1 down, 53 to go

We tackled our first fourteener yesterday, Mt Bierstadt, a 14,060 foot peak just outside of Denver. It's a relatively easy one normally, only 3 miles and 3000 feet or so (you climb down from the trailhead a bit, so the beta is a little deceptive). Anyway, it was going quite well, but far colder then expected. We got to about 14000 and all of a sudden the temperature dropped probably 15 degrees, from a balmy 20 with windchill to somewhere far below that. Aud turned around at that point (a good decision, the last bit was a little more of a snow/ice scramble and took some time), since she was working with an old pair of gloves and no long underwear. I ran up to the top, down to Audrey (when i found out she turned around), and back up to the top to grab my pack, then back down. Charlie and Rebecca also topped out but turned around immediately. Walked down in 40 mph winds, which was nice... but we made it. Great fun! The view is incredible, and you really feel like you climbed a mountain at that point. More clothes would have been good, but we weren't the only ones not expecting the storm at the top.

Anyway, an adventure. We'll hit it up in the summer again so Aud can get the last bit or so and then try some more!