Got a couple 14ers in today. Went with my best friend this go.The dirt road up to the summer parking lots wasn't too bad if you have a higher clearance vehicle. We got to the parking lots at 6:20am or so. I was surprised to see all of the smaller cars making it up there. Anyways, getting situated and after gearing the pup up we crossed the bridge to start the trail at 6:45am. It was a nice and chilly summer morning up there, 45degrees or something, I love the cold and it showed as I was the only one in a t-shirt at the time lol. After passing through the nice gradual uphill landscape with the peaks in the distance, we started to ascend the switchbacks towards Grays. My friend and I felt pretty confident on the time we were making because we kept passing people even though I would stop to rest here and there. We reached Grays summit at 8:15am and ate/relaxed/recharged. I was impressed with my husky Freya's job hustling with us to the top. I was only annoyed at the chipmunks chirping at her. I swear they were taunting her the whole way up. The wind at the top of Grays picked up and that told us it was time to tackle the saddle and up the switchbacks to Torrey at around 9:15am. We got to the summit of Torrey's about 10:30am. At the top of Torrey's we hung out for a good while. The weather was beautiful with maybe a few clouds in sight. After getting both peaks we thought it would be a good idea to take the trail that follows Kelso Ridge? It was a bad idea and after getting to a point where it wasn't safe to go further, back up to Torrey's we went. It was a scramble going up this side. Took a quick rest atop Torrey's again and headed back down the way we came. Halfway down the switchbacks, this lady and her dingo-pitbull looking creature dog were there. She tried to let us pass but as soon as her dog saw Freya it immediately started growling, and we were a good 15ft away when it did this... Freya was too busy to notice... the birds in the distance were obviously more worthy of her attention. Of course, I waited until this lady was ready to let us go, she tells us its okay to pass. Her dog growls again as we tried to pass and the lady just says "hey" to her dog and tries to pull it back closer to herself, in doing so she stumbles and drops the leash...sure enough her stupid dog charged me and Freya. My friend stepped between the Dingo creature to halt its lunge towards Freya. I attempted to shield her from this dog by pulling her behind me. It almost got my dog three times before the lady and her friend were able to get the dumb dog back . I can assure you having to that on a switchback facing downhill is really hard lol. After the dog was restrained the lady didn't really say anything, I think her friend might have said sorry.. After that drama I checked my dog for nips or cuts, all clear, we continued our descent. Glad I always have Freya on a leash. A mile or so from the car we ran into these nice people with another husky and rested and let the dogs hang for a bit. We got back to the car at 1pm. Aside from the downhill drama the two 14ers were fun and the nice weather made it even better of a day. It became increasingly windy on the way down so I am glad we left when we did but I didn't see any potential for thunderstorms during the afternoon and it showed as the road back to the Hwy was completely packed with cars.











Hands were cold, best way to warm them? Husky fur

Panorama



She was stalking a chipmunk

Beautiful!! I'm super jealous

Awesome pictures! I'm sure Freya was super tired. That sounds like one busy day!

Great Pics! Our boys are going to try their first summit next weekend at Mt. Evans. We'll see how it goes.

i was just telling Dierta to try Grays! you made great time on that to, i did it in about 6hrs as well, we were booking it just to get away from all the people, my friend picked the date and that was the same day a tour bus showed up with a company of like 40+ to hike it as a team builder,  it was soooo bad...

great pics and nice the weather held up, and what were you thinking trying to get a dog down that ridge!!! glad u turned back around. was the snow field still between the saddle? that was our biggest issue crossing that with 2 dogs and asshats on the other side not waiting for you to make it and getting trapped in the middle trying to make room to pass. i hate stupid hikers. and i hope that lady learned her dog should not be on trails or she needs to learn how to not drop the leash!

Yikes 40+ is a big crowd to deal with lol. I actually experienced something similar. When we got there in the morning I noticed 3 government issued vans. On our way up I saw military guys split up in what looked like three teams of about 10 guys. Luckily for me they conquered both peaks maybe an hour before we got to Grays and took Kelso ridge back, I am still curious of how fast their times were, they were flying up to those peaks lol. It was completely dry on the saddle and the entire hike really, I saw a few patches farther off the trail with that pink algae stuff on it. Can't believe you have two dogs and people still won't let you pass first haha ridiculous.

awesome pictures!! I need to try this one!

Wow, I took my wife and a couple of friends up Grays and Torreys on the 11th, just a few days before you did. What a coincidence, huh?