About 6:45 a.m.
I was on top of the one on the right.
Christie and Ryan are ready to go!
Looking behind the trailhead (yes, behind).
"Mount Evans Wilderness: Pike and Arapaho National Forest"
Boardwalk through the willows—how thoughtful!
We share most things, especially if "most things" are peanut butter sandwiches.
Not as easy as it looks, le sigh. Rapid elevation gain here.
Down past that lake in the middle is where I started. (I think you can see the cars.)
Looking behind me: I wanted to run through the field and sing something about the hills being alive with the sound of music...
Beagling. Everywhere. Regardless of elevation.
Nearing the end!
...But notice the hikers. Still a ways to go.
14,000+ feet. Snow in August.
She's my favorite.
Summit! Again, notice the hikers. Carrying an extra 18 pounds (i.e. Monongahela) up over some of the boulders was... challenging. Thus, I've decided I rock.
Yep, that's that lake I passed on the way up.
I enjoyed confirming that she's a summit dog—and that it wasn't her first 14er.
How are they not freezing in their t-shirts?
On our way back down: If you look closely, you can see more people. It began to get crowded by 9:30.
I opted out of the sawtooth ridge to Evans this morning. One peak was enough... for now.
I choked up a little on the way down. I still can't believe I live here.
"When adventure's lost its meaning, I'll be homeward-bound in time. ... Set me free to find my calling, and I'll return to you somehow."
Fording the river: not Monongahela's favorite thing. I picked her up and walked through this, both ways. Water is not warm at 11,000 feet.
Yes, these dudes were just people-watching, in lawn chairs.
That's a tired puppy.
