Mount Lady Washington
Elevation: 13281 ft / 4048 m
Vertical Gain: 3767 ft.
November 7, 2010
Rocky Mountain National Park
Mt. Lady Washington is a 13,281ft sentinel to the 14,255ft Longs Peak. It also appears to be the only peak in Rocky Mountain National Park that is almost entirely free of snow. Mt. Lady Washington is a relatively easy 13'er that makes a good training hike because it has a short approach.
The first part of the hike is the same as the hike to Chasm Lake. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach the Y where the trail splitsY where the trail splits, the left branch heading to Chasm Lake and the right to Longs Peak. There's a horse rack here, and a privy just up the ridge. From the Y junction, there are two choices: to go directly up the somewhat steep east slope east slope of Mt. Lady Washington, or to follow the Longs Peak trail north and around, then go up the north ridge or the back. My recommendation for the ascent is to go directly up. Although it is a moderately steep climb, it is the shortest distance and probably faster and takes less effort overall.
Here is photo story from hike:
By the time you reach the top of the eastern slope, you are close to the summit. Mt. Lady Washington has two summits, of which the eastern one is higher. It may be worth the short trip to the other summit to get a better view of the east face of Longs Peak.
Elevation: 13281 ft / 4048 m
Vertical Gain: 3767 ft.
November 7, 2010
Rocky Mountain National Park
Mt. Lady Washington is a 13,281ft sentinel to the 14,255ft Longs Peak. It also appears to be the only peak in Rocky Mountain National Park that is almost entirely free of snow. Mt. Lady Washington is a relatively easy 13'er that makes a good training hike because it has a short approach.
The first part of the hike is the same as the hike to Chasm Lake. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach the Y where the trail splitsY where the trail splits, the left branch heading to Chasm Lake and the right to Longs Peak. There's a horse rack here, and a privy just up the ridge. From the Y junction, there are two choices: to go directly up the somewhat steep east slope east slope of Mt. Lady Washington, or to follow the Longs Peak trail north and around, then go up the north ridge or the back. My recommendation for the ascent is to go directly up. Although it is a moderately steep climb, it is the shortest distance and probably faster and takes less effort overall.
Here is photo story from hike:
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| Denver dawn. |
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