I love being alone out in the wild country at 4a.m., anticipating the coming sunrise, breathing the cool, pine-scented air, and feeling the crunch of the trail beneath my feet. Continue hiking along the road until it takes a distinct turn to the south and starts across the south face of Princeton. Are we on the right trail? Following a treacherous drive up a dirt road (if you're confident enough to make the trip) it's just a short hike up some more road before turning up some singletrack and continuing on some talus to the ridge and summit. This distinctive peak stands by itself. As you'll note in the bottom two photos, the road continues to the left but the trail will veer up steeply to the right. Climber: David B. Rogers I'm getting down to the last few of the 14ers. The Narrows Hike Trail Guide Zion National Park, Colorado Trail Segment 11 & CW1 Hike Trail Guide. Looming 14,000 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, this design captures an evening view of the one of Colorado’s majestic peaks. (Update: I would also hike this mountain a third time two years … I started feeling horrible. It was time for me to attempt my first 14er of the year. Rules; Route; Raison d’être; Completions; Guide: Slow-lans. Princeton I noticed an alternative to the road route in Lou Dawson's 14er guide, so I … I put on my spikes, readied my poles, and crossed. Less people which makes the drive up to the radio towers a bit less stressful 2. Author: David B. Rogers. Yale, from the summit. To be blunt, I think the best views of Mt Princeton are from highway 285 and not on the mountain itself. Antero to Mt. Video Hike Review: Mt Princeton. Hidden in the Pinons, 1 Mile From Mt Princeton Hot Springs, Great Deck Views! Princeton Trip Reports (242) Mt. Difficulty: Class 2 . - Duration: 27:40. But I did not. Skip to content. This photo of Mount Princeton was taken in spring time with plenty of snow still on the summit. I sat there, tears just starting to form behind my sunglasses, realizing I had to give up the summit. Although there were some pockets of snow along the trail, for the most part the road was very dry. But, breaking into below treeline entails a healthy amount of aspen tree bashing. If you continue past these, you will most likely be camping above treeline or on a sloped area. There are 19 named peaks in this group. Our 15-ounce ceramic mug of Mt. FoorYourSuccess 6,765 views. Princeton to Mt. We were camping out near 11-Mile reservoir at a friend's place- so we had about a 90 minute drive to the 4WD trailhead at … I was very proud of her. From here until the saddle of Mt Princeton, much of the trail was in the shade which also meant some snow to deal with. Her small legs were now standing on her 10th “14er,” which is more than some humans climb in their whole lives. Section Profile: Mt. But the road itself was not nearly as rough as Stevens Gulch, or Nellie Creek, or American Basin. (Update: I would also hike this mountain a third time two years … William Libbey is credited as the first (recorded) person to have summited Princeton in July of 1877 shortly after his graduation from, naturally, Princeton University. This spur will eventually bring you to … You might have to K-turn a few turns along the way, but I'd imagine that would be your only issue. Bierstadt (June 11, 2014) The Last Frontier Honeymoon: Day 1 → Mt. We underestimated the effect of the altitude, even though we have hiked at higher altitudes before. Princeton. There is parking here for a couple of vehicles or turn left and continue on the 322A road. Your email address will not be published. Ski ... (Mt. Each mug has high quality glaze, with the same vibrant colors seen in our poster collection, and arrives ready for display. In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener is a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 ft (4267 m). To my surprise, the 4WD road wasn't bad at all. Our Hike of Mt. Mt. Princeton (14,197′), a 14er in the Sawatch Range. Harvard, Colorado – Colorado 14er – … Princeton, the Nolans line descends by following the northeast ridge of Mt. Juno and I hit the trail and quickly passed these two as we worked our way up the 4WD road to the start of Mt Princeton’s trail. She did not fathom the concept that I did not have small black claws to help dig into the snow and kept pulling me down the icy trail. The road stretched on for some time, but it was nice to gain some elevation right away, with the Arkansas River valley opening up more with each passing step. While it was not much, the 3-4 inches of snow was enough to make me tread carefully, especially with a pulling dog taking away one of my hands. The most complete calendar of things to do throughout the state of Colorado including concerts, fairs, festivals and family friendly activiti. Princeton. And then I reached my first of several snow gullies. I picked it because it was the easiest and closest 14er that I hadn't already done in winter. Mt. Nice work overall on this mountain! This rugged trail map was designed for on-trail use in the toughest outdoor conditions and includes the following features: Waterproof and tear-resistant paper Latest. That I had no intention of crossing in the afternoon. I felt dizzy, I felt shaky, and my energy that previously seemed so consistent just... disappeared. If you are visiting in off peak season (basically October – May) you could take your chances on the rough road. And I remembered reading Bill's description on the .com that this was not going to be a pleasant climb... but I definitely underestimated the warning. It's a slog up that mountain, but I agree - the views are unreal on that peak! I knew what I was doing... right?Bring plenty of food and water: CheckStart early and be below treeline by noon: CheckResearch the route, recent condition reports, trailhead reports: CheckLet others know where I will be and how long to expect: CheckWear appropriate clothing for a 14er ascent: CheckBring appropriate gear, in this case spikes and poles: CheckI crossed my t's and dotted my i's. Harvard ; Mt. I gave up on Tigger, and proceeded back down the standard route.Toward the now-slushy, slick snow fields. On the way down, I decided to stick to the ridge of Mt Princeton in hopes to have a more straightforward hike to the saddle of Princeton and Trigger Peak. It immediately precedes a large snow drift further blocking access up the road. Princeton for tonight, Dec 16 - Dec 17 Tomorrow night Dec 17 - Dec 18 Check prices close to Mt. I wanted to take the summer route to Princeton's summit while the snowfields were solid and then swing back over Tigger to descend over a loose class 2 ridge. If you are not comfortable driving on 4WD roads, have a low clearance car or (most importantly) are visiting on busy weekend (any weekend during the summer), park here. I am planning on going back later this year for another attempt. General Mountain Information: Mt Princeton, Distance: 7.8 miles RT (from radio towers), 14 miles from lower TH, Elevation Start: 10,800 (from radio towers), 8,900 from lower TH, Total Elevation Gain: 3,400 ft (from radio towers), 5,300 ft from lower TH, Estimated Time to Complete: 5-6 hours (from radio towers), 6-8 hours from lower TH. But don’t look for Princeton in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, silly. 14er Report #16: Mt. It was narrow for sure, so passing a vehicle in the opposite direction could be an issue. Mt. We both agreed it was one of the … We … Princeton for tonight, Dec 6 - Dec 7 Tomorrow night Dec 7 - Dec 8 Check prices close to Mt. After some switchbacks, Juno and I reached the start of Mt Princeton’s trail about 30 minutes after we started our hike. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort is ideal for family vacations, romantic getaways, mountain weddings, or corporate events. It was time for me to attempt my first 14er of the year. Antero; Mt. Way to go, Jon.Lesson Learned #2: Take breaks to eat food during the hike. I liked it a lot! I drove past the radio towers and settled on a spot in the dispersed camping area around 3:45am. Mount Princeton is the southern most of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range. Luckily, I was able to spot a cairn in the distance. Continue on 322 for about .8 miles until you reach a fork, bear right to reach the lower parking area. Homie and I kept our winter 14er streak alive this weekend. Each mug has high quality glaze, with the same vibrant colors seen in our poster collection, and arrives ready for display. For the third weekend in a row we topped a peak. Pages. Join in with him in an easy hike for just about anyone to the top of one of Colorado's famed 14,000 foot peaks! Add to cart. Courtney and I are vacationing in Colorado, and yesterday we climbed Mt. If she summited Mt Princeton with a bit of snow and terribly annoying winds, she would be sure to want to hike some more. Anyone want to join, if so, you can message me! Mount Princeton Trail is a 6.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Nathrop, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Did I mention I'm clumsy? Mt Princeton offers a few different areas to park. I summited at about 9:30am, a far cry from my expected summit time of 7:00-8:00am. If you are not comfortable driving on 4WD roads, have a low clearance car or (most importantly) are visiting on busy weekend (any weekend during the summer), park here. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. Yes, joy. I was winded but had plenty of energy left to push onward. I don’t think my words of encouragement helped much…. The other option would be to hike up to Mt Princeton’s south ridge and take a left to ascend Trigger Peak. Mt Princeton Colorado 14er Hike Review. The trail was pretty easy to follow overall. Our 15-ounce ceramic mug of Mt. Oxford/Belford and Missouri Mountain; Additional Resources; Bikepacking. Princeton (14,197′), a 14er in the Sawatch Range. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 14ers; 14er Routes; Mt. With a road ascending high up its slopes dating back to the mining era, it offers an easy approach for those with 4WD and high clearance on their vehicle. 14ers; 14er Routes; Mt. I'd imagine it might be a little more difficult without traction. Season: June – September (expect snow outside of this period). Princeton is the southernmost and most visible of the Collegiate Fourteeners. Beginner’s Guide to 14ers. Mt Princeton Elevation: 14,197 ft. … The mug has a “vintage” feel in color and design and celebrates your climb up this “Collegiate” peak in the Sawatch Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Camping: Mt Princeton has rather limited camping options. I was very lucky that the weather held. We … At about 13,200' on the ridge, looking back toward the saddle and Tigger Peak. Commemorate your 14er conquest with a 4.25″ x 4.25″ ceramic coaster featuring modern colors and a memory of your hikes and climbs on Colorado’s 14ers. I'm active in the forums and the Facebook group. Trail leading off the road marked by logs and stones. Princeton was my 12th fourteener-- 13 if you include repeat summits. I had planned to park at the lower trailhead of Mt Princeton and make the long hike up the 4WD road, but when I arrived to the trailhead, I decided to give the rough dirt road a shot. It probably took me two hours to reach the saddle again. If you are visiting in off peak season (basically October – May) you could take your chances on the rough road. I will say that the views east on a clear day are pretty cool because of the surrounding landscape around Mt Princeton. I slowly navigated up the rough road and eventually reached the radio towers about 30 minutes into my drive. The mug has a “vintage” feel in color and design and celebrates your climb up this “Collegiate” peak in the Sawatch Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The 96 fourteeners in the United States are all west of the Mississippi River. As we turned to face the summit, the wind smacked us in the face. I kept leading us back towards the ridge of Mt Princeton, only to go down low to avoid the strong gusts. We underestimated the effect of the altitude, even though we have hiked at higher altitudes before. Unless weather was forcing you to hunker down, I would find camping options elsewhere. But, breaking into below treeline entails a healthy amount of aspen tree bashing. While not one of the highest peaks of the Sawatch, it is perhaps the most dramatic as it stands separate from other peaks and rises more abruptly from the Arkansas Valley than the other peaks of the range. Posted by The Virtual Sherpa on November 7, 2017 November 20, 2017. The entire hike took us about 6 hours and I had now knocked down 42 of the 58 Colorado “14ers”. We hiked ~4200′ of vertical, which took us about 8 hours. The sky was blue. It was still a bluebird day, with barely a cloud in the sky; I had time if I needed it. Mt Princeton rises dramatically above the Arkansas River Valley and the town of Buena Vista in Colorado. Keep in mind though, that hiking this Princeton in the winter is dangerous because of the steep, avalanche prone slopes. In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener is a mountain … DO IT LIVE! This is a complete list of the 53 fourteeners in the U.S. State of Colorado with at least 300 feet (91.44 meters) of topographic prominence. My alarm woke me at 2:00am in my Salida hotel. Select options. Take this for about 1.5 miles to take a sharp left onto county road 322. My heart sank when I realized how much effort this final ascent would require... for about 800 ft of vertical gain. You could probably squeeze a total of 10 cars here (if everyone parks smart). However, the problem was that the lack of wind, meant higher snow levels. Keep in mind that this road is not maintained at all so any snow that is on the ground will also be on the road. We both agreed it was one of the … April, 2009: Mt. I knew from previous condition reports that there would be 4-5 snowfields to cross, and I knew that I could summit Tigger Peak as well on the way back to create a loop. Not registered. Tonight Dec 16 - Dec 17 Check prices close to Mt. Princeton. This 14,000 foot peak abruptly rises west of Buena Vista and stands all alone in the Sawatch Range. This would be a bad place to slip and fall. Heath bags another 14er! We hiked ~4200′ of vertical, which took us about 8 hours. Each mug has high quality glaze, with the same vibrant colors seen in our poster collection, and arrives ready for display. Juno and I would take a few steps on the hard crusty snow only to sink knee (or belly) deep into the soft snow patches. Princeton for next weekend, Dec 11 - Dec 13 It’s just south of the wilderness area in the San Isabel National Forest and approximately 8 miles south of Buena Vista. Princeton down below treeline, until it reaches the Colorado Trail. I thought I knew how to tackle a 14er. It wasn't the altitude; my body had run out of fuel. The Mount Princeton Road is the route to above tree line. Homie and I kept our winter 14er streak alive this weekend. And wow-- what a summit view. The scree and the steepness of that final pitch was kicking my butt as well. Getting Here: If you are coming from the north, there are a few alterations from the instructions below, but this is the easiest way to get to Mt Princeton from both the north and the south. The hike up Mt Princeton was pretty boring, like most class 2 hikes I have been on. Mt. Even though my elapsed time was pretty slow for 14er standards-- including my own standards-- I was back, I was safe... and I was humbled. Princeton Mt. It was really a pick your poison situation. … I had no desire to come back here in the future, but was happy to have tackled it. We underestimated the effect of the altitude, even though we have hiked at higher altitudes before. Princeton (14,197') miles hiked: 13.4 . Above treeline, the ridgeline here is easier than the ridgeline coming up to Mt. Princeton is part of our 14er Collection Series. We stopped so that I could pop on my microspikes for the first time that day to deal with the slick, crusty snow. Clearly, in the winter avalanche risks are always a factor, but in early spring or early fall when lingering snow remains, I would still give the green light to dogs on Mt Princeton. Yes, joy. I found myself forcing pictures just for the sake of having some for this post but nothing that organically made me say “wow”. View to the south, toward Mt. Mt. And, yes, I said … It's a good thing I was going to come back over Tigger Peak, right? Antero from the Tigger/Princeton saddle. Less thunderstorm risk – this mountain is very exposed to the elements almost the entire hike 3. Take this for about 1.5 miles to take a sharp left onto county road 322. Thanks for posting this great trip report. One climber loudly claimed Princeton as his "21st fourteener ". I knew that this was a class 2 hike and one that Juno could accompany me on, so I decided to let her make the trip. I exchanged photo ops with the others on the summit-- some of the friendliest people I've met on a 14er yet-- and enjoyed a nice 30-minute break to refuel and rehydrate.Then, time to descend. 11:12. May, 2008: Taken during a hike/ski of Mt. Princeton from the Collegiate Peaks Overlook on 285, the day before the hike. Near the radio towers (around 11,000 feet – 3.4 miles into the 4WD road), there are a handful of camping options. This rugged trail map was designed for on-trail use in the toughest outdoor conditions and includes the following features: Waterproof and tear-resistant paper My input: You may park at the bottom, but I suggest driving up to the Radio Towers and beginning your hike somewhere in that vicinity. With that pulsating anxiousness of a child on Christmas morning, mixed with just a tinge of trepidation, I hopped into my Jeep and drove to the Mt. Princeton - East Slopes: 3,200' 6.50 mi : Class 2 Moderate Trip Reports: Mt. Princeton from the Collegiate Peaks Overlook on 285, the day before the hike. This peak involves about 5,000 feet of elevation gain in just 5 miles and is commonly paired with Tabeguache Peak. Photography Tip: To be blunt, I think the best views of Mt Princeton are from highway 285 and not on the mountain itself. Princeton, the Nolans line descends by following the northeast ridge of Mt. Some 20-30 minutes later, I reached the ridge. The gusts were so bad from here to the summit, that I lost my balance several times and Juno kept looking at me like, “what the hell are we doing here”? Following a treacherous drive up a dirt road (if you're confident enough to make the trip) it's just a short hike up some more road before turning up some singletrack and continuing on some talus to the ridge and summit. I figured this is where the old Princeton trail diverged from the new trail, so naturally, I followed the diagonal trail upwards. "What if" is not a thought that will help me hike safely. Near the summit, I stopped to pay my respects for Catherine Pugin who died on the mountain nearly 25 years before. A trail spur cuts to the right (west) toward a mine. Elevation Start: 10,800 (from radio towers), 8,900 from lower TH. 14er Online Course; Map of CO 14ers; 14er … The hike to the summit is 14 miles RT with over 5400 feet of elevation gain. Antero to Mt. 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