Day 2 on Mt Elbert was much closer to the kind of weather you might expect in January at 12,000'+. Still, with the remarkably low snowpack we had it pretty easy as far as travel to the summit at 14,440'.
In this first photo you can see Ken and Bill just starting out in the morning. The blowing snow had not yet begun to impede our views.
Yvette is just ahead and heading to higher elevation.
This third shot shows Ken, Yvette and Bill bundled up during one of our short breaks. As we rose the winds picked up, the temperature dropped and it became harder and harder to breathe easily. It is pretty amazing to experience the effects of altitude at even these elevations. Once you top 13,000' a certain amount of adjustment is required. Some of the typical effects are insomnia, headache, nausea and labored breathing. Other than the need for a slower pace to facilitate breathing, I was remarkably and happily symptom free on this hike. The others seemed to be the same - maybe our two nights at higher elevation had prepared us for the changes.
By the time we reached the summit - about mid-day - the winds were howling and snow was blowing everywhere.
Once we started back down the snow tapered off again and we made good time.
The sun even peaked out long enough to strike the nearby mountain top for a photo.
Once we got back down to the main ridge we could just see Leadville in the distance many miles below.
In this last photo the tent looks more like it should for a winter campout!
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