It’s now nearing the end of the season to take on 14ers in Colorado. I had recently taken on 2 of the 4 peaks you can complete on the The Decalibron trail. We completed our hike on August 29th, but now, in late October, the trail is usually packed down with snow. This route allows you to summit Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross peaks all in one go, but be aware that part of this trail is on private property so be sure to be updated before trying this hike if you want to bag all 4 peaks.
I tend to struggle with altitude sickness so I didn’t necessarily think I’d go for all 4 peaks when we set out on our hike. Getting in two peaks before bad weather rolled in was fine enough for me. My husband and sister (in-law) met up with me at the trailhead late the night before we started our hike. We are a lively bunch so we set up a little car camping situation where our dogs could run free and we could hangout before we headed off to bed way too late for our own good. We arose in time to set off at a good point in the morning, but we ended up hanging out and taking our time before we got started.
There is plenty of parking near the trailhead, but be warned, it fills up fast very early in the morning. When we arrived at the parking lot the night before to scope things out, I’d say a quarter of this large lot was already full. By daybreak, the cars came in quickly and even overflow lots were filling up by 6am. If you plan to grab all 4 peaks next season, I highly recommend starting on the trail no later than this time anyway. It’s common for lightening to roll in around the afternoon, and you don’t want to risk getting caught in that.
Also… if you’re not used to high elevation or haven’t acclimated to it yet, I highly suggest getting to the trailhead the night before to sleep. I probably would have faired much better if I had gotten more than 3-4 hours of sleep, but this happened the last time I did a 14er because I hiked after coming in on a red eye. Shout out to my friend Kyle for grabbing Grey’s peak with me that trip. Your level of fatigue and nutrition will be factors when it comes to how you’ll adjust to the elevation so keep that in mind. “Do as I say, not as I do”, haha, but seriously… this is very important if you want to make it back down the mountain.
Now, it’s time for some logistics. You’ll want to make your way to Kite Lake Trailhead to start. Give yourself plenty of time, and don’t be afraid to cut your hike short if weather rolls in or you’re feeling too fatigued. The trailhead starts at about 12,000 feet, and you’re going up to a little over 14,000 for each peak. Overall my heart rate averaged around 154 BPM over the 5-6 hours we hiked, but as I got to the saddle of each peak, it became exponentially more difficult to feel like I was getting enough oxygen. Once I came down from each peak, it was like coming out of a haze. Democrat peaks around 14,148 ft, Cameron peaks around 14,238 ft, Lincoln peaks at 14,293 ft and Bross peaks at 14,178 ft.
Our total lapsed time was about 6.5 hours with actual tracked hiking time being 5 hours and ten minutes. I think I started my hike late after Democrat Peak. We covered 5.73 miles with around 4,006 ft of elevation gain. With high elevation, and a steep incline, it’s going to take a considerable amount of time to summit. Be sure to bring plenty of water and some high calorie snacks. There is no tree cover on this hike and it does get windy. I recommend warm, waterproof layers that can fit in a pack until you need them closer to the top. I also recommend sunglasses or a brimmed hat as well.
If you are a mountaineer, you know what to do and you’re set. For everyone else, check weather conditions before you take off towards the trailhead. Bring the appropriate gear, and make sure you have all the necessities. Be sure to double check trail alerts as well. It’s a big hike, but a lot of fun. Being challenged and having the opportunity to accomplish a hike like this feels really good. If your lucky enough to do it with some of your favorite people or furry friends, even better.
As my husband always says, ” Always remember the 5 Ps. Proper preparation prevents poor performance.” We tend to say this as a joke, but as a good reminder too, lol. Kidding aside, go have fun, be safe, and create some memories you’ll carry with you for a lifetime!
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