Hiking Colorado's Highest Peak: Mt. Elbert via Black Cloud Trail

Mt. Elbert is famous for being the highest peak in Colorado, and the second highest peak in the contiguous U.S. The two most popular hiking trails to the top include the North Mt. Elbert and South Mt. Elbert trails, but with a little research we found a far more exciting (and less crowded) route along the Black Cloud Trail, which climbs over 5500FT and offers some outstanding trailrunning along the ridgeline from South Elbert to Mount Elbert itself.
But anyone hiking a massive CO 14er will know that the mountain weather is unpredictable in Colorado, and starting early is essential to avoid the ever-impending risks of lightning and thunder storms. Despite starting early and leaving the Elbert summit before our turn around time, we STILL managed to get caught in a hail storm! So if you're planning to climb Mt. Elbert, plan accordingly with the weather!
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