Nowhere is it easier to climb more fourteeners in a day than it is in the Tenmile-Mosquito range. A well-traveled seven-mile loop links Democrat, Lincoln, Cameron and Bross - at least three of which are fourteeners, depending on who you ask. On the weekend, as you might imagine, the place is mobbed.
To mix things up, I decided to substitute Democrat's 3rd-class north ridge for its much easier standard trail. From there I optimistically linked two more routes from Gerry Roach's guidebook to form a much longer and more difficult loop starting at Montgomery Reservoir.
Thanks to great weather and a 4:30 start, Christine, Cliff, Adam and I were able to complete the loop. The ridge was a lot of fun, and most of the trails were pretty easy. But the precipitous descent from Lincoln to the car was a loose, muddy, steep downclimb which I wouldn't do again.
Twice as treacherous is the shortcut we took around the southeast side of the unnamed 13er to start the Democrat North ridge. This was a mistake, and Christine took a serious fall when a rock broke loose. Once back on route, though, the rock was more reliable.
Mt. Democrat north ridge by moonlight
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/15s f/5.0 at 41mm iso1600
Flooded 4wd road
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/40s f/5.0 at 28mm iso800
Sketchy shortcut around point 13460. Christine took a severe fall from this downclimb when a handhold broke loose.
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/80s f/7.1 at 26mm iso100
On the ridge
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/125s f/8.0 at 17mm iso200
Looking back at point 13460 (Quandary in the distant background)
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/160s f/8.0 at 17mm iso200
Starting toward the summit
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/125s f/8.0 at 17mm iso200
Adam and Cliff on the ridge
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/125s f/8.0 at 50mm iso200
Cliff
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/125s f/9.0 at 33mm iso200
First 14er of the day: Democrat
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/200s f/10.0 at 44mm iso200
Cliff takes damage
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/160s f/9.0 at 44mm iso200
Crossing pseudo14er, Mt Cameron
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/160s f/9.0 at 53mm iso200
Cliff (with eyes on Adam and Tom)
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/160s f/5.6 at 83mm iso200
Naptime on Mt. Bross' summit, second fourteener of the day
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/320s f/5.6 at 75mm iso200
Christine sports GORP product placement (could be yours for only $5!)
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/200s f/7.1 at 33mm iso200
Cliff on Mt Lincoln, final fourteener of the day
19 July 2008
Canon Rebel XT
1/125s f/5.6 at 59mm iso200
The descent: 3000 feet of vertical in two miles, class 2+