-Grays and Torreys-

CO 14ers: #5/54 and 6/54

Elevation: 14,270 & 14,267 ft.

Date Hiked: 6-24-2007

Trip Report:
I had attempted Grays and Torreys a few times before this, but always in less than ideal conditions. I finally had ideal conditions and was successful. I hiked both mountains from Stephen Gulch which was enjoyable. The weather was perfect and the views amazing.

Grays and Torreys

I left Lakewood around 5:30 and made it to the trailhead by 7. The weather was cool but nice, there was not a cloud in the sky. Since it was Saturday there were lots of people on the trail. There must have been hundreds. I usually like to have solitude but did not mind today because I just wanted to finally get to the top of both mountains. The trail through the valley was easy and did not take long. The views were amazing though.

Grays Peak

Torreys Peak

There was still quite a bit of snow of the upper slopes of both mountains and in the couloirs. There were a few people hiking the trail with skies, I assume to ski down one of the couloirs on Torreys.

Eventually I made it out of the valley and started hiking up the slopes to Grays peak the first target of the day.

Grays Peak

Kelso Mountain

Torreys Peak

Grays Peak Upper Slopes

Eventually the views opened up and I found myself on top of Grays peak. There was already a crowd on the summit so I wondered off a little ways and found myself a quite place. I could see many mountains I knew the names of as well as a few I had stood atop.

Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt

Longs Peak, Mt. Meeker and The Indian Peaks (From Left to Right)

Grays Peak Summit Register

I found the register but did not want to sign it. I knew it would get replaced after not to long.

Torreys Peak from Grays Peak Summit

I quickly descended Grays summit and made my way over to Torreys Peak. This took under a half hour. I had wanted to summit Torreys even more than Grays because of the failure I had a few years earlier.

The Citadel

Torreys Peak Summit Register

Flowers Near the Summit

After a little while I descended and had a fun time walking down the snow slope in tennis shoes. As normal in Colorado summers clouds began to gather above both mountains although they did not appear to threatening.

Torreys Peak and the Descent

I made it back around 2 after a great hike.