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Nature Climb of Mount Democrat
2010.08.14 17:03
Alma, Colorado July 30, 2010  On July 30, 2010, we left home at 5:00AM and drove west passing the Kenosha Pass of the Front Range. We were nearing to the city of Fairplay. It was somewhat wet summer in Colorado Plateau this year. The fields are still green. On our right, we see the Mosquito Range with patches of snow near the summit ridge. Some of these snow patches may never go away as it starts to snow again at the end of August. The peak in the far right is Mount Lincoln and the another peak just left to it is Mount Bross. Today's destination, Mount Democrat is hidden just behind them and is not visible here. Heavy cloud cover made us worry about the early afternoon thunderstorm that happens very often in summer in the high country of Colorado. We have to hurry up and finish as early as possible.  At 7:00AM, early chilly morning rush at Kite Lake camping ground and the trailhead for Mount Lincoln. A lot of climbing groups are here waiting for the rest of the members to show up. The sun doesn't come up early in this deep valley of Buckskin Gulch between high mountains.  Here are the Volunteers of Colorado who will be doing some trail maintenance work. This is America !! They are the invisible hands that keep the climbing trail in good shape for us.  Trailhead sign for Kite Lake The chances of early afternoon thunderstorm would keep us from doing that.  As we see in the map, the circular trail shows only "Bross Bypass Trail" and the trail doesn't lead to the summit of Mount Bross. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) has been negotiating with land owners to open the summit area for climbers but, apparently, they haven't reached an agreement. In the similar fashion, Mount Democrat and Lincoln were opened to public not long ago.  This person still sleeps in his sleeping bag while noisy people were passing by. Why did he come here last night if he's going to sleep this late?  Our group from left : Jane (Practicing Geriatrician), Claudia (Ophthalmology resident), Paula (Intern), Josh (Kristin's husband), Kristin (Medical Student). Absent in the picture are Ethan (Internal Medicine at University of Colorado) and me (Over-the-hill surgeon)  Paula, crossing the Buckskin Creek coming from the Kite Lake. The climbing had just begun.  I took my eyes off the trail to see the Kite Lake and wildflower meadows. A few tents near the shore.  A long way ahead. We are in a huge glacial cirque, a dead-ended valley, and climbing to the ridge top.  We passed alpine tundra and climbing a steep talus field of upper alpine zone. Occasional plants and a few pikas (small rabbit-like animal) near the trail.  Looking up the false summit (the real summit is beyond it), far and high up there !!  We arrive at the saddle (about 13,500 feet) between Mount Cameron (east) and Deomocrat (west).  More climbers are coming up from the Kite Lake trailhead in the Buckskin Gulch (the green valley below).  The slopes are getting steeper as the air gets thinner. We are above 13,500 feet high. The summit isn't even visible.  We reach the false summit at about 14,000 feet. The real summit is visible to the west far away. We can see a lot of early starters on the summit already. We are almost there !  Our group at the summit cone of Mount Democrat (14, 148 feet, 4,312 m) at about 10:00AM.  They want an old man to join them for a picture.  An unknown couple with the summit sign. The date is wrong. The sign is kept in a plastic tube with a summit registration book.  To the south, the Colorado Plateau and the valley of Buckskin Gulch  This is the plastic canister that keeps the summit registration and sign (at center right).  Looking down the false summit and the path we climbed up earlier. We will go down the same route. Beyond the false summit is Mount Bross (14, 172 feet, 4,320 m), another fourteener. Legally, we are not allowed to climb the summit of Mount Bross because the summit is a private property. Since there's no one guarding the summit, a lot of climbers just silently go there.  The closer summit (center) with a flat top is Mount Cameron. Behind is Mount Lincoln. Mount Cameron (14, 238 feet, 4,340 m) was taken off the list of Colorado Fourteeners because it's proximity to Mount Lincoln (14,286 feet, 4,354 m). It is classified as a subpeak of Mount Lincoln and frequently called as "Cameron Point". Who cares? From here, it does look like a legitimate summit with all the glories. After a brief lunch break, we start our way down the mountain.  Claudia and Paula decide to climb Mount Lincoln. Two are off and disappearing on the trail toward Mount Cameron. As they are moving toward Mount Cameron, the rest of us start to head down.  On the way down, a few wildflowers at the side of the trail. A group of Varileaf Cinquefoils.  Wildflowers growing between rocks. These look like Goldeneyes or similar varieties of Sunflower.  These shaggy looking yellow flowers are Owl's Claws or Orange Sneezeweed. They look withered but this is the way they always look. The soil has a plenty of moisture here. These poor guys are growing as a dwarf variety being in the high Alpine zone.  Melting snow creates small seasonal streams and water loving alpine flowers flourish in or nearby. These appear to be varieties of Water Knotweeds in different colors.  Going down toward Kite Lake (at right center). The shape of the lake does look like a kite !! Walking down in the fields of wildflowers in the lower altitude, no doubt, it's summer time in Colorado. Mount Buckskin, a thirteener (13,865 feet, 4,226 m), at the right side.  Rarely seen here, a wildflower by the name of "Elephanthead Lousewort"  A group of Western Indian Paintbrush in yellowish hue.  Subalpine Fleabanes in lavender color with a few yellow Cinquefoils.  American Bistorts in white, Water Knotweeds in pink, both love water growing in or by water stream.  A group of Splitleaf Indian Paintbrush in pink color. All Colorado Fourteeners (mountains that is higher than 14,000 feet) are very similar to this. Photo (7-30-2010) and text by SNUMA WM - August 14, 2010 |
Comment 8
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운영자
2010.08.14 17:43
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유석희*72
2010.08.14 19:14
야생화가 아름답군요.
오르는 길은 설악산 봉정암 아래 너덜지대 같습니다.
혹시 고산병 증세는 없었나요?경기 58회(그러니까 제 4년 선배에 해당) 등산모임에서
회갑기념으로 킬리만자로를 올랐는데.
평소에 산에 열심히 다니던 한분이 키보산장(아마 해발 3800미터)에서
고산병으로 쓰러져 돌아오지 못했지요. -
방준재*70
2010.08.14 19:55
I followed you to the Mt. Democrat
And felt Nothingness and Emptyness
Beyond the summit, WM. -
운영자
2010.08.15 04:45
That day, all of our group were from Denver area.
Naturally, we are all acclimatized already.
고산병은 주로 하루밤 잘때 생기지요. 하루에 올라갔다가 그날 내려오면
대개는 문제가 않됩니다 (물론 얼마나 올라갔는냐에 달렸지만.)
Kilimanjaro에서 많은 사람들이 Kibo Hut (15,000 feet)에서 고산병에 걸리는데 즉시 하산해서
(약 2000 feet 정도, Horombo Hut 로) 쉬면 되는데, 뭔가가 잘못되었던 모양이군요.
Ha, ha.. Dr. JJ,
When you feel happiness in the nothingness and emptyness, you become a "Do-Sa".
You are getting there. That's the way to go. -
황규정*65
2010.08.15 07:11
Thanks for letting us taste one of Colorado Fourteeners, Mountain Democrat.
I wonder where is the name 'Democrat' coming from.I envy those young legs(those good old youth has gone from us) climbing up
high mountains although our senior member of that group is as strong as younger
one, I bet, ha,ha."The beauty is 'Nothingness' and vast 'Emptyness' "
우리말에도 이와같은 의미의 '虛空' 이란말이 있지요. 규정 -
운영자
2010.08.15 15:53
I have read somewhere about the origin of the names of Mount Lincoln and Democrat.
But I have forgotten where it was.
But the name of Mount Lincoln originated from President Abraham Lincoln
and Mount Democrat's name also had some political connections.I should have climbed more 14ers but I was so busy for a lot of other stupid things !
I am hoping to do a few more before the summer is over. -
계기식*72
2010.08.16 14:32
건강해 보이십니다. -
이건일*68
2010.08.17 06:55
부럽습니다.
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