Jim's Excellent Adventures

Elevation: - Mt. Lincoln - 14,286'; Mt. Cameron - 14,238'; Mt. Bross - 14,172'; Mt. Democrat - 14,148'
Location - West of Alma in Colorado.

Trip Report(s)

A classic group of 14ers typically climbed as an easy set, the Mt. Lincoln group is notable for a couple of things. First, not only can you can drive to the trailhead at Kite Lake at 12,000' in a passenger car, but if you have a 4WD vehicle, you can drive to the top of Mt. Bross! This is due to the fact there was extensive mining all over this part of the range. There are also mining ruins on Mt. Democrat at 14,000'. I cannot imagine doing that kind of hard work at that elevation - walking at that height is hard enough!

Mike, his son Drew and I climbed this group in the late 1990s (1999?). We camped overnight at Kite Lake, which was fun because I freaked Drew out that night by shining a laser pointer from my tent onto the walls of theirs while they were inside talking. "Dad! WHAT'S THAT?!?" Mike had a good laugh over it, and I am sure Drew will forgive me some day for embarrassing him! :-)

We began the circuit by climbing Mt. Democrat from the lake. From there we then went over Mt. Cameron. Many people don't consider Cameron an "official 14er" because the elevation dropped and regained to summit it from the other peaks isn't high enough to satisfy the purists. Whatever. After that, Mike and Drew held back because Drew had some sports injuries that were bothering him (like father, like son! :-). I summited Lincoln, where I was distressed to find that among the typical crowd of 14er peak baggers on the summit that day (myself included) there was a dude who had mountain biked up a mining road and then was exultantly calling his friends from a cell phone on the summit. What a yuppie ass! I then dropped to the saddle between Lincoln and Bross, met back up with Mike and Drew, and we summited Bross together, returning to Kite Lake via a very fun "scree run" down a gully. Photos follow.

Photos

Kite Lake

Looking down at Kite Lake (12,000') from the side of Mt. Democrat. The tents (including ours) from people camping are clearly visible on the left side.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mike and Drew

Mike and Drew by an old mining cabin. Mt. Bross is in the background.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mike and Drew on Mt. Democrat

Mike and Drew on the summit of Mt. Democrat. Typical 14er summit crowd scene (one of the reasons Mike and I have started going for high 13ers instead - you don't see anybody!)
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mt. Cameron

The talus slope leading to Mt. Cameron from Mt. Democrat.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mt. Democrat

Looking back at Mt. Democrat from Mt. Cameron.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Jim on Mt. Lincoln

Me on the summit of Mt. Lincoln. I'm wearing "the hat" (said with special disparaging emphasis by Mike's daughter, Amy, because of how dorky it looks - I do not look good in hats! :-).
(Photographer unknown)

Quandary Peak

Looking across North Star Mountain on the Continental Divide (the intervening ridge in the center of photo) at Quandary Peak (14,265'), the large peak in the distance on the right. Quandary's signature summit ridge is very visible sloping down to the right.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mt. Lincoln

Mt. Lincoln from Mt. Bross.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross

Description

Trip Report(s)

Photos