Mount Flora is a Colorado 13er – a peak above 13,000 feet. While I spend most of my time planning for 14ers, there are a lot of 13ers to enjoy!
Our initial plan was to hit Mount Flora and if we were feeling good then continue onto Mount Eva, another Colorado 13er.
The trail to Mount Flora is only 6.3 miles with 1,788 feet of elevation, while tacking on Mount Eva would make it 10.2 miles and 3,225 feet of elevation – a much more righteous hike.
From the start it is deep postholing, and this really saps your strength. Plunge your leg deep into snow, then do a step-up with your other leg and repeat. Over and over until the snow hopefully firms up enough that you can walk on top.
Not much fun, but great exercise.
Then Mother Nature said nay-nay and decided to blow in some full-winter conditions. High winds, sideways snow and ice, and whiteout conditions.
Today it’s just Mount Flora, perhaps we shall return for Eva and other peaks along this ridgeline for future training climbs or just time in nature.
Once we dropped to lower elevation things started to clear up, so we decided to tag Colorado Mines Peak on our way down. Not the most picturesque with communications antennas on top, but if there’s a peak then it must be climbed!
Posthole City
This is not how you want to start your day!
Hard Time
Finally the snow hardens up and we can continue along the surface
Whiting Out
Things get worse as we get up on the ridgeline
Frosty
Plenty of ice on Dasani’s gear from the blowing snow
An Ussie
I learned they’re not selfies if two people are in them…
Flora Peak
At least there’s a sign up here
What Trail
Our tracks from 10 minutes ago are long gone as we backtrack down the mountain.
Clearing Up
Looking back from Colorado Mines Peak at the trail with Mount Flora in the upper right. Things cleared out quickly!
Proper Colorado
This looks more like June in Colorado!
There She Blows
Watching the snow blow across Mount Flora
