So I was itching for a Summit for 2015 and picked a close/easy one near our afternoon destination of Winter Park CO. It was just Ken and I with S&J. the only down fall is the trailhead is the same as the famed two 14ers Grays and Torreys and at 5:40am the place was PACKED. Ended up having to park on the side of the road. We took the main trail up and then right before the split in trails between the 2 peaks we hooked a right, but it was to far and ended up in a boulder field, sierra was not happy. we should have started up the mountain just after the water crossing where the GIANT cairn (pile of rocks) is.

Here is our track
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zg-snrdqJx-c.kDaSxf-V62aQ&usp=sharing

the totals for the day were: 5.4 miles RT, in 4h 46min with a elevation gain around 1,890ft. we had the summit all to our selves so we hung up there for almost an hour, it was a perfect summit

ok what you all have been waiting for, cute huskies hiking!


the front of Kelso Mt. from the parking lot


Grays (left) Torreys (right)


Ken with Sierra on the main trail up


Columbine (state flower)

taking a break up the 700ft gain to get to the ridge

Happy Jack


Jack blazing trail ahead of us


one of what seemed like a handful of false summits


Sierra in her classic snow dive

some summit views











summit pizza


me on the summit


summit


family summit pic


looking back down our path


Sierra


See the husky?


But we want to play in the snow!!!






back down the 700ft side


taking in the pretty flowers and getting great photos


after this section is where you should head up the side of the mountain


looking up what we just came down, the rocks off to the left is where we went up, bad move


Jack found a new friend to follow down the trail


looking back up to the front of Kelso


bridge back to the cars


map of the peaks

hope you enjoyed, till our next adventure!

Oh my gosh your pictures are so beautiful! It almost feels like I'm there LOL! Fifth from the bottom is breathtaking. Congratulations!

Wow!! Beautiful pics! Love Sierra's snow dive, haha. The scenery is gorgeous, especially with the snow!!!

superb shot on that fifth on form the bottom; defiantly makes you feel like your there.

great pics, Jenn.

Just found out my son turned down a job in Colorado because his then future wife was here, not there.


I asked if it wasworth it - he said emphatically "yeaj it was worth it. We can go to Colorado together!

"
My DIL is extremely atrhletic - she would definitely hike these mountains.

I can't wait...