One of many
trip reports under the
SilGro home page for Alan Silverstein and Cathie
Grow.
Email me at
ajs@frii.com.
Last update: July 26, 2024
(Previous trip report: 1989_0630-0701_MountAntero.htm)
(A
Fourteener
trip report.)
Saturday continued: After coming down from Mount Antero, Jeff and Anna Hargis (now back to their own car) hit the Hot Springs Pool, and it sure looked inviting. I was tired too. But the weather was spectacularly nice, and I'd wanted for several years to spend a night on Mount Princeton. The opportunity was too good to pass up. I figured I'd pace myself, get there rather late if necessary, and pay the price "tomorrow" for pressing on without enough rest.
Somewhat reluctantly I left the pool without a swim; it was getting late. I started up the paved road across from the pool and hotel at 1750. I passed through the Frontier Ranch southeast of Princeton and followed the 4WD road almost to its end. It was narrower and rougher than I remembered, and I had some more power loss problems (much later turned out to be due to a weak fuel pump) that slowed me down. I didn't get to the Lucky Mine at 12000', 7.7 miles from the pool, until 1843, nearly an hour later.
The view from this point was spectacular, above timberline and almost to the chalet on Princeton's south ridge at 12100'. I considered calling it a day right then and there. No, the summit was ahead, and I could always sleep in on top the next morning. I assembled a full pack (except a tent) and began the climb at 1938, one hour before sunset. I headed directly up the steep mountainside toward the south ridge of "South Princeton" ("Mount Merriam"?), then turned right and ascended the ridge on traces of a trail.
Due to fires in western Colorado there were veils of brown and red smoke high in the air, and the sunset was blood red on the Arkansas Valley, 4000' below. Once trudging uphill I didn't feel too bad; I just had a mild headache and some muscle soreness. I went nearly to the top of "South Princeton", and then skirted (boulder-hopped) around its north flank to the connecting ridge. I still had to drop about 200' to the low point. I reached the farthest north saddle, 12960+', at 2100, and enjoyed the last colors of sunset while snarfing down water and energy food.
I seriously considered stopping for the night at that saddle. Once again I elected to push on and pay the price later. Climbing in the dark was not by itself so difficult; a headlamp sufficed. But reaching the top was hellish. It was "only" 1200' further and it took "only" an hour and a half from the saddle, but being tired and carrying a full pack, it wasn't fun as I hoped. But the effort was amply rewarded.
I summited Mount Princeton at 2250 under dark (new moon) skies full of stars (3:12 for a total of 2500' gained, best guess). The lights of Buena Vista and Salida spread like a carpet far below. Auto headlamps traced out the various highways. I felt great (relatively speaking). I didn't get to bed for an hour, what with smoothing a spot to sleep, building a low wind shelter wall out of 30-pound rocks, eating, taking pictures, and studying the stars and planets with binoculars.
Sunday: To my surprise and pleasure I slept pretty well... No headache or other problems. A stiff wind kept up until dawn, but behind the wall and under a tarp it was no biggie. From that high vantage point, the sun rose six minutes earlier than predicted by the sun program, at 0538. Again it was very red due to smoke. Temperature: 34 deg F. [2023 retrospective: I didn't mention it here, but I'm pretty sure a glider buzzed and circled above me while I was still in my sleeping bag!]
I slept in until 0800, had breakfast, packed up, and was ready to leave at 1000, just an hour after the first of a horde of day hikers (and their dogs) reached the summit. Time on top: 11:10.
It was a fun and curious feeling descending from the mountaintop as most people were just reaching it. Sometimes they were so out of it they didn't even realize from your bedroll or full pack that you spent the night up there. I followed the trail back (why not?) It traversed around "South Princeton" much lower than I'd been the night before.
I met a guy coming up to spend the night after doing some rock climbing during the day. He was practicing for a Himalayas expedition. People asked me what I was practicing for. My answer: "This is it."
I reached my Jeep at 1140 (round trip: 16:02). It was already pretty hot. Time to switch the polypro underwear and wool pants for shorts and a tee shirt! I drove down to the Mount Princeton Hot Springs pool, 1210-1300, with stops to take on four people who very much appreciated a ride out. After an hour of getting clean and relaxed, I mosied up to Buena Vista for hot food and shopping, and met Jim Sheppard that evening in Winfield.
(Next trip report: 1989_0702-04_HuronPeak.htm)