[MR2]

We arrived vic. North Elbert Trailhead (10,080) the day before and got a good secluded campsite. Up early the next day and started hiking at 0810. Mt. Massive (14,421) is a 13.75 mile round trip with a 4,500 elevation gain. It was another 'long' hike and included an extra 1,000 gain then we dis last week. I sucked wind the whole day! Took us ten hours to complete. Got pictures of a Rocky Mountain Goat which kept peer at us as we followed it (at a much slower pace) up the Summit Ridge. On our roll down the mountain we were delighted to see a couple of Ptarmigan. Plenty of Pikas, Ground Squirrels, and Marmots.

RON as the North Elbert Trailhead (10,040) was just across the road. Mt. Elbert (14,433) is Colorado's tallest peak and the trail was very crowded that day. Little earlier start at 0720 got us down in only nine hours! Elevation gain was 4,700 and the trail was only 9 miles. Above treeline I was surprised to see lots of Black Crickets and above the vegetation line, Grasshoppers - in addition to the usual scolding rodents.

Pretty beat up after doing only two 14ers this week. So we called it early and limped home.