Mount Elbert Winter Ascent - Colorado 14ers

On 1/30/17, two fellow hikers and I set off to summit Colorado’s highest mountain - Mount Elbert. It towers over the surrounding peaks at 14,433 ft. Mount Elbert is the second highest peak in the contiguous United States next to Mt. Whitney. This mountain is a whole different beast in the winter. The Sawatch Range is one of my favorite mountain ranges in Colorado. Mount Elbert is gorgeous during the summer but even more beautiful during the winter. After 12.5 miles and 4,900 ft of elevation gain, the summit