Mountain Monday- Mt. Elbert 14,440'

Hello from Maine! I knew you are waiting on the edge of your seats for my Mtn Monday post and I didn't want to let you down! Forgive me for any funky misspellings or odd format views- currently writing this post from the Newark Airport during my 3.5 hour delay (insert eye roll)!  

I wanted to share with you my first 14er that I hiked several years ago (SOLO!) because although it was the highest 14,000 foot mountain in the Rockies, it's also one of the easiest! This hike took me roughly 4.5 hours and I started it around 8am (later than I would recommend)! My skaters had a competition in Vail, so I decided to take advantage of that and drive the 1.5 hour drive from Vail to Leadville!  

The scenery almost the entire hike was stunning (I hiked it in mid-July), but it was definitely pretty crowded!  

There was still snow everywhere on the actual hike and the road out to the trailhead was pretty rocky dirt roads (I drove slow and my civic made it out there just fine).  

I would say that in-shape older children could do this hike and I'd recommend trying to score one of the campsites along the road that leads to trailhead (so you can get an early start). Also if you can swing to do it during the week, when there are less crowds, I would!! It's a great beginner 14er (it still is very challenging) and make sure to give yourself 5-6 hours to complete the full  7.6 mile round trip . 

not my dog but look how cute?!?!

Happy Hiking!​

Have you ever hiked a 14er? Have a favorite?​

Any must-do hikes for Fall that you would recommend?​

Favorite way to pass time in an airport?​

Mountain Monday- Mt. Bross 14,172'

Recapping our hike up Alex's first fourteener (mountain summit that is over 14,000') and my second, Mt. Bross! The entire hike up is 4.5 miles and is relatively easy (no major rock scrambling), however it still is challenging because the altitude causes more exertion and heavier breathing than normal. We did this hike in middle of July last year and started around 5:30 in the morning (we had headlamps, but it soon got light enough that we didn't need them). There is an established old dirt mining road that you follow almost the entire way up to the summit (a small rock scramble up to the actual summit), which makes it nice and less stressful than others. We also only met 2 other people on our entire hike, so it was really quiet! 

We hit the summit around 9am and the weather was still perfect, so we were able to get a few good pictures. It's amazing that there was still so much history and mining machinery still there. There was also a for-sale sign on the mountain-how amazing would that be to purchase your own fourteener?!

I would highly recommend this for those who are looking to get a fourteener under their belt, but not excited about the possibility of rock scrambling or meeting crowds of people (there are a lot hikers on most 14,000ers during Summer weekends). We drove from Vail to the parking lot of the mountain and it took us around an hour and a half. There are not many places to camp close to the summit, so that is also something to consider. The majority of the hike is above treeline, so remember it would be dangerous to start the hike if weather even has the possibility of turning bad.