Jake and I attempted Grizzly Peak last December, but it was very windy and cold. Jake huddled around my legs and cried, so we turned back at the last saddle before Grizzly. The wind was pushing so hard I found it slightly difficult to breathe when I faced into it. We skirted around one of the high points on the west side to stay out of the wind, but that made our trip much harder.

I returned in February, 2000, and did Grizzly solo. From Loveland Pass I headed east up a ridge to Point 12,915, then walked south along the Continental Divide to Point 13,117. Then down another saddle and up to Point 12,936, another saddle, then up a steep, corniced ridge to reach Grizzly Peak. I brought crampons but didn't really need them, it wasn't too terribly snowy because of the high winds that clean the ridge.

On top of Grizzly Peak I enjoyed a can of Guinness, which sprayed all over the snow-lined wind shelter when I opened it. Yummy!

Foto ©2000 by John C. Maki

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