Mt. Elbert

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/23/2024, By: timkoh
Info: Some snow and ice above treeline due to a recent storm. Microspikes would have been helpful, but not necessary for 90% of the trail. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/14/2024, By: Smurgu
Info: Thanks to CFI for keeping this trail in perfect conditions. We started at 5.30 am and parking at TH was full. Great sunny day, almost no winds. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/14/2024, By: ihalawe
Info: Decided to do the loop via the Colorado trail and the north east ridge. Ended up being about 15 miles. We went counterclockwise. The climb above tree line was a bit tough because of the wind. It was nice coming down the shorter North East Ridge. Theres no water past the trail head. Overall a great loop but makes for a quite a long day. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 9/3/2024, By: Lonewolf88
Info: Great hiking day. Sunny all morning with light clouds rolling-in just before noon. Wore a t-shirt for 90% of the hike. Almost no wind, just a light and very welcome breeze. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/31/2024, By: Jim Davies
Info: The Black Cloud route has changed a bit, due to recent and ongoing work by CFI. Very solid trail up to the saddle, with impressive rockwork. Easy to follow except that a few people have been shortcutting down the old fall-line route from the ridge that's now closed. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/22/2024, By: sky_high
Info: CFI is still doing trail work, so be mindful. Trail is in good shape, still no water past the trailhead. Expect showers and thunder and get below treeline by 1pm. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/10/2024, By: hsfedina
Info: CFI has done a great job. Switchbacks all the way up to the spine now. Lot in great shape, not one issue on the trail. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/6/2024, By: jimdvr
Info: The trail is in great shape. A crew from CO 14ers Initiative was building steps on a section of trail at about 13,000. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/16/2024, By: JiriClimber
Info: Nice, dry until noon then small showers and thunder. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 7/7/2024, By: Novicewhofailsmore
Info: Great weather. Last 1000 feet was very windy. This was a very physical hike. It felt like being on a stairmaster for 5 hours. The elevation gain is continuous. No natural springs past the 4X4 TH. It took all my extremities to make it. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/23/2024, By: Kcmartinez22
Info: Full summer conditions barring some snow fields hanging on around 13,600. Super easy to get creative and make it NBD. Skeeters are back. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/20/2024, By: stimko
Info: There were two small snow patches on the trail and one was easily avoidable. Full on summer conditions! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/14/2024, By: Kuhlph
Info: What a beautiful climb! Didnt need snowshoes or spikes. A few patches of snow but either firm enough to traverse without snowshoes or easily avoided. Watch out at about 13,500 ft. The trail forks - there is no marking. We took the right fork which left us at a dead end after a sketchy snow traverse. Better to go straight up the mountain. See photo - look for the divergence. We took the better path on the way down. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/9/2024, By: AllADream
Info: The trail is almost in summer conditions. Theres some snow near tree line and the upper mountain you still have to get through but some is easily avoidable. Got to the summit in trail runners and no micro spikes, only slipped on a handful of steps. Did not miss them. On the way down I found a snowboard. If its yours and you can describe it, shoot me a message! 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/8/2024, By: Jschoneboom
Info: Made the river crossing in my outback w/no issues. stepped off at about 6 and made summit around 9;30. Great snow all morning until the sun did its thing. We just used our yak Trax at about tree line up to the summit. No snowshoes are needed. Some post holing on the way down in short sections. Nothing crazy. Awesome day.