Bierstadt were closed due to weather conditions just 2 weeks before the hike day. We switched Greys and Torreys peak as our second and safer option. I contacted (Haresh) Dash from Desi Outdoors for guidance, as we all were first timers. He is a distant relative whom I met for the first time in July 2022 at a wedding but instantly connected due to common interests. He was very glad to help but also decided to join and guide for the hike.
He was very detailed in his explanation and very helpful in every step of preparation. We prepared accordingly his gear lists and packing instructions. During the week of hike Colorado had a winter storm which covered the mountains completely with snow and suddenly the originally planned summer hike turned into winter hike. Luckily on the weekend the weather was beautiful, sunny and perfect for hike.
We did a prep hike on saturday to beautiful Chasm lake. The trail starts from the famous Longs peak trailhed (at 9400 ft) and climbs thru alpine forest offering best views of Rocky Mountain National Park.
There is steep incline up and the final scramble to Chasm Lake. With the icy rocks and trail conditions it took us an hour before we reached the lake.
The day of hike we started around 6:30 AM from our AirBnB lodge. We reached lower parking lot of the Grays trailhead by 7 am. Road from lower parking lot to trailhead was steep and completely snow covered. We definitely didn’t want to add 6 miles (to and fro) to an already difficult hike. So fingers crossed, we started driving in the snow. Dash had suggested we should rent SUV. This 6 miles in snowy rough road is the only time we absolutely needed SUV. If you’re planning to hike in Colorado winter, SUV is must as roads to trailhead are not maintained. Finally we reached trailhead by 7:30 all hyped up and prepared for first 14er. We took a mandatory selfie and the trailhead and started the hike.
With slow and steady pace, we were hiking, hydrating frequently to avoid sickness. Not sure what Sumant ate the night before or what motivation he had but he was hiking like a sherpa that day, much faster than entire group. We could see him in a distance for first 2 hours then he disappeared in the snow. Roughly 5-10 mins behind him was Dash’s friend Kaushik, about 10 mins behind Kaushik there we four of us, Dash, Diksha, Trupti and I. We continued with a slow and steady pace in the gulch and surrounding mountains. Now we reached about 11500-12000 ft. We could see the Grays and Torreys peaks and Mt Kelso around us.
Now I was getting tired, didn’t feel like altitude sickness but just tired. Trupti was feeling nauseous at this moment. Dash was accompanying Diksha to climb with a slow pace. Trupti and I were taking more breaks, so I asked Diksha and Dash to go ahead and was accompanying Trupti. I gave Trupti Gave her some energy drink, water and oranges. Kept pushing and motivating her but her nausea feeling wasn’t getting any better. At the next stop when we took a long break (4 of us). Trupti decided not to continue roughly at 12000 ft. Very wise decision, always listen to your body when in doubt. So, we gave her car keys, some food and she started journey back. Dash, Diksha and I continued. Sumant was seen nowhere. We could see Kaushik at a distance, probably he was slowing down now. In next half an hour or so we caught up with him, so it was 4 of us again. As we went up It was snow everywhere, no place to sit and relax, or even pee but of course when you have to go, you have to go. Now air was starting to feel much thinner, I was feeling lightheaded, exhausted and sleepy. I could definitely tell it’s not just regular tiredness but mild signs of altitude sickness. Fact that there is not a single rock to sit on was really frustrating me. I was desperately looking for any opportunity to just sit down. I finally spotted one tiny, uncovered rock at distance, rushed ahead of group and went to it. Quickly sat down and literally took a nap while sitting. Aahhh! felt so good. So good that I didn’t want to get up at all. Kaushik came from behind and woke me up. I told him I was feeling sleepy, at least I thought I told him that. Later I came to know that I was blabbering, and my legs were shivering. I had no memory of this, but he panicked a little and gave me some coffee bean to gain alertness. Dash kept pushing me, ensuring that I hydrate and keep walking with slow and steady pace. With every altitude gain it was getting difficult. I don’t know how but even at about 13000+ ft, Diksha was doing very well. No impact of altitude, she was just walking like a normal hike and here I was barely moving. I think Dash’s guidance helped her. And I just kept following her. Now we could see the summit coming closer, my head is pounding, and I could feel there is less oxygen each breath, but I’m so close how can I go back now. Maybe just 500 ft left to the summit so I kept pushing and there we saw Sumant coming down, he told us the views at the summit at breathtaking and only about 20 mins left to the summit. That gave me some motivation that I could do it. I told even Diksha to go ahead, as I needed to take more breaks and didn’t want to slow her down or miss her opportunity to do summit. In next 10-15 mins which felt like hours to me, Diksha cried ‘WE ARE HERE ANEESH- THIS IS IT!!’ I was roughly 20 steps behind; I finished those slow and heavy 20 steps and we were all at the summit. The views of mountains all around, tiny snowflakes landing on barely exposed skin of the face, gushing wind and a feeling of accomplishment! Really hard to describe but it was truly magical. We finally made it. Though I was super exhausted and in very confused state of mind, I am glad I could finish it. I usually more active and fit than Diksha but at the higher altitude, she’s a champion. Felt very impressed and proud of her – you go girl, I will follow you!
We started towards Mt. Torrey’s. We began on the saddle and steady climb to Mt Torrey. With my condition and lack of daylight we decided to started journey downwards from 14K ft.. As we started losing altitude I started to feel slightly better. Return journey was much quicker, we got back in about 2-2.5 hours to the trailhead. I was feeling better, though headache stayed with me for 2 more hours. It took us about 9.5 hours total to finish the hike. We all made it safe to the car by 5:30, some later than other but we made it. What a day!
At some point on that mountain, I decided this would be my last 14er, but now when I look back at it, I can guarantee there many more to come. Starting breathing exercises right away. Though it was tough, it would have been much more difficult without Dash. His wisdom definitely helped a lot.
Until next hike …..