The following link is also helpful: Lightning Safety and CrouchAlso see this report by nchenkin It will make you really think about lightning safety: Struck By Lightning! Both can be climbed with little more effort than to just climb one of them. Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate. Be the first to leave a review! (4), Images Lightning is the greatest external hazard to summer mountaineering in Colorado.3. You cannot outrun a storm; physics wins.2. It is also the highpoint of the Front Range, the highest point on the North American divide, and the highest peak visible from the Great Plains. However, it is also the most crowded time on the mountain. July seems to be the most deadly month for lightning.Two mountaineers were killed by lightning in Colorado within a couple days of each other during the summer of 2003. If you do have a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle , you can drive up Chihuahua Gulch and eliminate about 4 miles one direction, their is also numerous free campimg spots along this road. This twin peak combination can be a day trip out of Denver. The Grays Peak trail is usually benign, but given the slightest snowfall, foot traffic will turn it into an ice rink. This route is about 4.3 mile and has a vertical gain of 3500 feet. Turn left over the Interstate and take the dirt road south about 3 1/2 miles to the parking lot at trail head. (531), Comments Many trailheads are nearby, leading visitors through the scenic forest that surrounds the campground. Wet ropes are good conductors.5.

The peak is usually climbed the same day as Torrey Peak. The road requires a high clearance vehicle but is not difficult.

The climb gets steeper at this point and at about 13,500' the trail forks. A well marked trail leads to the summit and there is usually little, if any, snow and just a bit of scree to encounter during the summer months. The easiest route to climb is from the Stephens Gulch Trailhead and is Class 2. The northeast face of Grays doesnt get much sun, so if there's a September snowfall (and there usually is), chances are it'll stay ice until the winter. The peak is usually climbed the same day as Torrey Peak. Separate yourself from metal objects.7.

Grays Peak Group Campground is located in the San Bernardino National Forest, 2½ miles northwest of Fawnskin and Big Bear Lake. It is a good mountain to get started on the Colorado 14ers. Gray's Peak is the 9th highest mountain in Colorado and is the county high point for both Clear Creek County and Summit County.

Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Try to climb during a weekday if possible to avoid the crowds. Observe thunderhead buildup carefully, noting speed and direction; towering thunderheads with black bottoms are bad.3.

© 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.'

During that trip I tried an alternative approach to the trailhead and I think that is going to be my preferred approach from now on. You can generally count on clear to partly cloudy in the morning, and heavy clouds and thunderstorms in the afternoon during the summer.There is no substitute for getting an early start, and getting as much of the mountain "behind you" as early in the day as possible. At 6:30am there was already one car who had done the same thing.

Storms are common, especially in the afternoons, so be prepared for anything. Keep a good eye on the sky as weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly. (286), Climber's Log Entries The term simultaneous flash-boom has a very personal meaning for many Colorado Climbers.Dangers1.

Still, it serves as a functional base for groups seeking recreation nearby. A day trip can be very taxing on the body and will consume your entire day. Remember though that you cannot ride your bike on any of these trails - only the *road* to the trailhead. This is a fairly easy mountain peak to climb. Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by obtaining your. Thanks also to mpbrofor the additional information: US Forest Service, Clear Creek Ranger District 101 Chicago Creek Road Post Office Box 3307 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 Phone (303) 567-3000 TTY: (303) 567-3009 Fax: (303) 498-3021 Mountain ConditionsConditions on this mountain, like all Colorado 14ers, are subject to change rapidly- especially during the prime climbing summer season.

Andy adds, and I agree: Not all passenger cars can make it to the trailhead, even under optimal conditions. The return route is back to the saddle and return the same way as the ascent. The dirt road is in poor shape and very marginal for cars without good clearance. Park 2.2 miles up Peru Creek from Montezuma Road (or at the turnoff in winter) and hike 5 miles and 3810 feet up Chihuahua Gulch to Ruby Gulch to Grays southwest ridge. --Simpsons Comic Book Guy, Contiguous 14ers with 2,000 ft. of Prominence, Grays / Torreys: Winter Ascents – Steven’s Gulch - 03/01/08, Routes

Once the ridge is gained, climb north along the ridge to the summit. Grays Peak and Torreys Peak - 8.35 Miles Round-Trip Grays Peak (14,270') and Torreys Peak (14,267') are the two highest points along the Continental Divide, and considered among the most accessible fourteeners in Colorado.The summits are connected by a .8 mile long saddle, making both attainable in a day with an early start. Visit the nearby. Lightning is dangerous!2. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. Torreys, Grays and Edwards via Kelso Ridge. At Grays Peak Group Campground groups are less than 3 miles from the lake. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Expect a slow, bumpy drive on a dirt road for the last 2 miles to the campsite. The mountains are their own weather system, and weather forecasts from nearby towns often have little to do with actual mountain conditions. Grays Peak Group Campground is conveniently located for campers to enjoy all that the Big Bear Lake area has to offer.

I parked at the I-70 exit and mountain biked to the trailhead. Gray is the seventh highest peak in the Adirondacks as well as the highest with no maintained trail leading to the top. The trail is pretty well marked.

Find hiking trails to various destinations in the area and connect to the Pacific Crest Trail. Campers must pack out their own trash. "There is no emoticon for what I am feeling right now." Disperse the group. The ride took about 45 minutes in and 25 minutes out. Avoid water. Remember to camp responsibly and to follow a Leave No Trace ethic to avoid polluting and damaging the fragile high-altitude environment. Check San Bernardino National Forest - Grays Peak Group Campground for any campground updates. The Find plenty of boat rentals for fishing and water skiing. Most noteworthy is that its an easy walk up. Grays and Torrey's Peak is a 9.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Idaho Springs, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. The campground was once situated among mature pine trees with plenty of shade and privacy, but a recent forest fire has left the site appearing rather desolate and unattractive. There is no potable water nor trash pick-up at the campground.

Be aware of ground currents; the current from a ground strike disperses along the ground or cliff, especially in wet cracks.4. I would not recommend doing it in a 2WD car when the road is wet. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Usually Gray's Peak to the eas… Added here with permission from Gerry Roach:Colorado is famous for apocalyptic lightning storms that threaten not just your life, but your soul as well. It is also the highpoint of the Front Range, the highest point on the North American divide, and the highest peak visible from the Great Plains.

Grays Peak- the first of two peaks this fine morning. I tried to make it over two different ways, but ended up scraping the bottom of my Saturn SL2 both times. Park in the basin in a spot off the road to allow vehicles to get by, at a spot you would choose to begin your climb of Grays, visible to the northwest. Three and a half miles up the dirt road there is a parking lot at the Stephens Gulch trailhead.

Another Approach Courtesy of edlinsIf you are climbing from the Keystone side and don't have the vehicular clearance for Horseshoe Basin, want something longer, or are trying in winter, consider Chihuahua Gulch. This bald peak offers a great view of Marcy and Skylight as well as Colden. Hanna Flat Campground is a family-friendly facility nestled in the pine-covered mountains of Southern California. Driving times may vary based on conditions. The parking lot is well marked, and signs for the trailhead are easy to spot. Take the left turn up the ridge another half mile or so to the summit. 4. Try to determine if the lightning activity is cloud-to-cloud or ground strikes.5. It offers access to a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities and a ... Make your next Big Bear vacation a very "Grande" experience and book this fabulous home today! San Bernardino National Forest - Grays Peak Group Campground, Big Pine Flat Group Equestrian Campground, 2½ miles NW of Fawnskin and Big Bear Lake, California Land Management for San Bernardino National Forest, from 4 days up to 12 months in advance of arrival, $137 per night ($10 more on holiday weekends), 5 Picnic tables, 1 double pedestal grill, - no hook-ups, Take the Grays Peak Trail with views of Big Bear Lake. From Denver go west on I-70 to exit 221 Bakerville. Head out on the lake paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. The climbers that were walking this approach also voiced their appreciation of the lack of noise/exhaust as I pedaled by silently. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.