As I was snapping this picture, I could hear El Mexicano Elite and his good buddy John calling out my name as they were running down Mt. Princeton road. PG and his buddies (keep in mind they all had just ran the Pikes course 24 hours earlier) had arrived the night before and set up camp along the road at around 11,000 feet. The both of them were kind enough to run on down and keep me company as we started out the climb to the top.
The trail to the top doesn't waste it's time with any flat sections. From the get go, the trail heads up and up and up and.....The road itself is extremely runnable the whole way till you hit the singletrack at treeline. Mind you the road is steep, dusty and relentless. A brief stop at the above mentioned camp site and PG and I were off to the summit.
(PG approaching his Base Camp)
Pace along the road was relaxed for me. I was working but never was I pushing hard. Upon leaving the camp site, I had every intent of sticking with PG to the top.
However something just took over me as we finally got off the road. In my mind, one of the sweetest combinations out there is single track above treeline. Second I stepped foot on this terrain I was off.
While the running was limited, my effort wasn't, as the trail gets pretty rocky and technical as it cuts along the north east side of Tigger Peak. Then one's left to a crawl as they navigate half a dozen switchbacks to the ridge that connect Tigger and Princeton. Once on the ridge, it's a straight shot up to Princeton. At times a trail was visible but for the most part we were navigating Class 2 terrain. Footing at times was sketchy at best and the grade was sick. I was able to touch the ground in front of me without having to bend over.
2 hours and 4 minutes is what it took me to climb over 5,400 feet in 6.7 miles. Shortly after PG came climbing up. Weather was perfect at top. 60's sunny and little to no wind. Views just amazing (outside of the fire smoke impacting the Arkansas Valley). After 20 minutes of soaking in the views, we began our journey over to Tigger.
(Mt. Antero to the South)
(Tigger Peak and my car way the hell down there. Note the trail we just came up.)
(PG approaching 14er #2 of his huge weekend)
Down the face of Princeton, along and up the ridge and before long we were relaxing on Tigger Peak. Trail was nonexistant and required lots of rock hopping and path finding but well worth the excursion as it added a bit more vert, distance and time to our outing. We continued on down the south ridge of Tigger Peak which offered up amazing views down towards Chalk Creek. Before long we were finally on Mt. Princeton road and heading down to the camp site.
A quick refill of water, some chips and I headed back down to the car alone. Made quick work of the remaining 3 plus miles to the car. Don't know the specific stats of the day as I fumbled around with my start/stop button numerous times. However I'm guessing around 14.5 miles and 5,700 feet of vert in like 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Outside of a nice gash and huge bruise on my right palm, I was feeling pretty good afterwards. Who needs a recovery drink when a cold Hazed and Infused beer is waiting in the cooler.
(Tigger Peak with Princeton barely visible to it's right)
Way to go. Princeton is a peak you can stand back from and think "I ran that monster!"
ReplyDeleteGood idea ascending in the morning, since that road is open and hot. I basically ran from one spot of shade to another on the way up.
But scary to drive up, with one narrow lane and blind corners. I chickened out and turned around at the first pull off.
Thanks for driving all the way out for the run. You were killing it man! So stoked to have you on board for Pb!
ReplyDeleteI was over on the major league peak, Antero, while you bush leaguers were gawking at it!
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me, that makes like 8 Front Range runners with a blog who were on either Antero or Princeton this weekend. One more would have started a rockslide.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics. I love that ridge shot from the summit looking towards Tigger. Nice job out there.
ReplyDeleteSorry about blowing you off on Sunday, I hadn't slept in a while.
ReplyDeleteJT no worries. I wasn't even sure it was you I was saying hello too due to my lack of sleep.
ReplyDeleteOne more Front Range runner (er, hiker, I guess) was on Princeton that day. I started up from the bottom of the road at around 11:00 am, and I think we crossed paths shortly thereafter as you bombed down the road. I immediately wondered if it was either you or Patrick. I saw Patrick's tweet later in the day and concluded that it was him. Now seeing your report, it must have been you that I passed. I know we met on Green last year, but you were a blur as we passed this time.
ReplyDeleteI didn't end up going to the summit, though. I bailed after turning off the road as the weather didn't look great. Of course, it had completely cleared by the time I got back down. In defense of my late start, I had climbed Shavano and Tabeguache earlier that morning.