5 of 17

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

view us as something to eat!

The trail which had risen gently up to now, began to climb more steeply as I neared the end of the long wide valley. I headed firstly up steep heathery slopes before veering more to the left over rocky terrain near a shallow col. Heading up away from the col and leaving the valley's confines, I found myself in a huge stony bowl in the mountainside as the track levelled out a little. The upper walls of this cirque were formed by the high crags and snowfields of Grays and Torreys Peaks still far above. I could just make out ant like figures picking their way across the snow just under the ridgeline.

I set off up the trail again after a rest, spotting a lone mountain goat by the side of the track. There were a few people about today, but it's a popular route and the weather was warm and settled, unlike on some of my other walks in Colorado this trip. I particularly remember one guy who was sat at the brink of a vast snow slope.

"I'm going to do it" he shouted back to his girlfriend , who shouted back something about hospital bills if he broke his leg.

"I've decided - I'm definitely doing this!" as he pushed off and began to slide down the slope, his dog moving to follow, before seemingly thinking the better of it and running back to his by now possibly ex girlfriend as whoops and cheers echoed back up the slope as he gathered speed below.

Back to the matter in hand and I continued up the zigzag path as it began cutting through wide snowfields which stretched down the bouldery slopes. I could now see far beyond the valley as the view opened out more the higher I went.

Further up and level with the col linking Grays with its neighbor Torrey's. Not much air up here - ten steps - stop for a breather - not far now. I was fairly well acclimatised and had no ill effects but here at 14000 feet, my legs would only go at half normal speed.

There were my 2 mates who'd started the hike with me just below the top which I reached only just after them. Hare and tortoise hey! They were fitter than me but maybe not as used to the altitude as I'd thought.

The summit of Grays Peak at 14270 feet is the highest point on the Continental Divide or main ridge of the Rocky Mountains and the view is befitting for such a place. Beyond the far off plains of South Park rose the even more distant lone summit of Pikes Peak. Moving round to the west, passing the long snowy line of peaks topped by Mt Elbert, the highest in the Rockies, Lake Dillon where I'd been staying came in to view beyond the continuing divide ridge. To the North lay great forests with the Indian Peaks heading up towards Rocky Mountain National Park while east of us and closer to hand was the Mt Evans range. We were surrounded by a sea of summits, all seemingly below. Only Torrey's Peak seemed to approach our height, it's snowy flanks leading the eye down to the valley where the Interstate crossed the Rockies at the Eisenhower Tunnel thousands of feet below.

I was tempted to go to Torry's as well but time was getting on so, re united with the ice hockey guys, I set off back down towards the trailhead, managing to keep up with no difficulty going downhill.

Learn more about this author, Pete Buckley.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Travel experiences: Hiking adventures?
We want to hear your view. Write now!