Mt Harvard & Mt Columbia

We did it!!!

Left to Right:
Wade (?)
Barry (Barry-eh?)
Rob (Capn')
Eric (Slider)
Sarah (Sacagawea)

Sep 24th found us leaving Colorado Springs at 2:41am, headed for the trail. I think it was after 9pm when we got home. A long, hard day. But oh so worth it to check out the views from the top of the world!

Check out the links on the side bar to see trip pictures. Specifically look at Gardner Pics & Places and Friesenworld.

CLIMBING CHECKLIST

OK – So here is a Climbing Checklist that I have put together, just to help me be reminded as I am preparing for a hike. If you have any comments or suggestions, please leave a comment.

CRITICAL……..
Identification, with emergency phone numbers.
Small sunscreen-inside nose!
Gloves
Baseball cap/ floppy hat
Ear muffs/stocking cap
First aid
2-way radios
Camelback + WATER!
Food (Breakfast and lunch)
Extra batteries - for cold!
Cell Phone
Hiking boots
Good socks
Hard copy map
Compass
Extra Power Bars
Waterproof jacket

NICE TO HAVE……
Camera
Foam pad for sitting
Eyeglass strap
GPS
Walking poles
Waterproof long pants
Plastic bags
Thermometer
FlashlightGuide book

FOR A SNOW HIKE….
Ice axe
Gaiters
Snow goggles!!
Snow pants
Snow shoes

FIRST AID KIT……..
(*) means most important items
* Lighter
* Signal Mirror
* Whistle
* Some band-aids
* Toilet paper
* A Swiss army type knife
* Small Sunscreen
Matches
Cheap poncho
Nylon string
A small candle
Vet wrap
Burn ointment
Aspirin
Small roll of tape
Moleskin
Space blanket Small LED flashlights


TIPS……
-Be drinking LOTS of water in the days leading up to the hike. You can’t hydrate your body enough the day of the hike!
-Have a contact person back home with everyone’s name and contact info. Contact person should also know the hike, trailhead, vehicle traveling in (and licenses plate #). They should also know the type and difficulty of the climb.
-Estimate time for trip (1 mile per hour?) and add hours on for uncertainties.
-Set a turn back time.
-Carry each others contact info, including cell phone #’s. Use 2-way radios!!!
-Don’t get separated from the group, if at all possible.
-Memorize the route info before hand! Use the GPS and hard copy info frequently throughout the trip. (Avoid wasting time trail finding.)
-Have the target summits and surrounding summits as waypoints in the GPS for easy bearing info.
-Buy the “Search and Rescue” stamp at the Colorado Dept of Wildlife (Sinton and Garden of the Gods) for $12. It lasts 5 years, and if S&R ever has to get called out for you, it covers all costs.
-Avoid “shortcuts!” Short means steep and hard, usually resulting in LONGER trips anyway.

Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak

Mount Shavano 14,229 feet (17th highest)
Tabeguache Peak 14,155 feet (25th highest)

Yes!! We did it! And everyone survived the trip as well. It’s always a good thing to come back with as many as you begin with!

On September 5, 2005, five of us made the hike up these two peaks. Here are the stats:

11.6 miles total
About 4.5 miles up to Shavano, another 1 over to Tab
5:23 moving time
3:35 stopped time
Started at 5:50am
Moving average 2 mi/hr
Overall average 1.2 mi/hr

Hikers were Rob, Barry, Eric and Andrew and Wade. Headed out of town just before 3am, and were hiking at 5:50am. (In the dark! Sunrise at 6:36am)

It was a great day – a beautiful hike up the mountain. Eric took off ahead, and learned later that that was not the best idea, as all kinds of unforeseen things could happen (although nothing did happen this time!).

We ran into a heard of Mountain goats and Mountain sheep, and got some cool pictures. AS we summitted the saddle, about ½ mile below the Shavano summit, the storm hit. Rain, then snow!! We pushed hard for the summit, and arrived after about 4 hours. The storm let up, cleared off, and we had a beautiful rest of the day.

Barry stayed on Shavano, and the rest of us summitted Tab. (Everyone I asked had a different pronunciation for the mountain, so we just nicknamed it Tab!) The guide book had said to “not” take a shortcut that looked good but was not – but we saw some other guys take it so we did too. Turned out to be quite the adventure. Conclusion – trust the guide books!!!

We set out to catch up with Barry, but Andrew was lagging a bit. Finally caught Barry and made it to the car, with Andrew arriving about a ½ hour later. Another successful adventure!!!

PS – Check out the links in the side bar! You can find all the trip pictures there!

Go for a Hike!

So, what’s this all about? It’s all about getting folks together with similar interests! If you love to be outside, enjoying this wonderful creation from the top of Colorado’s highest peaks, then you need to join us for an adventure.

Post a comment, or email Wade Gardner at wadedara@hotmail.com if you would like info on our next hike!