Bagged another Colorado 14er yesterday, also took Erica up her first 14er! so the trip started with everyone bailing on me which lead to me asking Erica if she was working Sunday, and if she was up for the hike, well she was game.
we car pooled up together since she happen to live near the route i was taking, I-70 to 285. Erica got to experience a car ride with crying Jack and i learned Maggie liked to chew leashes   see this post https://www.itsahuskything.com/t10970-ruff-wear-fail#166785
We made it to the trail head around 7am, Kite lake trail head, 12,000ft.
http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=demo1&peak=Mt.+Democrat
I ran a track for this hike but its a sad report so im leaving it out.
we did 4 miles RT and reached the summit at 14,148ft. I helped Erica out and took maggie up the trail for her, i also half way down took maggie down the rest of the way to help save Erica's knee, i was able to leave S&J off leash so having just her was fine for me. we then got to the car and i turned the power on, not the engin to open the windows and when it was time to leave my battery was dead! thankfully 2 guys gave me a jump and we were on our way home. this is a rocky trail and Sierra was hurting that night and this morning from all the hopping she was doing, not sure if she is sore or her pads of the feet hurt, the feet look fine on both of them. i would say this ranked as an easy 14er right along with Mt. Evans if you are looking for an easy first 14er. Erica did great even with no training leading up to it and her bummed knee, i hope she will be up for another one soon.  oh and there is a $3 parking fee at the trail head unless you park on the road under the sign.ok now on to pictures!




looking back at kite like and the parking lot.


Erica with maggie before i took her.


3 dog tow to the top!


Erica at the saddle






Snow break!


crowd at the summit


summit sign


Erica got her first 14er!!!


Erica and Maggie on the summit


me and the pups on the summit


the 5 of us on the summit

Summit views!







time to head back down


Erica tried to make it down with maggie but maggie wanted Erica to fall many times....


Erica working the rocky section


mini break


maggie wanted to roam with the huskies but was stuck with me




cooling off


silly huskies

till our next adventure....

Funny, my dad hiked Mt Democrat last month along with a few other 14ers.

You should have told me, would have loved to hike one with him!

One, he's not a dog person...at all. Two, he did all his hikes with some family we have out in the Denver area so he had hiking buddies for all his hikes.  Maybe if he goes out that way again.

It was lots of fun!!! I hope to do another one soon!! Oh I will write you a check for the leash. She has not done that since she was a puppy!!

Good Job Erica!

Great pics girls! So jealous!!

Looks like a nice hike. I did Mt Evans this weekend. As long as the weather is decent I think Im going to try and get another one in this weekend. Any suggestions on a good one thats not to far from Denver?

Oh man that is just beautiful! I am completely jealous.

kmm0911 wrote:

Looks like a nice hike. I did Mt Evans this weekend. As long as the weather is decent I think Im going to try and get another one in this weekend. Any suggestions on a good one thats not to far from Denver?

depends on what you are after, there are plenty of 14ers and 13ers with in a hr drive. check out 14ers.com and 13ers.com they have an interactive map off all the peaks you can see what is close.