This hike was truly an experience unlike any other. Shortly after descending, Danielle suffered a knee injury to the point that she could not extend it hardly at all. This hike was truly an experience unlike any other. Updates? Within five minutes after we reached the tree line, the thunderstorm that we witnessed at the summit finally caught up to us and it proved to be quite scary. Snow? Omissions? Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and is the highest point in the State of Colorado. on The J Chute; Public Service Announcement. Because their is no route finding involved, this is an easy class 1 hike that is family friendly as well. It is the second highest peak in the lower 48 states (after Mt. Sawatch Range, segment of the southern Rocky Mountains in central Colorado, U.S., extending southeastward for 100 miles (160 km) from the Eagle River to the city of Saguache (a variant spelling of Sawatch). The range is oriented along a northwest-southeast axis, extending roughly 80 miles (130 km) from 39°37′36″N 106°32′13″W / 39.62667°N 106.53694°W / 39.62667; -106.53694 in the north to 38°5′51″N 106°3′48″W / 38.09750°N 106.06333°W / 38.09750; -106.06333 in the south. Mount Elbert lies 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Leadville, in the Sawatch Range and White River National Forest. The range contains fifteen peaks in excess of 14,000 feet (4,267 m), also known as 14ers. Notable summits include Mount Elbert, Mount Massive, La Plata Peak, Mount of the Holy Cross, and the Collegiate Peaks (Mounts Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Belford, and Oxford). Embraced by the White River and San Isabel national forests, the mountains are the source of the Arkansas River. on The J Chute; H. Pronger on The J Chute; Erin on Wolf Trap; Jay on The Professor; B.K. The name Sawatch is derived from a Ute Indian word meaning “blue-earth spring.”. With the rain pouring down endlessly coupled with the relentless lightning strikes nearby, we had both accepted the fact that we might indeed die that day. Mount Elbert is not only the tallest mountain in the Sawatch collection; it’s also the highest peak in the Rockies. There is very little water along this route; all water should be packed in. Furthermore, the starting elevation is located just above 10,000 feet and also has a bathroom area too. It is also traversed by Cottonwood Pass, which connects the town of Buena Vista with Gunnison County. Follow the trail all the way to the summit. It’s always good to read the avalanche reports, but most avalanches go unrecorded. For the first several miles and up to the area around 12,000 feet, the hike is through heavily wooded areas and switchbacks that get relatively steep in certain spots. After about 10 to 15 minutes at the summit, we soon found ourselves descending as fast as we could but inevitably were not fast enough. The Sawatch Range / s ə ˈ w æ tʃ / is a high and extensive mountain range in central Colorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies. B.K. Subscribe . Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Corrections? Another hour of both taking pictures and several short rest breaks passed quickly by, and before long we had completed our goal and reached the summit of Mount Elbert. Slowly but surely, we made it back to the trail head and were so thankful to have made it in one peace! Looking back towards the east, we also noticed that the valley below was pretty hazy even around nine or ten in the morning. Although it slowed us on, I was still confident that we would be alright and make it back without further incident. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Sawatch-Range. After driving for several hours from Denver to just outside of Leadville and Twin Lakes, we finally reached the parking lot for Mount Elbert which was already completely full around 7am. Elbert, Sawatch Range. The western side of the range feeds the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River, the Eagle River, and the Gunnison River, tributaries of the Colorado River. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. With that in mind, we briefly took some more photos at the summit and found the USGS marker that marks the summit. Specifically, for each mile the elevation goes up over 1000 feet for every mile you hike with the total elevation gain for this entire hike being around 4700 feet. Stay on the trail. The further up we went, the views of the surrounding mountains became absolutely remarkable. Overall, our hike up the North Mount Elbert Trail was both memorable and surely one that we will never forget. Whitney). Mount Elbert, mountain in Lake county, west-central Colorado, U.S., whose peak is the highest point (14,440 feet [4,401 metres]) in Colorado and in the American Rocky Mountains. Don’t be fooled by the gentle slopes and rounded peaks of the Sawatch Range in central Colorado, this mammoth range is home to eight of the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains and features part of the Continental Divide. We took numerous breaks to not only take pictures but to also drink water and eat some foods with high amounts of protein. Hagerman Pass is another pass to the north, connecting the Arkansas Headwaters near Leadville with the upper valley of the Fryingpan River. In fact, the lightning strikes were so close to us that we only saw flashes of light directly in front of us and then heard the thunder a few short seconds later. The Sawatch mountains in general are high, massive, and relatively gentle in contour. At 14,440 feet Mount Elbert is the highest point in the Sawatch Range as well as the state. You will also be at a high altitude so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. The highest point in Colorado just happens to also be my very first 14er that I’ve ever hiked. Newest Comments. Discovery of gold (1860) and lead with a high silver content (1877) attracted settlers to the region; ranching, dairying, and the tourist industry (based on year-round outdoor sporting activities) are now the economic mainstays. The Colorado Rockies contain a significant share of the U.S. public domain in…, …and the Park, Gore, and Sawatch ranges and the San Juan Mountains along the western slope. Although the views were incredible, it did not take long for us to realize that a thunderstorm was quickly building directly to the west of us. Rising up to 14,433 feet in the Sawatch Range, Mount Elbert is not only the highest point in Colorado, but is also the second highest point in elevation in the contiguous United States. As the morning continued on, the haze started to wear off leading to some incredible views of the surrounding mountain peaks and valleys. The Southern Rockies extend…. Laced with well-maintained hiking… While some peaks are rugged enough to require technical climbing, most can be climbed by a simple, yet arduous hike. A hiking blog involving a lot of wandering. Another reason I strongly recommend them also involves the change in elevation. During the time that we did this hike, the 416 fire was burning out of control further to the southwest outside of Durango which we believe played a significant role in the hazy conditions in the area. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bounded by the Arkansas River (east) and the Elk Mountains (west), its middle portion is usually called the Collegiate Range, with Mounts Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. Despite being a strenuous workout, the views of the surrounding mountains and the lakes down below were worth all of the hard work. I completed this hike alongside my girlfriend back in July of 2018 while I was still working two jobs and not really sleeping a whole lot every night. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Spending time in nature calms my soul. Elbert (elev. Morning sun warms Mount Elbert and the Sawatch Range on the west side of the Arkansas River valley. I would definitely recommend this hike and wouldn’t mind doing it again simply for the views of the endless mountain ranges at the summit. Highways traverse Independence (12,093 feet [3,686 metres]) and Monarch (11,312 feet [3,448 metres]) passes; the Busk-Ivanhoe (rail and road) and Twin Lakes (water-diversion) tunnels also serve the area. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sawatch_Range&oldid=982979119, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 14:45. The North Mount Elbert trail forks right off the Main Range/Colorado Trail. The Sawatch, Colorado’s highest range and the central core of the Colorado Rockies, consists of Mount Elbert—at 14,440 feet (4,401 metres) the highest point in the state—and many other elevations above 14,000 feet. Mount Elbert and the Sawatch Range on the west side of the Arkansas Valley. Mount of the Holy Cross (13,986 feet [4,263 metres]) is known for a unique formation near its peak, comprising snow-filled crevices shaped like a huge cross more than 1,000 feet (305 metres) long with 375-foot (114-metre) arms. However, that was simply not the case. I completed this hike alongside my girlfriend back in July of 2018 while I was still working two jobs and not really sleeping a whole lot every night. The elevation of this summit has been converted from the, "What's in a Colorado name pronunciation? The Sawatch Range /səˈwætʃ/[1][2] is a high and extensive mountain range in central Colorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies. The trailhead is Mount Massive-Mount Elbert Trailhead. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Our way down the mountain proved to be a true test. © Earthly Wanderer, 2018- 2019. Something else worth mentioning is that the trailhead for nearby Mount Massive is in close proximity to the Mount Elbert trailhead as well. Notify of . With that being said, I fully recommend that you get a legitimate amount of sleep before you attempt a rigorous hike such as a 14er and properly hydrate yourself. Rising up to 14,433 feet in the Sawatch Range, Mount Elbert is not only the highest point in Colorado, but is also the second highest point in elevation in the contiguous United States. The range forms a part of the Continental Divide, and its eastern side drains into the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The trail itself gets steep in certain areas and I would recommend taking trekking poles due to the fact that they really help you keep your balance. State Highway 82 traverses the range at Independence Pass (Colorado). tagged: Lake County, Mt. The pyramid-shaped peak of Mount Elbert marks not only Colorado’s state highpoint, but the highest point in the Rocky Mountains. Hagerman Pass is traversable with four-wheel drive vehicles and on foot during summer and early autumn months. 14,443 ft.) is the highest peak in Colorado and in the Rocky Mountains.

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