Pike National Forest - 2013 (Apr)
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Early April 2013 we decided to make a Winter attempt of Decalibron, so named for the four peaks of Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross. We arrived in Denver in the evening, and stayed overnight in Frisco. There were six members of our team, with one driving from Oregon, so the assembly was a little bit of a challenge. The following morning we drove south on Colorado 9 and turned through Alma to the Kite Lake Trailhead. Being Winter, the road was seasonally closed, and we had to hike in. Having received advice that the Kite Lake Trailhead had high winds, we camped a few miles south in a small grove of trees. Even at this location, the winds were becoming a concern.
Day Two we slept in and acclimatized to the higher elevation. We made a short hike to Kite Lake, and practised self-arrest on a nearby slope. Given that winds were expected to be 50mph on Saturday afternoon, and all of Sunday, we elected to start early to attempt these peaks. On Day Three we started at about 3am, but it wasn't until 4:30am that we left camp. Navigating in the dark wasn't that difficult, and very quickly the first rays of morning light made it easier. At about 10am, we summitted Mount Democrat. The winds were still good, and with a lengthy saddle, we would be on Mount Cameron. However, the winds picked up considerably. We resolved to abandon the elevations, and return to camp.
With the trip cut off a day early, most of the remaining party changed flights to return a day early, and left directly for home. Two of us decided to stay the full duration. We wanted to give an attempt of Gray and Torreys Peak in the Front Range. Again, arriving early in the morning, we navigating in the dark. Since we hadn't planned these summits, the navigation was largely by memory from a previous trip. Because these peaks aren't considered a technical route, we elected to go light and avoid technical gear. Unfortunately, we couldn't make out the trail with the excessive snow. As a result, we got up into some technical areas without the necessary equipment. Considering the heavy, consistent snowfall, we decided to turn around and return to the rental car. After all, our return flight to Chicago was later that afternoon. While we regretted failing on those summits, the partial closure on I-70 seemed to confirm it was the correct decision.