If you’re going to take on the second-highest peak in the lower 48 states, you might as well do it in great company. That’s precisely what we — Matthew Boehm, Michael Coburn, Péter Farkas, Jean-François Gagné, Marcin Gwóźdź, Kenny Gryp, Nando Laudares, and Alexander Rubin — decided to do. Fresh from attending Percona Live in Denver, we set off on a journey to conquer Mt Elbert, standing proud at 14,438′ (4400m).

Mt Elbert Northeast Ridge

We calculated that two nights at 10,000′ (3000m) would acclimatize us sufficiently for the thinner air on the mountain. We decided to take the Mt. Elbert Northeast Ridge Route as it offered the highest chance of a successful summit push, given the amount of snow still on the mountain.

Day 1: Acclimatization

After getting a good night’s sleep, we took breakfast at the Silver Llama, then on to picking up supplies. We headed to the local Safeway for bread, peanut butter, and jam. A few members who had rented equipment picked it up while the rest of us gathered at the hotel, prepping for our first experience on the Mt. Elbert Northeast Ridge trail. The trailhead started at 3075m, and we hiked to a max of 3584m, covering 9 km (5.6 miles) over four hours.

The locals seemed to be enjoying the weather and gladly accepted the food we offered.

The temperatures varied between 18°C to 31°C (64°F to 88°F), which made for a generally comfortable hike. Encountering substantial snow at the tree line, we tried on our snowshoes, breaking them in for the main hike.

As the day ended, we enjoyed the pizza from High Mountain Pies. Highly recommended!

Day 2: Summit Mt. Elbert

We gathered at 4:00 am in the hotel lobby and were on the trail by 4:45 am, our headlamps illuminating the path ahead. With the break of dawn around 5:30 am, we could finally switch off the headlamps and admire the trail in natural light.

Above the clouds

As we ascended, we had some delightful encounters with local fauna:

Furry friends

We reached the summit in two separate teams, taking a group photo to capture this triumphant moment. Despite the chilly winds and the temperature being around 10°C (50°F), the clear skies provided perfect hiking conditions.

Percona Adventure Team

However, the descent proved to be a bit more challenging as ominous-looking clouds moved in, accompanied by sporadic thunder and lightning.

The rivers, despite the warmth in the afternoons, were peaceful and not overflowing their banks.

The Rapids

Friday’s journey had us walking 15 km (9.3 miles) for about nine hours, reaching the summit after five hours of climbing to 4400m (approx. 14,438 ft).

On behalf of the team, I would like to express my gratitude to Michelle Egan, Ella Boucaud, and the whole Percona Live team for ensuring we were organized throughout this adventure.

Also, we would like to share an exciting opportunity for adventurous souls. Peter Zaitsev is organizing a climb to the summit of Aconcagua, Argentina, in early 2024. To be part of this thrilling expedition, click here.

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