Several of my closest climbing buddies and I have a couple of things in common that made this particular trip worth sharing here. For one, we have a close relationship with the Gore Range of central Colorado, particularly with the peaks that fall within Eagles Nest Wilderness. Typically I limit my posts on this range as I feel that this is an area worthy of a higher level of respect and protection than most others. Continue reading…
hough they may not be particularly grand in stature, the Gores are a special set of peaks. The more I venture into the range, the more I look forward to heading back. A recent thread on this site highlighted different aspects of the area that make it unique. I won’t go into them here, but suffice it to say I’ve been humbled and impressed by what I’ve seen of the Gore thus far, and I was more than ready to get back in there for another adventure. With the entire day free and a good weather forecast this past Saturday, I decided to try my hand at Peaks X and Z which reside at the head of Boulder Lakes basin. Keep reading…
On Saturday the 22nd my Dad Tj, his friend Scott, Scott’s friend Rico, and I made our way to East Vail and started up the Gore Creek Trail carrying overnight packs. Our plan was to pack in, camp in the open meadows just below treeline, and climb Grand Traverse the next day. Though Grand Traverse is typically hiked in a day from the bottom, there were certainly advantages to a pack in for our group in particular. Read more…
For our second trip into the Gore Range in as many weekends, Brian and I decided on tackling the traverse between North Traverse (13,041′) and Grand Traverse (13,079′) peaks. This classic ridge, better known as The Grand Traverse, lies at the head of the Vail Valley, and marks the dividing line between Eagle and Summit Counties. I lived in Vail for thirteen years growing up, and my Dad still resides there, so needless to say I have gazed up at these peaks many, many times. I was excited to finally check them out up close. Read more…