This was one late season hike for us. Last year it was September 26th when we set out on the last big mountain hike. This year it was October 9th and a gamble from the onset. I watched weather and had a four quad grid of topo maps spread out in the kitchen trying to assess what was happening with snow. Nearly the entire front range area was getting snow according to radar, but wind up there changes what you see in the air versus what sticks on the ground. On Thursday evening that week I decided that Mt. Parnassus would be our goal because the ascent is hidden in a steep walled gulch facing the opposite direction of wind (facing SE).

Hoping for the best, I got up at 3:00am and had my usual start problems with a low tire and no loose change for the gas station compressor. Still, we managed to be on the road by 5:00am with a slight setback at McDonald's in Longmont. With a fully greased gut I charged my way up the same ol' highway route we always take into the hills. Then at Genessee I was greeted by a stern reminder of what exactly we were about to try. The wind was so strong it was slowing the van on the steep downhill grades of I-70. Constant attention was required in three lane wide wind veering traffic. Nothing new for us native folk though. About 6:30am we pulled off at exit 218 and began the gearing up rituals. 7:00am saw us on the trail and enjoying a sunrise as brisk as a bite of frozen lemon with bleeding chapped lips. Brrrr it was cold at first...






Sunrise was spectacular. The camera only caught three clear shots. Here's the clearest...




Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was the dogs not needing water. Maybe, just maybe, we are that awesome at hiking but we made the gulch below Parnassus in under an hour...




This route is very simple to follow and the mountain never gets too hard on the dogs. For the first 2/3 of the route a well established trail leads you up to treeline via the Watrous Gulch signage.


It was clear that this was our last shot at above treeline hiking for the year...




The trail into Watrous Gulch...


The first goal, saddle between Woods Mountain and Mt. Parnassus...


The dogs weren't phased. They loved the hell out of this hike...




Torreys under a hanging summit cloud...


Awwww, they wuv their mum...








Approaching the saddle we saw the only other hiker of the day on their way to Woods...


Then we began OUR ascent. This part was relentless in torturing 20 degree 30 MPH gusts. No one took the same route and I think my way was the longest in distance. You gotta do what'cha gotta do in that weather...










¿Did I mention it was cold?...




After laboring our way up the slope with lung emptying wind, sleds and I crested the final rock pile and found... The SUMMIT!!!...










Hagar Mountain...
















We didn't hang around very long on the summit. Just long enough for everyone to get there and that was it. Our descent was hasty and focused on a lunch break somewhere below treeline...




































For the return trip we followed our ascent. This was our fastest hike to date...





Now to figure out all of the stats for the summer...

Fin, except Jenn's post.

I was sad this was our last hike of the season. but with the way the weather was i knew it had to be. We got up at 4am and were out the door by 5 to meet up with them. i had enough time at the trail to eat my hard boiled eggs and add an extra layer on under my pants. it was cold but i had on my snowboarding gear and was a bit warmer then the two of them!


waiting in the parking lot watching the sun rise

everyone is geared up and ready to go.

the sun is starting to rise.



heading up the trail

our goal is just past that mountain

Jack's happy


at about this point my camera battery started flashing low so i did not take any more pics till we got to summit.
this is also the point that i lost eddy and lindsay because they out hiked me up the steep end. i think they were just a little cold at that point
i on the other hand was not freezing and kept moving the best i could (i really ran out of energy) i also had a scare with Sierra going to a point i could no longer see her and she was not coming back! i got really freaked out but she came back and i tried picking up my speed because i knew they were all waiting for me.

SUMMIT!!! yes i made it just in time to turn right back around and head down. no great shots as eddy and lindsay were ready to go!
here is a 360 view from the summit







false summit family pic
And a back down we go with no looking back! we were MOVING!







Sierra loving the snow

back into the trees and time for a lunch break
shortly after feeding the dogs and getting out my PB&J jack stuck his head in and stole half of it!!! i was pissed but he had it down his throat before i could do anything!


Sierra resting in the parking lot.

with the company of Eddy and Lindsay we went on 7 hikes, 5 summits and 3 camping trips. i really hope to get more in next year, we were more active this summer then any summer since we moved out here and it was GREAT!! Thanks you 2!