We got up, made a hearty hot breakfast, put on our bottom layer of clothes, packed our protein bars and water, and grabbed our Colorado beer. We were told this was a tradition - drinking a Colorado beer once we summitted our fourteener - and so dangit, we were going to do it right!
We started driving into the mountains, skirting the western edge of Denver, and headed to the base of Mount Bierstadt: 11,000 feet. Mind you, we are driving from Greeley: 4,700 feet. I began to feel the effects of this... winding mountain roads, an increase in over 6,000 feet, the big breakfast in my belly, the heat from having so many layers on... and sitting in the back seat. Then, for a moment, it didn't matter - We found the mountain! That is, we could see it. We began driving around it. This time of year is a little late in the season and not many people were around. The campgrounds, etc were all closed for the year and things were not marked very well. ie we drove around looking for the unmarked trailhead for over an hour. WE WERE GOING TO CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN. We could see it, but being beginner hikers, didn't want to stray from the path... can you say frustrating?
Once it was too late to begin the hike and get back down at a safe time, we abandoned our search and began another trail that wasn't a fourteener. sad face. But, we went in with good spirits since we were still able to hike and be with each other. It was beautiful! There were rocky slopes and cliffs and a gorgeous mountain lake. About half way up it began to snow. It was so pretty! We summitted near another little mountain lake and decided to celebrate by doing a little swimming :) Brr.... then drank our beer and headed back down the mountain.
On the way home, we stopped by FOCUS national headquarters to say hi to our friends there and then in Boulder for dinner and darts with Kelley's boyfriend, Tommy. Such a wonderful day!!
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