Mount Yale

Completing my first (and only) 14er, Mt Yale

I was so skeptical about hiking a 14’er and having to start between the butt crack of dark and dawn. I contemplated so many times the night before if I wanted to go through with this hike or would I rather sleep in instead. To this day (which has been months later), I still contemplate the decision. I thought about not going for two reasons: one, I am terrified of the dark and hiking in the wilderness miles away from any light source besides what comes from the moon was not in my cards, and two, I am so not in shape to hike a 14’er.

Fun Facts

Cost: Free (dogs are welcome)
Elevation: 14,199ft
View: Mt Princeton, Mt Harvard
Don’t Miss: Hiking in the dark
Note: Start early in the morning (while it is still dark out) to miss potential weather threats.
Fun Fact: This was the first 14er I completed (that I almost didn’t complete).

Four of us left around 330 am (YAWN) and made it to the parking lot around 500 am. At this point, I wasn't leaving the car, I even told them to go on without me, and I would see them later; the anxiety was eating me alive. Somehow they coaxed me out of the car and into the cold dark wilderness for the longest hike I have ever done. For the first 45 minutes, you couldn't see a thing; I could have been eaten by a sasquatch during this time. Once the sun started coming up, I finally regained control of my heart rate from the fear of the dark and felt more comfortable, which didn't last long.

I was exhausted when I reached 13,000 feet. The air was thin, and I had already climbed about 3,000 feet; along with that, my hip flexor had enough with the elevation gain and was completely failing me. Other than the pain, the views were stunning right above the tree line, and you can see a majority of the trail in the distance from 13,000 feet.

I had told the other three to go on without me because I was slowing them down and needed to go at my own pace. Pacing yourself at your own pace is highly important, or you won't make it to the top. This was when I had to put on my coat because the wind was kicking up slightly, and the chill was starting to set in. I gave myself a long break and just enjoyed my surroundings and the marmots talking to each other.

Since I was already behind, I knew I would not catch up. I was starting to get discouraged with myself, and I started to give up. I found a rock to sit on where I could watch them hike up the many switchbacks I was dreading to do. I could just see that they were exhausted. After about 30 minutes, I finally told myself to get up and move. I had to push myself even if I didn't believe I could get to the top; I had to try to get further than where I was.

I found many things to look at on the hike up that would help to distract the pain. At different elevations, you can find a variety of plants and, of course, those screeching marmots and pikas.

Finally, after an hour of my friends reaching the summit, I made it to the top of the switchbacks. Still not close to the summit but closer than I was. This was the view on the other side of the mountain, and I was slightly disappointed. Maybe I was hoping to find a unicorn or a hidden garden; I will never know.

My options were to quit right here and turn around to go back down (I thought about these options more than once or twice) or climb the boulder field to the summit (this wasn't even thought about). My body chose the boulder field, and my mind was well confused, drained, and ready to be done.

I did it. I completed my first 14'er. After many tears, complaining, and lots of pain, I made it. Now, it was time to turn around and head down in the same direction we came. Funny how we humans find climbing mountains and turning around to come back to where we came from is fun.

It didn't take long to realize that it would be a long, painful 4.5 miles back to the car. Even with the best hiking shoes, our feet were beat up along with the rest of our bodies. The hike back took around three hours compared to MY hike up, which took approximately 5.5 hours.

I challenged myself and completed many things this day. I hiked in the dark. I completed a 14’er. I hiked through the pain and didn't die. I finally got hiking blisters. I have a picture with one of those cool cardboard signs left at the top. And I slightly enjoyed something I thought would kill me.