Six Pack of Peaks: Mt. Pinos/Sawmill Mountain/Grouse Mountain
5/9/21
Out & Back
Miles Hiked: 11 miles
Elevation gain: >2,000 ft
Total elevation: 8,848 ft (Mt. Pinos), 8,818 ft (Sawmill Mountain), 8,583 ft (Grouse Mountain)
Pairs well with: Session IPA’s
Elevation map created on AllTrails.com
GPX file [noun]: type of file used to download a gps-compatible map that one uses while hiking to ensure they don’t get lost like a dumbass.
3 Peaks, 2 Counties, 1 Day
Why yes, I do enjoy torturing myself. Why do you ask?
We started off from the trailhead at daybreak. The climb was mellow and we made good time to the first, lackluster peak. Mt. Pinos, check.
We continued onto the next which involved a bit more elevation gain. The summit had crazy winds and much better views. Sawmill Mountain, check.
Then we went down. And down. Followed by making up that elevation loss We also followed the trail to a cliff lookout that was decidedly not the peak. I'm not saying we were lost, but rather the peak was lost and not where it should be. We found it, with all its tree cover obscuring the view. Grouse Mountain, check.
And then the long haul back to the car. Looong haul. With its periodic ups past the previous two summits. After 11 miles and >2,000 feet of elevation gain we finished the challenge. I am a couponer at heart and was pretty pleased with myself for scoring three peaks for the price of one, thank you very much.
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Our faithful trail doggo leads his humans up the tallest peak in Colorado, Mt. Elbert.