Mt. Lindsey
14,042 via NW Ridge
Just 3 weeks ago, Randy tends to my foot and says "Take it easy for a while". I didn't but still planned to hike a 14er with him since we missed the opportunity in 2016. We had planned to follow up our Castle and Conundrum 14er trip with another trip to the Elk mountains of Colorado. We make an effort to plan an annual trip to tackle a more difficult peak since I have the experience in variable terrain. Randy is at about 35 14ers. I have summited all 58 in Colorado as well as Mt Rainier in Washington and am currently working on the 15 California 14ers with Laura who has also completed CO and WA. For Randy, it is a step toward making the CMC published list of 14er finishers in Colorado, currently at about 1,700 individuals.
As we drove to the trailhead around 5:30 am, we saw elk, deer and even a bear. The bear was at a ranch and likely raiding the dumpster. When it saw us drive by, it took off running full speed. At 20 mph, he passed us and jumped the fence just a few feet in front of our car and landed almost half way through the road. Before we knew it, he was gone. Randy decided the name of the ranch should be changed to Flying Bear Ranch. A fitting name for sure.
We arrived to the trailhead around 6:30 am and began hiking through the swampy trail and across a creek. There was a large downed tree to balance across using long limbs as poles for balance. I almost fell in but Randy made it safely across. Back on the trail we hiked a few miles of easy terrain. First through a field full of wildflowers, then a forest and finally an open valley with views of the surrounding mountains.
Finally at the ridge crest, we can see the remainder of our route to the summit. After scrambling for a few hundred feet, we reached the headwall and most difficult portion of the route. It is about 50 feet of difficult class 4 climbing. No ropes required, but a fall would most certainly be fatal here. Up and over the false summit and along a ridge for 10 minutes or so and we had reached the summit of yet another great Colorado peak!
We took in the views of nearby 14ers Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point, The Great Sand Dunes and The Crestone group in the distance. Randy poured a glass of wine for each of us as we toasted the business group where we met years ago. We hung out for a half hour before heading down with a lingering question about the sand dunes. Why is Star Dune the highest and why does it never change? Sand moves, right?
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