Mt Democrat's East slopes route

My trip up and down Mosquito Range 14er Mt. Democrat from the Kite Lake TH on June 27, 2024. That day I had intended to complete the circuit of all the 14ers in this group, but unfavorable weather relegated me to an abbreviated day. But I was able to capture the first leg of the combo journey, Mt. Democrat. This historic group of peaks is also home to Mts. Lincoln, Cameron, and Bross, and was one of the first mountain regions in the state to be extensively explored, mapped, and mined. Beginning from the Kite Lake trailhead near 12,000 feet, the trip up this mountain involves only terrain above timberline. First I must ascend to the Democrat/Cameron saddle, then the rest of the alpine terrain up to the summit. Although the cloudiness and the cold wind and sleet cut my day short, it did provide an added layer of aesthetic ambience to the occasion. In this video, as always I provide maps and route description, and pieces of history about the mountains. (This particular peak has a somewhat spicy story behind its name origin, too!). For all full mtn climb videos on this channel: https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/P.... The contents of this video are as follows:

0:00 Various images of the mountain, and information about its history
3:43 Route overview and description, TH directions, and special considerations
5:11 The drive on Park County road 8 to the Kite Lake TH
7:06 East slopes, ~12,000 feet to the saddle, at ~13,350 feet
17:19 East Ridge, ~13,350 feet to the top, 14,154 feet
26:54 Views at the top
27:45 Descending
30:41 Final commentary and images.

#14ers #colorado #mountains #hiking #nature #rockymountains #climbing #mountainclimbing #mountainscenery #naturedocumentary

Music selections:
1) "Arkansas Traveler" - Nat Keefe and Hot Buttered Rum (YouTube audio library)
2) "The Slow Rabbit" - Nat Keefe and Hot Buttered Rum (YouTube audio library)
3) "Simple Gifts" - Cooper Cannell (YouTube audio library)
4) "E Minor Prelude" - Chopin (YouTube audio library)

Additional sources:
1) For maps: U.S. Geological Survey - USGS
2) "A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners" by Walter R. Borneman and Lyndon J. Lampert. Pruett Publishing, 2nd edition, 1988.
3) "Colorado's Fourteeners - From Hikes to Climbs" by Gerry Roach. Fulcrum Publishing, 3rd edition, 2011.
4) 14ers.com: Mt. Democrat/routes
5) For signs: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA
6) "Colorado's Highest - The History of Naming the 14,000-Foot Peaks" by Jeri L. Norgren. John Fielder Publishing, 2020.