Mt Yale by Brian Schultz Wednesday July 9,1997
Another change of plans. When I arrived in Telluride yesterday afternoon, I tried to get a camping site in town but all were taken so I drove back to one of the small towns on the highway that I passed on the way in. I thought I saw some cabins with a vacancy sign and when I stopped to inquire at the bar-restaurant, I was told they were not for overnights. I figured I'd get a bite to eat and then drive up to the Silver Pick and camp there. While waiting for my meal I asked two guys in the bar if they knew anything about climbing conditions on El Diente and Wilson Peak. One said he was a member of Search and Rescue and just retrieved a body off El Diente; two climbers got caught in an avalanche and only one survived it. That did it for me. I ate and left town.
El Diente could wait for another time. I felt accomplished enough with what I'd done so far on the trip and headed for the Sawatch. On the way to Poncha Springs I adjusted the itinerary to start in the southern end and work my way up. Again the owners of the Poncha Lodge, Ken and Marilyn, recognized the guy from Minnesota with the bad sunburn in 1995.
I got up early and drove the Cottonwood Pass road in Buena Vista to a nice parking area at the Denny Creek trailhead and started up at 7:10. It's well marked all the way to the top but very steep. I kept a decent pace, stopping regularly to catch my breath, and passed a number of people who began ahead of me. A guy named Brian from Chicago zipped right by me just before the saddle to the summit ridge but when I got on the ridge I scooted right up it, passing him and a group of fifteen men and boys. As I went by, one of the young boys whined, "Hey, he's passing us!" I thought it was pretty funny and a few moments later, at 11:15, I stepped onto the summit. It got mighty crowded after that.
Enjoying the sunny weather and views, I stayed for 30 minutes, chatting with the others and eating lunch. My legs felt good and on the way down I only stopped once to talk with three guys and reached the trailhead register at 2:05.
There were over three dozen hikers on the mountain, its easy access undoubtedly making it a more popular peak. Yale is a grind though.
Total hike time- 6 hours 55 minutes (including 30 minutes on summit)