Appalachian Mountain Club
The Colorado Rockies -Wildflowers and Mt. Elbert
July 22 - July 30, 2017
Columbine
Hello! We are delighted that you are interested in this exciting trip! Please read the information
carefully, and then contact us if you have specific questions about this trip; Carl Rosenthal 603447-1858; [email protected] or: Dan Stone 617-750-0511.
Thanks to Tom Stephens for providing access to his photos from the 2015 Colorado Rockies trip.
To see his photos, hold the Ctrl key and click on: http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/8rF6g4fW/1/7146783
SUMMARY
We will fly to Denver, Colorado, rent cars and drive to the scenic mountain towns of Dillon,
Silverthorne and Leadville. We'll enjoy hikes ranging from 8-12 mi. in the rugged beauty of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains with its spectacular mountain wildflowers, especially the world
famous Columbine, wildlife, rocky peaks and sheer cliffs. These hikes will range in elevation
from 10,000 to 13,000 feet, ending at mountain tops and passes. Doing this will acclimatize us
to climb Mt. Elbert (14,433 ft), the highest peak in Colorado and the second highest in the
contiguous United States.
TYPICAL PARTICIPANTS
You should enjoy traveling and be comfortable traveling in areas which are unfamiliar to you.
You should recognize that you may find yourself in closer quarters or be less comfortable than
you are used to at home. If you are a loner, if you cannot accept and enjoy being part of a group,
if you are not a team player who is willing to help your fellow travelers and contribute to their
having a great time, then please do not register for this excursion.
This trip is designed for experienced hikers. On the day hikes, you must be able to hike 8 to 10
miles a day at a moderate pace easily, with moderate elevation gains, while carrying enough
equipment to keep you safe in the event of bad weather or injury.
ITINERARY
Day 1, SAT 7/22:
Upon arrival at the Denver Airport, we will rent cars and drive to our motel in Dillon, CO, which
is situated at over 9,000 ft. We'll buy some lunch and breakfast supplies and stretch our legs
with a short walk along Lake Dillon.
Day 2, SUN 7/23:
We will do a scenic 10 mile RT hike to 11,900 ft. Eccles Pass where we will be treated to
wonderful views in all directions. The trail climbs 2,500 feet at a moderate grade, passing
through a series of subalpine meadows with a plethora of wildflowers.
Day 3, MON 7/24:
We will climb 12,494 ft. Ptarmigan Peak on the 12 mi. RT moderately graded Ptarmigan Trail.
At the summit we will be rewarded by beautiful vistas, including four 14,000 ft. peaks, much of
the craggy Gore Range, the Ten Mile Range and Lake Dillon.
Day 4, TUE 7/25:
We will drive to the summit of 14,240 ft. Mt. Evans, taking the highest paved road in America.
We'll enjoy the fantastic views there for awhile which will help with our acclimatizing process.
We should have the company of some mountain goats and Bighorn Sheep as we hang out on the
summit. Then we'll hike about 4 easy miles from the Mount Goliath Nature Center at about
11,000 ft. of elevation.
Day 5, WED 7/26:
12,703 ft., remote and beautiful, Bill's Peak, can be reached by climbing 3,000 ft. on a 9.6 mi.
RT trail. Much of the hike is above tree line with wonderful views.
Day 6, THU 7/27:
The 10.6 mi. RT hike with 2,800 ft of climbing to Notch Mountain is one of the finest on our
trip. After hiking in the forest for awhile, we emerge onto open fields of spectacular
wildflowers. Then we head up switchbacks to the summit area where we have the finest views
of 14,003 ft. Mount of the Holy Cross. We will be able to see why that mountain got its name.
After the hike, we move to Leadville, which is at over 10,000 ft.
Day 7, FRI 7/28:
Today will be a rest day, touring historic Leadville. We can visit the National Mining Museum,
the Healy House and Dexter Cabin, the Tabor Opera House, the Matchless Mine and the
Leadville National Fish Hatchery. We can also take a short ride out of town to see a fine display
of Columbine and Twin Lakes. For those with a lot of energy there is a scenic walk around the
town.
Mt Elbert's Northeast Ridge
Day 8, SAT 7/29:
It won't be easy, but with a very early start and all the acclimatizing that we have done to date,
we should be ready to climb 4,700 ft. to the summit of 14,433 ft. Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in
Colorado and the second highest in the contiguous United States. You can hold the control key
and click on http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=elbe1&peak=Mt.+Elbert to see our
route, statistics about the hike, many photos and a lot more. We will be taking the Northeast
Ridge route. After the hike, we drive to Denver.
Day 9, SUN 7/30:
Fly home.
Group size
A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 16, including leaders. A waiting list will be established if
more than 14 people apply for the excursion.
Expectations/Experience Level for Participants
In order to participate in this excursion, you must consider and agree to the following:
Ability: You must be able to hike 10 miles a day at a moderate pace easily, with moderate
elevation gains, while carrying enough equipment to keep you safe in the event of bad weather or
injury.
Group Dynamics: You must participate as part of a group and abide by the leaders’ decisions.
You must work towards the group having a good time, be prepared to help your fellow hikers
and spend time with other participants on the trip. In doing so, you will enjoy the trip to the
maximum.
Group Safety: Group safety will be our Number 1 priority.
Driving: Some participants will be asked to share in the driving. Please inform the leaders if
you would like to do this.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Five nights at a motel in Dillon, CO adjacent to Lake Dillon with mountain views
Two nights at a motel in Leadville, CO
One night at a motel near the Denver Airport
Leader’s Qualifications
Trip Leader – Carl Rosenthal
Carl has been a member of the AMC since 1984 and
has led numerous day and weekend hiking trips. He
began leading Major Excursions in 2000. He has led
or co-led Major Excursions to the Sierras in California
(3), Glacier National Park, the American Southwest
(3), Washington state (2), Alaska (2), Big Bend and
Guadalupe Peaks (2), New Mexico (4), Ecuador, Peru
(3), Colorado (5), Death Valley (2), Yellowstone, the
Tetons, Oregon, Patagonia, the Dolomites of Italy,
Bulgaria, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Canadian Rockies
(2), the central Pyrenees, the Eastern Pyrenees and
Norway. He is a Past Chair of the Connecticut Chapter and is presently a hike leader for the
New Hampshire Chapter. He has completed the SOLO basic First Aid Course and the Heart
Saver CPR Course. He has been a hike leader at August Camp and an instructor at the AMCADK Winter School. He was a participant in Major Excursions to Austria and parts of the
former Soviet Union. Carl has hiked the 115 Northeast 4,000 footers in winter and has stood on
the highest points in the contiguous 48 states.
Address
Phone
Email address
58 Overlook Drive, Center Conway, NH 03813
603-447-1858
[email protected]
Co-Leader: Dan Stone
Dan is a three-season leader with the
Hiking/Backpacking Committee of the AMC Boston
Chapter. He has completed the 48 NH 4,000 footers
in winter, and the New England 100 highest peaks.
He has also hiked the entire Appalachian Trail almost
all of it as a series of day hikes. He has
traveled extensively, having visited 49 states and 50
countries. With a few exceptions, he has designed all
his travel adventures himself, as well as coordinating
many trips with friends to tackle the AT. Dan is an
avid photographer, has had hiking photos published in calendars and books, and has won first
place in the AMC photo contest 3 times. Dan is planning a series of AMC hiking weekends that
incorporate photography. He enjoys sharing his photos and knowledge of photography with
others.
Address:
Phone:
E-mail address:
54 Albemarle Ave. Lexington, MA 02420
617-750-0511
[email protected]
TRIP COST
The approximate cost for the trip is $1,490. This will cover the following items:
All lodging as specified above
All dinners excluding alcoholic beverages
Motels in Dillon, Leadville and at the Airport include a continental breakfast
Car rentals and gas
AMC Excursion Fee
Not included:
Airfare from Boston or New York to Denver approx. $500
All lunches
The approximate cost for the excursion is based on quotes at the time the trip was submitted to
the Major Excursions Committee (August, 2014). The final cost of the trip will be adjusted in
accordance with the best arrangements we can make with the airlines and any savings we might
enjoy or increases we might have to endure.
Please be aware that, in accordance with AMC policy, you are subsidizing some of the leaders’
costs, but not all of them. Any unspent funds will be refunded to all participants. The trip fee
also includes an AMC overhead charge to cover the administrative expenses of offering Major
Excursions.
How to Proceed
If you would like to go on this trip, complete the Application Form and enclose a check for the
$700 registration fee made out to the Appalachian Mountain Club and mail to:
Carl Rosenthal, 58 Overlook Drive, Center Conway, NH 03813
If you are accepted onto the trip you will also be asked to fill out and mail back an
Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks & Release & Indemnity Agreement, and a
Confidential Medical Form both of which will be emailed to you.
The balance of $790 is due by April 22, 2017.
When registration is complete, the trip leader will send all participants the names, addresses and
telephone numbers of those going on the trip. Trip leaders prefer to use email as a primary
source of communication.
CANCELLATIONS
The AMC cancellation policy is based on the simple precept that your cancellation shall not raise
the cost of the trip to any of the participants or the leaders. Therefore, if you cancel, your refund
will be all that you have paid, less expenses already incurred and future expenses which cannot
be avoided. You may forfeit the amount budgeted for your lodging, car rental and trip overhead,
which is most of the trip fee. If you cancel and the trip still fully books, then your fees will be
refunded in full with the exception that, after airline tickets have been purchased, you own the
tickets and that part of the fee cannot be refunded.
EXPERIENCE AND RISKS
This trip is designed for experienced hikers. On the day hikes, you must be able to hike 8 to 10
miles a day at a moderate pace easily, with moderate elevation gains, while carrying enough
equipment to keep you safe in the event of bad weather or injury.
The Colorado Rockies are infamous for early afternoon thunderstorms. We want to be sure to
get off the higher summit cones by 1 PM if there are any signs of bad weather. Therefore most
of our hikes will be starting earlier than you may be used to.
REQUIRED GEAR
Here is a list of suggestions for what to bring to have a good time on the trip. Most of the items
are things you would bring for a day hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Day pack
Personal first aid
Rain gear (both jacket and pants)
2 one liter water bottles
Wool or pile hat or balaclava
Wool or pile gloves or mitts
Extra pile or wool layer for warmth
Comfortable hiking boots and socks
Long pants - wool or synthetic
Hiking shorts (zip off pants highly recommended)
Cotton or synthetic T-shirts
Long sleeve synthetic shirt
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Sun protection lotion
Lip protection balm
Leisure clothes for travel and restaurants (moderate amount)
Personal toiletries
Toilet paper
Head lamp with extra batteries
Optional recommendations:
Bathing Suit
Camera
Ear plugs
Short gaiters to keep mud/dust out of boots
Small knife (be sure to pack in check in luggage, not carry on)
Compass
Extra shoelaces
Zip lock bags
Reading material for breaks in the action
We strongly recommend hiking with a pole or poles, but if you don’t like them, that’s fine.
Trip Application can be found below.
Application for Major Excursion to Colorado
Pleaseprinteverythinglegibly
Name: ___________________________________ AMC Member ? ________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________________
Phones: Daytime: ________________________ Evening: ________________________
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy): ___________ Gender: _________________ Smoker? ______
Email Address: ___________________________________
Health or disabilities: (Please note any medical or physical restrictions)______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Name, address, and phone number of person to contact in case of emergency:
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Have you done mountain hiking previously? When and how often?
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Please print a brief summary of your recent hiking /backpacking experience on the back of this
application.
How would you describe your physical condition and stamina? ____________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please print a description of how you maintain your physical condition on the back of this
application. For example, I run 5 miles four times a week.
Have you gone on other AMC Major Excursions? _____ If so, who were the
leaders?____________________________________________________________
If this trip is filled, do you wish to be placed on a waiting list? _____________________
Are you willing to be a car driver on the trip?
_______