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Distance: 4 miles
Rating: Strenuous
With winter weather already showing up in the mountains, my dad and I decided to get in one more difficult, high altitude hike before the season ended. I settled on the cluster of 14ers just west of the small town of Alma in the Mosquito Range: Mt. Democrat, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Bross. According to several books and websites, these three mountains can be climbed all in one day thanks to relatively straight-forward hiking and close proximity. That said, the hike is no easy task. Remember that it still involves climbing 14ers, the easiest of which are still fairly challenging hikes. We set out with the hopes of reaching the summits of all three mountains, but the conditions ended up working against us. There were already several inches of snow at around the 13,000 ft point and the winds were very strong. Regardless, I am still happy to add a second 14er to my list.
Mounts Democrat, Lincoln, and Bross are all part of a lengthy, semi-circular ridge about five miles outside of Alma (south of Breckenridge). The standard trailhead for hikers attempting any of these peaks is near Kite Lake, which is already
at 12,000 ft. As one might assume, Mt. Democrat’s name has political origins. Apparently, the mountain was named by miners who were unhappy with the nearby peak being named after President Lincoln (who was the first Republican U.S. President). This area—and many other in the Tenmile and Mosquito Ranges—offer glimpses into Colorado mining history. The slopes of all three mountains are dotted with old mining shacks and quarries dating back to the late 1800’s. There is also a good deal of more modern mining history just to the northwest of these peaks in the form of the Climax Mine. When operational, Climax has been a major source of molybdenum, a metal used to strengthen steel. The mine and its tailings ponds do detract somewhat from the view, but not enough to ruin this hike.
The ridge that connects these three 14ers actually contains another 14,000 ft+ peak in the form of Mt. Cameron. However, a technicality keeps Cameron from being considered an “official” 14er. The powers that be have decreed that a mountain must rise at least three hundred feet above a saddle that connects it to the next nearest (taller) 14er to be counted. Because it only rises
138 ft above the saddle connecting it to Mt. Lincoln (which is only 48 ft higher), Mt. Cameron got screwed out of official 14er status. Frankly, I think that any hiker who manages to make the entire Democrat-Lincoln-Bross circuit has the right to add Cameron on as a fourth 14er.
There are numerous trails that climb up to the summit of Mt. Democrat despite the Forest Service’s best efforts to make an official route. From the Kite Lake Trailhead, the path begins by skirting the lake. This brief easy section is quickly replaced by the beginning of the steep climb up to the saddle between Democrat and Cameron. At the half mile mark, the trail passes by the remnants of an old miner’s shack. This mile-long section has numerous trails, some of which are easier to follow than others. As long as you reach the saddle, you’re doing fine! The view from the saddle is really quite impressive: Just to the north are the ridge of North Star Peak and the dome-shaped summit of Quandary Peak (another 14er). Just visible to the northeast are Grays and Torreys Peaks. The valley leading up to Kite Lake and other mountains of
the Mosquito Range will remain visible to the south for the duration of the hike. From the saddle, the trail climbs for approximately a half mile to a false summit. This is the first time along the hike that the true summit of Mt. Democrat will be visible. From the false summit, the trail flattens out for a brief time before the final climb up the last several hundred feet to the summit. At the summit, there are spectacular views in all directions. To the east, Mounts Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross are all visible along the connecting ridge. The Mosquito Range continues to the south and the wide open valley of South Park is visible to the southeast. Beyond the Arkansas River Valley to the west is the Sawatch Range. On a clear day, Colorado’s two highest peaks—Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive—will be distinguishable from the other mountains of the Sawatch.
The Democrat-Lincoln-Bross circuit is about seven miles round trip. After reaching the summit of Democrat, head back down to the saddle between it and Cameron. There is another steep climb up from the saddle to the summit of Mt. Cameron. Cameron’s summit can be climbed or circumvented on
the way to the Mt. Lincoln. After reaching the top of Mt. Bross, there is a steep unofficial trail that heads back down to Kite Lake, but the Forest Service prefers that hikers return to the Democrat-Cameron saddle for the descent. There are also separate trails that climb each mountain individually. These trails are good traditionalists who do not consider a combination an official climb. For more details on these routes, visit 14ers.com.
Anyone planning on reaching the summits of all three (or four) mountains in one day should plan on getting a pre-sunrise start to the hike. Camping at Kite Lake or one of the nearby areas might be a good idea. As is the case with climbing any 14er, the high altitude means unpredictable and fast-moving weather. Come prepared with rain gear and warm clothing. The best time to hike any 14er is generally between late July and early September. Outside of that narrow window of time, snow can be problem.
Directions: From the Denver area, take US 285 south for approximately 70 miles to the town of Fairplay at the junction of US 285 and CO HWY 9. From Fairplay, follow CO 9 north for
approximately 7 miles to the town of Alma. In Alma, turn left at CR 8 (there will be a sign for Kite Lake). Follow CR 8 for 5.5 miles to the Kite Lake parking area. CR 8 is a somewhat rough dirt road, so using a 4-wheel drive car with higher clearance is recommended. Another option is to take I-70 west for 60 miles to Frisco, then follow CO 9 south for 25 miles to Alma. Obviously, if you take this route you will want to look for CR 8 on the right side of the road.
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