Mount Bross - Range: Mosquito; Elevation: 14,177 feet. Mount Bross is named for William Bross, who owned mining property near Alma. Bross climbed Mount Lincoln with Father Dyer and was so captivated by the views that he spoke of them incessantly. Lincoln already was named, but soon local miners began to refer to the summit to the south as Mount Bross. The summit is so rounded that a small plane once landed on it. The peak is a part of a trio of fourteeners (Mount Democrat and Mount Lincoln being the other two) that can be hiked in a single loop and easily completed in a day.
Here are some of the easier Colorado fourteeners to get your heart rate going if you are new to climbing. Chris Meeham ranks Colorado fourteeners in his guidebook “Climbing Colorado’s Fourteeners”. Read the full Gazette article here: Class 1: Easy hiking, usually on a good trail. Class 2: More difficult, may be off-trail. You may have to put your hands down occasionally to keep your balance. May include easy snow climbs or hiking on talus/scree.
Mount Bross – Range: Mosquito; Elevation: 14,177 feet. Mount Bross is named for William Bross, who owned mining property near Alma. Bross climbed Mount Lincoln with Father Dyer and was so captivated by the views that he spoke of them incessantly. Lincoln already was named, but soon local miners began to refer to the summit to the south as Mount Bross. The summit is so rounded that a small plane once landed on it. The peak is a part of a trio of fourteeners (Mount Democrat and Mount Lincoln being the other two) that can be hiked in a single loop and easily completed in a day.Handies Peak Range: San Juan Class: 1 Elevation: 14,053 feeet Elevation gain: 2,500 to 2,800 feet depending on parking Round trip: 5.5 to 7.5 miles Location: Handies Peak, Hinsdale County, CO Easiest of the San Juan fourteeners. Trail is well-maintained. Great place to see a variety of flowers.Mount Elbert Range: Sawatch Class: 1 Elevation: 14,400 feet Elevation gain: 4,700 feet Round trip: 9 miles Location: Mount Elbert, Lake County, CO Great for all seasons because the trail stays on gentle ridges, easy hike all the way to the summit.Quandary Peak Range: Tenmile Class: 1 Elevation: 14,265 feet Elevation gain: 3,450 feet Round trip: 6.75 miles Location: Quandary Peak, Summit County, CO Route is relatively straightforward and easy to follow. (STACIE SCOTT)Huron Peak Range: Sawatch Class: 2 Elevation: 14,003 feet Elevation gain: 3,500 feet Round trip: 7 miles Location: Huron Peak, Chaffee County, CO Embodies the experience most people think of when they think of a fourteener. This peak does not see as much foot traffic as some of the other first-timer mountains, probably because it is barely more than 14,000 feet in elevation and you cannot combine it with another summit.Hikers hang out at the summit of Mount Bierstadt on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette (STACIE SCOTT)Mount Democrat Range: Mosquito Class: 2 Elevation: 14,152 feet Elevation gain: 2,150 feet Round trip: 4 miles Location: Mount Democrat, Park County, CO Grade is fairly consistent and the trail is well-built and well-maintained.Mount Sherman Range: Mosquito Class: 2 Elevation: 14,036 feet Elevation gain: 2,000 feet to 2,800 feet depending on parking Round trip: 5.25 to 8.5 miles Location: Mount Sherman, Park County, CO Known as the easiest fourteener in Colorado and offers a nice view of neighboring peaks.Humbolt Peak Range: Sangre de Christo Class: 2 Elevation: 14,069 feet Elevation gain: 4,200 to 5,250 feet depending on where you start Round trip: 11 to 16 miles Location: Humboldt Peak, Custer County, CO Easiest fourteener in the Sangre de Christo range. Offers you the chance to see other difficult peaks in Colorado.
